Module 9: Internet Searching

I selected the Library, Literacy, and Books Services (LLABS) site created by the California State Library and the California Children and Families Commission (First 5 California) as the website for my blog topic of early literacy and public libraries.

LLABS is a program that brings library outreach to rural and low income communities. LLABS vehicles provide programming similar to literacy programs found in a public library, for example, "story times, language development activities such as puppet shows, and books for circulating and giving away," says Carole Talan, Adult and Family Literacy Specialist for the California State Library.

The url is http://www.literacynet.org/llabs/index.html.

I used Dogpile to find this site.

Module 8: MultiMedia

The Framework for Reading Comprehension

This chart shows the domains of knowledge a child must master in order to learn to read English. This is from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory at www.sedl.org/pubs/sedletter/v11n01/3.html.

I selected this chart because it demonstrates the many aspects that go into being able to read and which skills are dependent on one another.

Skills Necessary for Reading

This is from the Time4Learning website: www.time4learning.com/.../comprehension.htm. This pyramid presents the basic concepts and abilities a child needs in order to learn to read.

I selected this chart because it shows both the skills necessary for eventual literacy and the age ranges during which most children develop these skills. Also, because it groups the skills, it provides a better context for understanding how the skills build on one another.

Module 7: Social Networking: MySpace

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=234586119

This image and post are from The Library Fairy site on MySpace. I selected this site because the activities The Library Fairy uses in her programs are great ways to promote literacy and early literacy, specifically the acting out of stories.

My MySpace profile can be found at: http://www.myspace.com/mlsmss

Module 6: LexisNexis--Successive Fractions search

I created a Successive Fractions search in LexisNexis. I limited the search to the last six months.
My S1 was my broadest facet = Program* or outreach = more than 3000
I narrowed this by adding "Public Library."
S2 = (Program* or outreach) and “Public library” = more than 3000
I narrowed again by adding (Toddler or Infant).
S3 = (Program* or outreach) and “Public library” and (Toddler or Infant) = 783
The final narrowing was with "Early Literacy."
S4 = (Program* or outreach) and “Public library” and (Toddler or Infant) and “Early Literacy” = 15

Here are screen shots of my search and the list of results.






My first hit:
Reflection on Search: Most of these articles are calendars for public library programming. They definitely indicate an interest on the part of public libraries in supporting early literacy. One of the programs listed in my first hit:

Early Literacy Workshops
By appointment
Do you work with children ages birth-5 years and their parents and caregivers? Please consider contacting an Early Literacy trainer to arrange an Early Literacy workshop at your location. These workshops are FREE and are ideal for parents and caregivers or for those working in early childcare settings. In our Early Literacy workshops, we discuss the importance of developing pre-reading skills in children long before they start school, the six skills that researchers have identified as being crucial for children to develop before they start learning to read in school and demonstrate age-appropriate techniques and activities that can be used by parents, caregivers and early childcare professionals to help children develop these skills.
Workshops that are available are: Early Talkers (birth to two-year-olds), Talkers (two- to three-year-olds), PreReaders (four- and five-year olds).
Workshops will be scheduled based upon the availability of our trainers and the number of requests for workshops that are received. For more information, please contact the Children's Department at 343-4646 x234.

Module 6: Project Muse--Building Block Search

I completed a Building Block search in Project Muse.
S1 = "Early Literacy" or "Reading Readiness" = 26
S2 = Library = 17786
S3 = Program* = 34455
S4 = "Early Literacy" or "Reading Readiness" and Library and Program* = 9
Here is a copy of my search in the database.

First Hit:

McKechnie, LynneObservations of Babies and Toddlers in Library SettingsLibrary Trends - Volume 55, Number 1, Summer 2006, pp. 190-201 - Article[View HTML] [View PDF] Subject Headings:Library science -- Research -- United States -- Methodology.Observation (Psychology)Behavioral assessment of children -- United States.Abstract
Participant observation, unlike the more traditional approach of querying adults about children's experiences, is identified as an appropriate and effective method for studying babies and toddlers in public library settings in order to explore these experiences from the children's own perspectives. In an observation study of eleven, thirty-minute baby storytimes conducted at two branches of a large public library system, the naturally occurring behavior of the children captured through observation field notes and audio-recording and transcription of the program successfully revealed numerous incidents of emergent literacy activities and social interaction. This article discusses the practicalities of implementing participant observation in storytime programs for very young children. Special requirements related to informed consent, the need to protect baby and toddler participants, and the challenge of gaining and maintaining access are addressed. Included is an appendix of recommended observation, child development, and research methods texts.

Reflection on Search: This search didn’t come up with as many relevant hits as my searches in ERIC and Library Literature. I thought about stopping with the original 26 hits from my fist string, but felt like the majority of them were not relevant. In the end, four of the nine articles I found seem to be helpful.

Module 6: ERIC through EBSCOhost--Specific Facet First

I preformed a Specific Facet First search in ERIC (EBSCOhost). The first search I completed was for Early Literacy. S1 = Specific Facet = "Early Literacy" = 844 hits

I narrowed this search by adding Library. S2 = "Early Literacy" and Library = 40 hits
I changed Library to "Public Library" for my final search. S3 = "Early Literacy" and "Public Library" = 9 hits
First Hit:
Reflection on Search: I like this search even more than the last. All of the articles do relate to children’s literacy programs and some of them address things I haven't heard of before, like the Flannel Board article. One of the articles from the previous search, “Born to Read: Florida Style,” appeared in this search also.

Module 6: Library Literature--Pearl Citataion Building Approach

I preformed a Pearl Citation Building search in the Library Literature database through Wilson Web.
Starting with the article, “Coming Together for Children: a Guide to Early Childhood Programming,” I found the Subject Heading of Children's library services/Services to pre-school children.



I used this subject heading for my first search.
S1 = Children's library services/Services to pre-school children SU = 280

The new subject headings that appeared included: Children’s library services/Services to pre-school children and Children s reading/Projects. I used these two subject headings to revise my search and came up with 17 hits.
S2 = (Children’s library services/Services to pre-school children) SU AND (Children s reading/Projects) SU = 17

First Hit: Reflection on Search: I feel pretty good about this search. All of the articles do relate to children’s literacy programs in libraries, and many of them relate specifically to preschool and infant early literacy programs. I have discovered through my research that Multnomah County in Oregon has done a great deal of early literacy programming.