Horizons Partners with Boston Public Library to Bring Literacy Expertise to our Youngest Readers
The Frederick W. Worcester Children’s Library at Horizons is where literacy, learning, imagination, and inclusion come together. Our library is a space where children build a foundation for academic success, but it’s more than just letters and words. The library and its content were intentionally designed to allow children to see themselves reflected in the books they read, which boosts their self-awareness and self-esteem. With over 3,000 titles in seven languages, our library offers stories where every child can see themselves and dream big.
Horizons works with students as young as 3 months old, and our littlest infant and toddler students can’t as easily all walk down to the library to find their favorite story on the shelf, but that does not mean that their literacy education is any less important.
Bringing books to children since 1848
The Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America and was the very first to have a children’s room, proof that the BPL has long been committed to early literacy. Earlier this year, Horizons established a new partnership with the Boston Public Library (BPL), partnering to provide expert instruction and resources for our teachers, students and their families.
Emily Donnelly, Children’s Outreach Librarian at Boston Public Library, and Claire Waldron-Gross, Children’s Librarian at the Egleston Square Branch Library, visit Horizons’ infant and toddler classrooms monthly to bring biweekly library programming to our students and share her expert knowledge with our teachers. “Activities that build early literacy skills (at home, on the go, and through library programming) are particularly important in the first three years of life,” said Donnelly. “This is a time when a child’s brain undergoes enormous changes; millions of connections are being built and strengthened, but brain cells that aren’t being used or accessed are pruned away.”
She brings books to read, of course, but also other interactive toys that relate to the stories and engage the minds of our youngest readers. She uses a technique called dialogic reading which involves talking with the children about what they are reading while they are reading. “With babies, this is posing questions like, ‘Do you see the ducky?’ or ‘How do you think the character in the book feels? He looks sad, doesn’t he?’ Soon, [the] child will be able to answer questions about the books you read, make predictions, and show you their favorite parts,” she explains.
Going beyond reading, Donnelly practices general language skills with the children which lay a foundation for literacy learning and future success with activities like singing, talking, and playing. “The more words a child hears and sees before the age of three, the better off that child will be,” Donnelly shared.
Teachers learning to inspire a love of literacy
At Horizons, setting children up for success in school is a key part of our mission and work. Making sure they have access to the same programs and resources as their housed peers is important. “By collaborating with BPL, Horizons staff are learning specialized approaches and skills to support children’s early literacy development,” said Carolin Marinez, Assistant Director of Early Education here at Horizons.
Bringing in a librarian like Donnelly who specializes in early education and literacy gives our educators expertise and knowledge, so they feel confident implementing these techniques in the library and the classroom. “Literacy programs provide structured opportunities for children to hear and practice language, which is vital for their communication skills and overall language development,” Marinez shared.
Our literacy curriculum is also an important part of our trauma-informed approach. “Children from low-income or unstable backgrounds may have limited exposure to environments with rich literacy and language instruction,” said Marinez. “For children experiencing homelessness, these programs can offer a sense of stability and comfort, allowing them to explore their emotions and understand their experiences,” she shared.
Partnerships help both organizations accomplish their missions
Connecting with the external community is a goal for both Horizons and BPL. “We are grateful to have one of the best libraries in the country right in our backyard. Connecting with the broader Boston community and experts, like those at BPL, help us foster important community connections and partnerships, for Horizons and the families with whom we work,” Marinez shared.
“This partnership with Horizons allows us to more effectively engage with families experiencing housing insecurity, which is a group that the Library is especially eager to serve,” said Donnelly. “One of the Library’s priorities, per our strategic plan, is expanding our reach so we can meet and engage communities where they are so that we might be in the community, working for the community, and informed by the community. We are delighted to work with Horizons to make that a reality.”
