Early Learning Awards

Franklin County Library System earned two Pennsylvania Library Association Early Learning Awards in April. We celebrate this achievement, especially since it was our county's first time to receive the prestigious honor.

Amanda Flagle and Rose Trombetta accepted the award for their 2008 "One Book, Every Young Child" outreach programs with preschools in the area. Bernice Crouse and representatives of our Head Start partnership received the award for our joint program assisting librarians, teachers, caregivers, and parents with meeting the social and emotional needs of preschoolers. Components of this program include a website and blog for those interested in the topic -- blog at http://www.frwholechild.blogspot.com/ , website at http://www.freewebs.com/frwholechild . This has become one of our busiest blogs.

Our winners were photographed with Wendell and Florence Minor, illustrator and author of PA's 2009 One Book, Every Young Child selection, If You Were a Penguin.

Head Start representatives are Terri Monn, Jennifer Rodgers, and Kay Witmer, who designed the Whole Child project with Bernice Crouse at a summer 2008 Governor's Institute.

New Head Start Partnership

I am excited to tell you about a new project that developed out of my attendance at the Governor's Institute on Pre-K learning last week. Three teachers from Franklin County Head Start and I were on a team together, which decided to create a new online support group of early childhood educators, caregivers, and children's public library staff. We will be sharing information on a new blog at http://www.frcowholechild.blogspot.com/. Look there for information on the social and emotional wellness of preschoolers and ideas on how to apply that information to preschool education and parenting. We hope to eventually create a new webpage with links to great whole child resources online.