EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: CALL TO ACTION

Growing Young Minds: How Museums and Libraries Create Lifelong 

Learners calls upon policy makers and practitioners to fully use the capacity 

of libraries and museums to close knowledge and opportunity gaps and 

give all children a strong start in learning. Libraries and museums can play 

a significant role in early learning for all children. As our nation commits 

to early learning as a national priority essential to our economic and civic 

future, it is time to become more intentional about engaging these vital 

community resources. Libraries and museums reach millions of parents and 

children each year. They are trusted, welcoming places where children make 

discoveries, deepen common interests, expand words and knowledge, and 

connect their natural curiosity to the wider world. Neuroscientists tell us that 

the type of learning that occurs in these institutions—self-directed, experiential, content-rich—promotes executive function skills that can shape a 

child’s success in school and life. These experiences and interactions build 

brains and fuel a love of learning.

Parents know this and flock to museums and libraries

not only to support their child’s learning but also to 

bolster their important role as their child’s first teacher. 

The Pew Research Center’s recent report, Parents’ and 

Children’s Special Relationship with Reading and Libraries, documents that an overwhelming percentage of 

parents of young children, especially those with annual 

incomes under $50,000, believe that libraries are “very 

important” for their children, and are eager for more 

and varied family library services.1

How Museums and 

Libraries Create 

Lifelong Learners

Growing Young Minds
e have to work to ensure that

more children and parents, especially those at low socioeconomic 

levels, can tap into the learning 

resources of libraries and museums. According to a recent Institute of Museum 

and Library Services (IMLS) analysis, only 

36 percent of children with the lowest socioeconomic status visited libraries in their kindergarten year, compared to 66 percent of children 

in the highest; for museums, these figures are 

43 percent versus 65 percent.2

 Recent research 

points out that the disparity of access to learning resources between children of affluence and 

those in poverty has created a knowledge gap 

with serious implications for students’ economic 

prosperity and social mobility.3

These data underscore the urgency of this report. 

Libraries—public and school—and museums of 

all types—art, history, and children’s museums; 

science centers; nature centers and gardens; 

aquaria; and zoos—form an extensive, diverse 

system of informal learning that is equipped to 

deliver early learning resources to young children and families, especially those most in need. 

Yet, in too many communities, museums and 

libraries are not “at the table” helping to craft 

the policies and practices that link children and 

their families to early learning resources.

It is critical to act now to incorporate, and leverage, the well-established informal learning 

system of museums and libraries as an essential 

component of our nation’s early learning network. It is a wise use of limited fiscal and human 

resources that will help our nation develop the 

potential of every child and result in a stronger economy, a more effective workforce, and a 

nation of learners. With an increased focus on 

their capacity, these institutions can be more 

essential early learning partners at the community, state, and national levels.

IMLS supports many of the programs and case 

studies highlighted in Growing Young Minds. 

This federal agency has a long history of identifying and funding innovative approaches that 

put young learners at the center and help social, 

civic, cultural, and educational organizations 

work in partnership in communities and at the 

state and national levels.

With this report, IMLS is deepening and expanding its commitment to the youngest and most 

at-risk children in the United States to assure 

that libraries and museums reach underserved 

children and provide opportunities that can 

make a difference and last a lifetime.

W
As We Work Together 

to Meet Our Nation’s 

Early Learning Challenges, 

Museums and Libraries Are:

Community anchors that provide 

safe and accessible civic spaces promoting lifelong learning, cultural 

enrichment, and civic engagement, 

especially for underserved and vulnerable families and their children. 

Connectors that bridge the generations and bring children, their parents, and their families together in 

fun and nonthreatening settings that 

build mutual knowledge, skills, and 

self-efficacy. 

Innovative learning specialists that 

create exhibits, outreach programs, 

and environments that invite handson experiential learning.

Stewards of rich cultural, scientific, 

environmental, and historical heritages, which offer robust collections 

of resources appealing to all disciplines and levels of learners. 

Digital hubs that provide guidance 

for navigating new technologies and 

identify trusted online resources to 

help close the digital divide for all 

children, their parents, and caregivers.

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Positioning children for meeting expectations of the Common Core State Standards Museums and libraries 

are stewards of cultural, scientific, historical, and environmental heritage, offering rich collections of books 

and objects that span all disciplines and knowledge levels. They offer exhibits, environments, and programs 

that foster the interest-driven, project-based learning that is emphasized in the new K–12 Common Core 

State Standards for Literacy and Math and the Next Generation Science Standards. 

Creating seamless links across early learning and the early grades Libraries and museums support a growing 

number of school-based efforts to build a coordinated set of learning experiences and effective transition 

practices that span the preschool years through the third grade. Many have developed curricula that scaffold 

increasingly advancing skills and knowledge, as well as partnerships that promote a smooth transition into 

kindergarten. 

Supporting development of executive function and “deeper learning” skills through literacy and STEM-based 

experiences Museums and libraries help lay the foundations for later learning and academic and career 

success, including basic literacy, reading, and STEM. They are adept “brain builders,” offering learning environments that address the important social, emotional, and cognitive aspects of learning and foster persistence, 

self-direction, critical thinking, and problem solving. 

Engaging and supporting families as their child’s first teachers As trusted community anchors, museums and 

libraries are natural and safe places where families can learn together and access useful resources. Parents, 

grandparents, and caregivers can borrow books, backpacks, and other materials for home use; learn how to 

actively engage in age-appropriate interactions with their children; and locate high-quality child and health 

care providers and other local services. 

Increasing high-quality early learning experiences Libraries and museums play a particularly critical role for 

parents and providers caring for children in home-based programs. For many poor and vulnerable children, 1 they function as community “touch points,” creating engaging pathways into knowledge- and skill-building. 

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10 ways

museums and libraries support early learning efforts

There are 10 key ways in which museums and libraries are currently supporting 

communities’ efforts to develop a strong start for young children’s learning.
Adding capacity to early learning networks State library administrative agencies and, in many states, museum 

associations can help link libraries and museums with state-based policies and programs. They stand ready to 

participate actively as a growing number of states build shared seamless, outcomes-based systems of care, 

services, education, and family supports for young children. 

Leveraging Community Partnerships Libraries and museums are successfully forging strong collaborative 

relationships across multiple community sectors—including schools, public broadcasting, housing authorities, hospitals, family health centers, municipal governments, corporations, and universities—to map and 

address gaps in service provision and programs. 

Improving family health and nutrition Museums and libraries help ensure that all families have access to 

needed health information and resources. Many offer developmental screenings and vaccination programs; 

advice and programs on nutrition, exercise, and gardening; and healthy activities for family members of all 

ages. 

Linking new digital technologies to learning With their free public access to the Internet, libraries are important community digital hubs, with expertise in promoting digital, media, and information literacy. Museums 

and school and public libraries are rich sources of accessible digital media, educational apps, videos, and 

audio- and e-books, with staff trained to help parents and youth select age-appropriate, content-based, 

curriculum-linked materials. 

Addressing the summer slide Libraries and museums are important partners in efforts to help children sustain learning during the summer months. Museum visits increase during the summer, with many offering 

special programs that support continued content and skills learning. School and public libraries are community lynchpins in providing children with access to materials they need to maintain and advance their 

reading skills over the summer months. 

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Libraries and museums are trusted, welcoming 

places where children connect their natural 

curiosity to the wider world.
Recommendations for Action

Libraries and museums can improve early learning outcomes, increase school readiness, and help 

all children, especially those most at risk, read 

and succeed at grade three and beyond.

Everyone has a role to play.

Federal policy makers can: 

 Leverage grants that support museums and 

libraries as learning partners. 

 Support research on the impact of informal 

learning. 

 Invest in institutional capacity for museums 

and libraries.

State policy makers can: 

 Recognize museums and libraries in early 

learning policy. 

 Link museum and library services more 

intentionally to K–12 education.

 Incorporate museums and libraries into 

support for community-based initiatives.

Communities can:

 Support the roles of libraries and museums 

in providing quality programs and services 

for all children, especially those in family, 

friend, and neighbor care situations.

 Enhance the use of libraries and museums for 

vulnerable populations by addressing such 

resources as transportation and broadband 

access. 

 Consider museums and libraries as community hubs where educators and parents come 

together to access and explore the effective 

use of content, collections, and technology.

Schools and Early Learning Programs can:

 Offer joint professional development to 

teachers, school librarians, and museum and 

public library staff to create a shared understanding of standards, curricula, best practice, and outcomes. 

 Establish partnerships with local libraries and 

museums to provide programs and resources 

that support new expectations for building 

content knowledge, including school readiness and the P–K transition. 

 Fully engage school librarians as important 

learning and literacy resources.

Museums and libraries can: 

 Establish strong partnerships with a wide 

range of community organizations.

 Provide parental and family support and 

access to quality programs and services, especially for vulnerable populations. 
 Create links to schools that support local 

education priorities and policies, including 

Common Core and other state standards.

 Incorporate recent research on the brain, 

executive function, and learning into exhibits 

and programs.

 Embed rigorous evaluation into program 

development and base programs on research 

and evidence.

Parents, grandparents, and caregivers can:

 Visit libraries and museums with their children and join with them in discovering programs and services that support effective and 

enjoyable child development and learning.

 Speak up to staff about the programs and services that they would like to see in their local 

library and museum.

 Find out whether their local library or 

museum has resources that can help with 

their child’s transition to kindergarten, homework, or health and nutrition needs. 

Funders can:

 Endorse public-private partnerships to advance the role of museums and libraries in 

early learning. 

 Develop grant initiatives to support innovative partnerships among libraries, museums, 

and other community organizations.

 Support an enhanced research agenda about 

the effectiveness of libraries and museums on 

the development of young children.

learn more

Read the full report, Growing Young Minds: How 

Museums and Libraries Create Lifelong Learners, 

at www.imls.gov/earlylearning.

endnotes

1

Miller, C., Zickuhr, K., Rainie, L., & Purcell, K. (2013). Parents’ and 

Children’s Special Relationship with Reading and Libraries. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.

2

Swan, D. W., & Manjarrez, C. A. (2013). Children’s Visitation to 

Libraries and Museums. Research Brief series, no. 1 

(IMLS-2013-RB-01). Washington, DC: Institute of Museum and 

Library Services. 

3

Neuman, S., & Celano, D. (2012). Giving Our Children a Fighting 

Chance: Poverty, Literacy, and the Development of Information 

Capital. New York: Teachers College Press, Columbia University.

Credits: Design & Production: Shagas Design / Photography Credits: Cover, 

top: Diana Guay, courtesy of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Cover, 

bottom: Courtesy of Omaha Children’s Museum. P2: Photo by Paul Spect, 

courtesy of Boston Children’s Museum. P7: Susie Fitzhugh. Back cover: Photo 

by Patrick Bennett, courtesy of Washington’s King County Library System.
1800 M Street NW, 9th Floor Washington, DC 20036 202-653-IMLS (4657) www.imls.gov

The Campaign for

GRADE-LEVEL

READING

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 

123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and 

research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and 

individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/

USIMLS and Twitter US_IMLS.

This report was made possible through our partnership with the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.