University of Kentucky (University of Kentucky School of Information Science)

The University of Kentucky, in collaboration with the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, the State Library of Indiana, and the State Library of Ohio, will conduct a three-year research project to investigate public library storytime programs' support of school readiness of young children. The research team will videorecord 72 storytime sessions in 36 public libraries across three states to observe interactions between librarians, children, and adult participants and administer two surveys: one to parents/caregivers and one to librarians. Based on findings and a comprehensive needs assessment, the team will develop guidelines and digital learning modules to train librarians and other community program providers. Because few studies of adult-child interactions or the language environment of young children have taken place in informal learning contexts beyond the classrooms and homes of young children and little empirical evidence exists regarding the development of high quality public library storytime programming, the project will contribute substantially to the professional knowledge base.