In 1996, the Cleveland Public Library began to consider how best to meet the needs of children and families of low-income inner city neighborhoods. The Cleveland Public Library then expanded the program to include the concepts of a national early childhood literacy model. The central programming component for the Family Learning Connection is a series of five parent-child workshops that function like a toddler playgroup where parents and children come together for fingerplay, music, crafts, and socialization. Librarians enhance the sessions with library orientation, child development instruction, parenting guidance, and by arranging for assistance from other professionals from outside agencies, such as a hospital, the YMCA, or Headstart. The professionals, often nutritionists, speech pathologists, or physical therapists, circulate informally within the group, providing early detection of developmental delays and introducing parents to community resources that can help.
Parents appreciate the opportunity to meet with professionals in an informal setting.
I want him to have all the help he can. I take two buses to come here to the library so he can be in this program. The program has been a big success at the inner city Woodland Branch. Annisha Jefferies, the administrator of the program there, says that the response to the first workshop was overwhelming. The first day there were 40 people.