University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Seeking early literacy for all: An investigation of children’s librarians and parents of young children with disabilities’ experiences at the public library

Prendergast, Tess

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/94949

Description

Title
Seeking early literacy for all: An investigation of children’s librarians and parents of young children with disabilities’ experiences at the public library
Author(s)
Prendergast, Tess
Issue Date
2016
Keyword(s)
  • Children with disabilities
  • Children in early literacy programs
Abstract
This qualitative study explores children’s librarianship and early literacy in the lives of children with disabilities. Informed by critical disability theory, underpinned by Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological development theory, this project was constructed as an interpretive case study. Eleven children’s librarians working in western Canada were asked about providing early literacy resources for children with disabilities in their libraries, and fourteen parents of young children with disabilities living in the same region were asked about their children’s experiences in public libraries. Scans of twenty ALA-accredited institutions’ course offerings and other professional development training opportunities related to early literacy and disability topics provided additional context. Librarians commented on the relative rarity of children with disabilities at their libraries, while parents were seen to be reluctant to approach librarians to discuss their children’s needs. The parent interviews revealed a broad range of experiences, as some families found their libraries accommodating and others’ experiences were less positive. Even with the very small sample size, the study’s findings support a rationale for more responsive, inclusive early literacy experiences for, and research about, young children with disabilities in public libraries today.
Publisher
Johns Hopkins University Press and the Illinois School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/94949
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2016.0023
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2016 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Owning Collections

Library Trends 65 (1) Summer 2016: Library Services for the Early Years PRIMARY
Library Trends 65 (1) Summer 2016: Library Services for the Early Years. Edited by Carolynn Rankin