Every Child Ready to Read: Taking Early Literacy Messages to WIC Centers

Abstract

As part of a system-wide family engagement outreach effort to promote early literacy in low-income communities, Baltimore County (MD) Public Library staff visit all WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) centers in Baltimore County monthly. At these visits, librarians engage with families who are in the waiting areas before their WIC appointments. Each family is given a bag containing early literacy resources, including books, library card applications and fliers, information on early literacy programs and services, tip sheets for promoting the Every Child Ready to Read 2 practices, and Technology Tips for children ages birth to five.