Library and Information Science Program receives $917,000 grant from the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
University to partner with area libraries and preschools to support 10 college students
The University of
The project will prepare librarians qualified to work with very young children in achieving early literacy. The LIS Program will partner with the Arapahoe Library District, the Colorado State Library, Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy and Douglas County Libraries, Clayton Early Learning Institute, Denver Preschool Program, Family Educational Network of Weld County, the DU Child Family & School Psychology Program, and Fisher Early Learning Center.
"The community need addressed by this project is the demand for more public librarians to help very young children acquire early literacy skills," says Mary Stansbury, director of the LIS Program. "The primary goal is to increase the number of librarians with specialized degrees who can serve the early literacy needs of very young children, caregivers, families, educators and community coalitions in
As a part of their training, the fellows will gain practical experience through placement in diverse public libraries and preschools. They also will be required to take coursework in various aspects of child psychology, and to demonstrate existing or learned Spanish-language proficiency. Project staff also will develop guidelines and training materials to help public libraries and preschools establish early childhood literacy programs.
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This is the second time DU has received a grant from the program. In 2008, nearly $1 million was awarded to recruit and educate ten new law librarians.
For more information on the Library and Information Science Program, click here http://www.du.edu/education/programs/lis/index.html