Library Websites and Blogs
Early Literacy on Your Library's Website
You may have the opportunity to create an area of your library's website dedicated to early literacy information. You can include information about the six early literacy skills, tips for caregivers, age-appropriate book lists, literacy-based storytimes, and links to early literacy resources on the web.
Here are a few examples from Colorado libraries:
Denver Public Library: Babble, Scribble, Read!
Arapahoe Library District: Raising Readers
Westminster Public Library: Early Literacy
Loveland Public Library: Literacy Sites and Resources
Pikes Peak Public Library Kids Web: Early Literacy
High Plains Library District: Parents and Caregivers: Early Literacy
And one example from a CLEL member in Iowa!
Bondurant (IA) Public Library: Emergent (Early) Literacy
These libraries also have great early literacy sections!
Multnomah County (OR) Library: Birth to Six
West Bloomfield Township (MI) Public Library: Grow Up Reading
Allen County (IN) Public Library: Everybody Reads
Kent (MI) District Library: Play Grow Read!
Brooklyn (NY) Public Library: First 5 Years
The ALA Every Child Ready to Read Wiki has listed a few more websites with well-presented early literacy information.
Early Literacy Library Blogs
Another idea is to publish a blog devoted to early literacy or to caregiver tips! You can include posts about great books from that week's storytimes, activity ideas for caregivers to try at home with their preschoolers, parenting books, and community resources.
Some Colorado examples:
Babette Reeves at the Southern Peaks Public Library maintains The Passionate Librarian
Vicky Hays at the Poudre River Public Library District maintains the Early Literacy Blog
And a couple from other states:
Dayton (OH) Metro Library: Early Literacy
Mount Prospect (IL) Public Library: Notes from Storytime
Publicizing Early Literacy Storytimes Online
You might not have room on your website right now, or not enough time or tech support to create an early literacy section or blog on your library's site. But you can still mention early literacy in your storytime program descriptions, or storytime pages on your website, as these Colorado libraries do:
Lafayette Public Library: Storytime Basics
Windsor-Severance Library District: Babies & Books
Upper San Juan Library District: Youth Services School Year Programs
Grand County Library District: Children's Story Hour