The Office of Commonwealth Libraries invites you to register for the first of four quarterly Early Childhood Conversations (ECC) sessions in 2025. This community of practice series is for all library staff and volunteers providing services to children ages 0-8, including school librarians and library school students. Each virtual session on Microsoft Teams encourages meaningful dialogue, resource sharing, and innovative program development tailored to community needs.
Whether you’re new to library services or an experienced professional, ECC25 offers valuable insights and connections for those involved in early childhood programming, outreach, and community engagement. The first session of 2025 will be held Wednesday, February 26 from 1:30-3:00 PM. Future ECC25 sessions will be held in April, August, and November. Specific dates and times are TBD. Participants will have the opportunity to help shape future discussion topics.
Winter Session Focus: Community Outreach Strategies
Explore creative approaches to engage families outside traditional library spaces. We’ll discuss ways to build partnerships with local organizations, develop pop-up programming in unconventional spaces, and strengthen connections with historically marginalized communities. Participants will share ideas, learn from successful outreach initiatives, and leave with actionable strategies to expand their library’s impact.
Registration for each ECC25 session will be conducted individually. To register for the winter session, please visit https://forms.office.com/g/Peve07u1Z9
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the Early Childhood Conversations
What is a Community of Practice?
A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of individuals with a shared passion or professional interest who come together to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices in a specific domain. In this context, the CoP focuses on enhancing early childhood services in public libraries.
Who can participate in these conversations?
Participation is open to all individuals committed to library service for children aged 0-8. This includes children’s services staff from public libraries, volunteers, library directors, school librarians, and library school students concerned with all aspects of library service to young children.
How will the conversations benefit participants?
The conversations are designed to be dynamic information exchange sessions, facilitating the sharing of best practices, innovative ideas, and successful strategies for early childhood services in libraries. Participants will build valuable professional connections with colleagues across the state, collaborate with peers to address common challenges and explore innovative solutions, as well as gain access to resources shared by participants, including program materials, event ideas, and successful initiatives, enhancing your toolkit for creating engaging early childhood programs.
Do I need a working microphone and camera to participate in either opportunity?
While not explicitly required, it’s extremely helpful to have access to a working microphone and camera. Sessions are highly participatory with group conversation, breakouts, and collaborative activities. In addition to the information exchange, building professional relationships with one another in a supportive environment is a fundamental element of communities of practice.
Will the sessions be recorded?
No, the sessions will not be recorded. We encourage active participation and engagement during the live sessions to foster dynamic discussions and knowledge sharing among participants.
Can I get a Continuing Education Certificate for attending?
As these are information exchange conversations and not formal training sessions, continuing education credits are not available for the Early Childhood Conversations.
Join us in this exciting opportunity to enhance early childhood library services and make a positive impact on young children and their families across Pennsylvania. For more information, please contact Heather Smith, Early Childhood Services Advisor for the Bureau of Library Development.
The Bureau of Library Development (BLD) in the Office of Commonwealth Libraries supports libraries and library services for Pennsylvanians through the administration of state and federally funded programs and grant opportunities including LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act), Library Access, LAMP (Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians), the Public Library Subsidy, and Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities. BLD also provides advisory services, professional development, and continuing education for library staff and volunteer leadership at public, school, academic, and special libraries.
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