Youth Services
Pennsylvania’s public libraries are passionately committed to strengthening children’s early learning. The Cruise into Kindergarten initiative was designed to provide a recognizable umbrella for the library’s early literacy programs and outreach throughout the state.
Pennsylvania’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood are research-based according to age and development, and form the foundation for curriculum, assessment, instruction and intervention within early care and education programs.
The Pennsylvania One Book initiative is a valuable program that highlights the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers and the significance of reading early and often to children, as well as engaging them in conversation and other activities around books. The program has remained successful in part due to the partnership of collaborating agencies that all support early childhood literacy efforts. Each year, a different children’s picture book is chosen by the committee to be highlighted.
Collaborative Summer Library Program
The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, teens, and adults at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries.
Building Equity-Based Summers’ learning sessions show how to seek out systemically marginalized voices for guidance in designing and delivering library services.
Click here to access the State Library of Pennsylvania STEMlab collection.
This guide provides an overview of the skills and knowledge necessary for youth services professionals to provide excellent library service to youth from birth through age 18. The guide is intended to be a tool for both the staff providing services to youth and teens and the administrators leading the direction of library service.