Countless studies show that the development of early literacy skills prepares children for success in reading, a skill essential to success in school. Preschool educators play a critical role in promoting literacy, preventing reading difficulties, and preparing young children for kindergarten. The goal of this program is to give our youngest children an opportunity to become lifelong readers and lovers of learning. Many daycares, and especially those which serve economically-challenged families, have limited opportunities to take the children for a library visit. The Preschool Outreach Program brings library resources and staff directly to the daycares.

Childcare centers and preschools receive monthly deliveries of books and other materials for use in the classroom. Teachers use these items in presenting story times and other learning experiences for those in their care. We offer board books in Infant and Toddlers kits and preschool books in Preschool kits. Specially-designed early childhood literacy kits are also delivered. We also provide POP in Training, one-on-one or small group training for childcare workers. We teach story time skills, extension activities, book selection and new ways to use books already in their classrooms.

We currently serve approximately 124 schools and over 4,400 children a year with this service. Since 2013, POP kits have circulated an average of 6,191 times per year, with over 100,000 items circulated on average. POP in Training has offered 22 training sessions to 130 daycare workers since its beginning in April of 2015. After a recent POP visit, one of the childcare professionals said, "We love the program. We love our storyteller (POP Programmer). She does not just tell a story, she uses flannel board activities. She engages us and the children.