U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services
ACF
Administration for Children and Families
Information Memorandum
To: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies; Tribal Head Start and Tribal CCDF Agencies; Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Administrators
FROM: Joint memorandum from the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Inter-Departmental Liaison for Early Childhood Development, the Office of Head Start, and the Office of Child Care
Subject: Head Start, Child Care, and Public Libraries: Partnerships to Support Young Children and Their Families
Accompanying this Information Memorandum are key resources that include a handout and links to useful websites.
The first resource is A Sampling of Public Libraries & Various Possible Benefits to Early Childhood Programs and the Children & Families They Serve. It includes examples of programs and services within libraries of all sizes based upon the needs of their own unique community. The end of this document also includes a sampling of both local and national websites sponsored by libraries and links to research articles.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. IMLS encourages partnerships among libraries and community organizations, and it supports a wide range of early learning activities that engage children as well as their parents and caregivers. Visit the IMLS website at www.imls.gov for more information.
State Library Administrative Agency
Each state has identified a State Library Administrative Agency that is responsible for assessing library services and developing a five-year plan. Federal funds are allocated to each State Library Administrative Agency through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The Museum and Library Services Act encourages State Library Administrative Agencies, where appropriate, to develop plans that coordinate resources, programs, and activities. Head Start programs and CCDF grantees can get contact information for their State Library Administrative Agency at http://www.imls.gov/programs/libraries.shtm.
Nearest Public Library
The Institute of Museum and Library Services provides a search tool to locate public libraries in your area. You can enter your city and state (or zip code) and the tool will provide the address and phone number for local libraries. The tool is available at http://harvester.census.gov/imls/search/index.asp.
Please direct any questions on this Information Memorandum to:
Kiersten Beigel
Family and Community Partnerships Specialist
Office of Head Start
(202) 260-4869
Carolyn Dean
Special Assistant to the Director
Office of Child Care
(202) 260-4985
Thank you for your work on behalf of children and families.
/Linda K. Smith/
Linda K. Smith
Deputy Assistant Secretary
and Inter-Departmental Liaison
for Early Childhood Development
/Yvette Sanchez Fuentes/
Yvette Sanchez Fuentes
Director
Office of Head Start
/Shannon L. Rudisill/
Shannon L. Rudisill
Director
Office of Child Care