Families living in shelter face unique barriers in preparing their preschool aged children to go to kindergarten ready to learn how to read. In addition to the unique stresses associated with living in a homeless shelter, many families also face barriers to success associated with poverty and low parental educational attainment. These obstacles include lack of access to books, toys, music, and supplies to facilitate engagement in activities that promote early literacy development. Additionally, many parents lack awareness of the vital role they play in preschool education. Parents may not know about early literacy programs at the library which are designed to increase parental engagement, share the love of books with young children, and help parents prepare their children to succeed in kindergarten. Salt Lake County Library Services identified two unmet needs shared by families at the shelter: lack of access to books and lack of education about library programs designed to help parents prepare their children for kindergarten. We met this need by implementing a research-based outreach program designed to promote reading readiness.

Since January 2013, librarians have conducted Early Literacy Storytimes 1-2 times per week at the Road Home’s Community Winter Shelter in Midvale, Utah. Librarians from branches throughout Salt Lake County Library Services take turns presenting programs at The Community Winter Shelter. These programs consist of a 25-30 minute early literacy storytime which introduces and reinforces the five early literacy practices outlined in Every Child Ready to Read 2nd ed., followed by time to play and/or do a prepared craft. Our outreach storytimes take place inside the seasonal family shelter. Although attendance is voluntary, children and families are welcome and invited to attend all programs together. Programs are promoted in advance with posters, and librarians actively invite families living at the shelter to participate. Because librarians utilize storytime plans also presented at their home libraries, very little planning time is required, reducing the cost of implementing the project. During the 2013-2014 season, we conducted 33 outreach storytimes at The Community Winter Shelter. Program attendance ranged from 12-40 children; average attendance was 23 children. Storytimes at the shelter are staffed by two professional librarians with Master of Library Science degrees and specialized early literacy training. Adequate staffing ensures the maximum early literacy benefit by allowing one librarian to present the storytime while the other models appropriate participation and behavioral expectations. Both librarians assist with the concluding craft/play time and are available to interact with parents in an informal setting. We use this time to invite parents to select books for their families, educate parents about free library resources available to them, and promote engagement in early literacy practices.

The Road Home Shelter Outreach Project is popular and successful. In a parent survey conducted on March 27, 2014, 89% of respondents report that they always feel welcome to use the library, signaling increased engagement and interest in utilizing library resources for their families. Additionally, 100% of parents surveyed reported that attending Preschool Storytime at the Community Winter Shelter has a positive benefit on their child. Benefits reported include better preparation for kindergarten, a welcome break from a chaotic living environment, enjoyment, and positive engagement with books and reading. One parent stated “I like the program. I think it enlightens my children. They come out happy and singing. It gives them a little break from the chaos of the shelter.” Another stated “Great for my kids to get away & learn!” Additionally, librarians participating in the Road Home Shelter Outreach Project report increased emergent literacy behavior including print awareness (how a book is held and direction of page turning), phonological awareness (sounds combine to make words), and print motivation (desire to handle books and interest in reading). What this means is that we are seeing children become engaged with books in a meaningful way. One librarian shared “…watching kids become engaged with books feels like planting a seed that will grow to nurture them their entire lives. You should see the light in these children’s eyes as they listen to stories.”