Hartford Public Library has received a $145,000 grant from the Gawlicki Family Foundation to expand its Leap Into Learning early literacy program to home child care providers in Hartford neighborhoods.
The new effort, which is being piloted in 2022-23, will bring eight hours of weekly programming per month to eight child care providers in the city. In addition to directly engaging with the children at each site, trained staff will share best practices in early literacy with child care providers and families and provide them with the resources needed to create their own libraries. Families and child care providers will attend Family Literacy Nights at Hartford Public Library locations that will include a meal, storytelling, story reading and take-home books.
“This generous gift will allow us to bring early literacy instruction and resources directly to our city’s children in their neighborhoods as well as sharing best practices to positively impact children’s long-term reading outcomes with parents and caregivers,” said Hartford Public Library President and CEO Bridget E. Quinn. “We know reading skills are a key part of kindergarten readiness and look forward to the potential of this new pilot program.”
Leap into Learning is the program of services Hartford Public Library offers for children ages birth through five, along with their parents and caregivers, to ensure all children in Hartford are prepared to enter kindergarten ready to learn.
“We are excited to support the Leap Into Learning Day Care Outreach program which will support Hartford’s youngest children on their path to a successful education by developing their critical early reading skills,” said Mary and Ted Gawlicki, co-founders of the Gawlicki Family Foundation.
Hartford Public Library is recruiting a project manager to oversee the new program. Information about the job is available at www.hplct.org/about/job-openings/job-openings