Supporting Campus Child Caregivers at the University Libraries

Funding for the furniture, toys, books, backpacks, and other items was provided by University of Arkansas Women's Giving Circle through their grant program. This grant was funded at an amount of $7,867. 

Space and other support was provided by the University of Arkansas Libraries. 

Information about this project was been shared in the campus-wide email newsletter four times in the fall of 2022. Concurrently, the Libraries' social media accounts highlighted the space with images and information. 

An open-house was held in early September, and campus community members were invited to drop into to explore the space between 3:30pm and 6:30pm.  Unfortunately, this open house was poorly attended. 

Information about the space has also spread through word of mouth, with librarians sharing information with faculty and students, and many faculty and graduate students talking about the space to their colleagues and even posting about the space on social media. 

Laura and Stephanie, the librarians behind this project, partnered with two College of Education faculty members to work with Curriculum Design students. Students in this course were tasked with selecting an age group and a theme, and developing a learning bag and curricular unit proposal that included at least four books and at least three toys or activities. Laura met with both sections of the course to outline the project and provide initial guidance. Assignment description here. 

The College of Education faculty added in additional criteria to better fit the learning goals of their courses. For example, students were required to include an activity with a sensory aspect. At the end of the semester, students turned in their proposals, which were reviewed and edited by Laura and Stephanie. Proposals were edited and revised as necessary to fit library guidelines, space restrictions, etc. 

The Children's Literacy and Learning Bags can be used in the library or checked out by anyone with University of Arkansas Libraries borrowing priveleges. This includes students, faculty, and staff along with community borrowers and other affiliated users. 

The bags are targeted at toddler aged children through fifth or sixth grade. Bags are divided into three age or interest / ability groups, and items are stored in color coded backpacks. 

• Red backpacks contain materials for toddler and preschool aged children. Board books with colors and textures are emphasized along with gross motor skill activities. 

• Blue backpacks contain materials for early elementary aged children. The books in these bags are for children who are beginning to read up to a 2nd grade reading level. Materials include games, puzzles, and other learning activities. 

• Black backpacks contain materials for upper elementary aged children. Books included are at or above a third grade reading level. More complex learning activities, games, and puzzles are included. 

Each bag contains at least four books and at least three toys or learning activities. The librarian took care to select a range of books for each bag, including both fiction and nonfiction titles. Attention was paid to the diversity books brought to the kit. Toys and activities were selected to provide children with something they could work on somewhat independently, with the goal that these bags could be used by parents hoping to study while in the library. Multiple types of toys were included in each bag (crafts, puzzles, sensory toys, etc.). 

Information about the Children's Literacy and Learning Bags as well as a list of available bags and their content can be found on the University of Arkansas Libraries' OneSearch platform for "Children's literacy & learning bags."

Fifteen bags are currently available on the following topics:

• Pre-readers / Toddlers

  •  Colors

  • Community Helpers

  • Seasons*

  • The Five Senses

  • Vehicles

• Beginning Readers - Grade 2 / Early Elementary 

  • Animals*

  • Money 

  • Pizza Fractions* 

  • Plants

  • Space*

• Grades 3 - 6 / Upper Elementary 

  • Foods Around the World* 

  • Poetry* 

  • Reptiles 

  • The Human Body

Bags marked with an asterix (*) were co-designed with University of Arkansas College of Education students. 

We reviewed similar kits at other public and academic libraries and partnered with our technical services librarians to develop our cataloging plan. Bags are cataloged as kits, with details about the included books and activities included in the record. All bags are cataloged within a series to allow for easily viewing the entire collection within the discovery system, and simple call numbers were assigned. Example catalog record. 

Decisions about the furniture and toys for the Family Study Space were based on a careful review of similar spaces in other libraries, conversations with caregivers, and considerations toward future library renovation plans. A major library renovation was planned for the near future, and we hope to create a space that contained some furniture pieces that could be reused while not purchasing large items that would restrict the design of any future space. 

The Family Study Space is divided by decorative panels into a children's play area and an adult work area. The children's play area includes child-size furniture along with toys designed to inspire imaginative play. The adult workspace is outfitted similarly to other library study rooms, with modular, rectangular tables and two large monitors on opposite walls. There is room for approximately six adults in the adult study space.