ELF Goals & Values

PRIMARY GOALS:

• Enhance library staff skills in serving young children (0-5), their families and caregivers.
• Foster the inclusion of parents and families as the primary influence in their children's lives.
• Support programs and services that are enriching, developmentally appropriate, and responsive to the needs of young children, their families and caregivers.

SECONDARY GOALS:

• Increase the number of young children, families and childcare providers who utilize library services – with special emphasis on reaching high-need, at-risk populations.
• Increase community awareness of public libraries as early learning resources that help to assure the future success of the young children they serve!

VALUES:

• All children are born ready to learn and all parents have strengths.
• Children's development unfolds along individual pathways that are often interrelated but uneven.
• Children's primary mode of learning is through play and exploration.
• Responsive human relationships are essential to children's development and wellbeing.
• Families are a child's first and most powerful influence – they know their child best.
• Every child is recognized as an individual with unique abilities, personality traits, learning styles, interests, needs, and ways of responding to the world.
• Public libraries are important community centers that offer a wealth of resources and rich learning experiences that support children and families.
• Library staff can inspire and nurture a sense of wonder, discovery and self-efficacy that encourages families and their children to become life-long learners and library users.