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Infants/Toddlers
Science has proven that those first few years of a child’s life are some of the most critical for brain development. “Sensory pathways such as hearing, language, and higher cognitive function all peak by the first three years of life.” (zerotothree.org) Librarians focus their efforts on a collection of materials that will enable this development. You’ll find board books that are easy for a young child to hold, that have bright and engaging pictures, and simple words in connection with objects for vocabulary building. Some books will have sensory experiences, such as various textures or sounds, and others will have mirrors for facial recognition. In addition to the collection, librarians also create and implement infant/toddler story times based on developmental needs. This may include, but is not limited to, reading age-appropriate stories in a fun and entertaining way to develop language, playing music and/or singing songs to encourage listening and repeating skills, and some of those higher cognitive skills, such as games and finger plays.
Additional Resources:
Department of Education – Reading Rockets
American Library Association - Impact on Reading and Literacy
Preschool
Preschoolers are generally considered to be children ages 3-6; they are no longer toddlers and aren’t quite ready for kindergarten yet. This is the age where many children start grasping beginning reading and math skills. Librarians are always on the lookout for materials that invite these skills, such as alphabet and counting books. Many of the library programs and story times offered for this age group focus on games, arts and crafts, puppets, and imagination, all of which help develop gross motor, fine motor, and cooperative play skills. “The most important mode of learning during this stage is playing.” (childdevelopmentinfo.com) You might also observe parachute play, dancing, jokes, basic question and answer sequences, simple instruction following, and demonstrations of respect and understanding. These activities are specifically designed to address preschool developmental skills.
Additional Resources:
Children's Librarians Are Experts at Preparing Children for Kindergarten
U.S. Department of Health - Head Start: Supporting Children Through Public Library Partnerships
Elementary
“The developmental and educational opportunities that children have access to in their early years have a lasting impact on their health as adults.” (US Dept. of Health & Human Services) Librarians want children to be successful human beings, so a concentrated effort is put into services that will help them grow and learn. This is the age where many children want to participate in hands-on activities, often in group settings among peers. Many libraries offer after-school clubs and programs to meet these needs. These programs might include STEAM activities, book clubs, and friendly literature-based competitions. Librarians also have great interest in developing life-long readers, so they will often spend time talking with children and researching popular topics of interest and make those a priority when developing the collection. It’s important that this collection be balanced based on interest levels and the needs of the community, as well as provide a variety of mediums that may enhance understanding and usage. This is also the age when children begin receiving homework assignments, so librarians are prepared to assist parents and their children in finding the appropriate materials, databases, and information websites to aid in these assignments.
Additional Resources:
Why Care About School Libraries
Help Teaching - 4 Ways Libraries Benefit Kids
Middle School
Middle school children are developing language and cognitive skills at a much faster rate at this point in their lives. They are also discovering who they are and looking to fit in with their peers. “This is an important time for children to gain a sense of responsibility along with their growing independence.” (cdc.gov) Librarians that work with this age group are carefully keyed in to social and emotional needs, and well as protecting and encouraging self-esteem through positive programs and materials. It’s important to note here, however, that the library is a safe space and always receptive to conversations about individuality and peer pressure. It can be tricky to draw this age group in, so librarians create or reproduce programs and attractions that often contain pop culture references, technology exploration, and Maker opportunities with correlating books and other materials. Since this age group typically has a longer attention span, you might see longer programs being offered as well.
Additional Resources:
Edutopia: Boosting Students' Literacy Skills With Help From the School Librarian
Digital Promise: How A Middle School Library Promotes Maker Learning for All Students
High School
“Adolescence is known for being a time for teens to assert their independence from family and begin to make decisions on their own.” (youth.gov)
This requires librarians to tailor their resources for teens that are learning how to “adult.” Most teen librarians balance programs, displays, and materials between preparing for college and/or the workforce, teaching and enhancing life skills, and other fun and inventive programs that offer peer connection and creativity opportunities. Librarians work hard to create a safe space for all teens, which lays a foundation for building that independence.
Additional Resources:
Edutopia - A Library Is A Field Trip With Lifelong Benefits
Kappan - Why School Librarians Matter: What Years of Research Tell Us
American Library Association - High School Library/Libraries Matter
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