PLA-ALSC Task Force on Preschool Literacy Initiative Meeting Highlights

ALA Midwinter 2003, January 26, 2003

Harriet Henderson, Chair

Items discussed:

1. Review of PLA Spring Symposium 2003 program, Emergent Literacy Part II.
   
   Elaine Meyers will provide an overview; 2 sites, W. Bloomfield and Provo, will discuss their experience; staff from Johns Hopkins Center for Reading Excellence will speak; Robin Cabot, IMLS, Sari Feldman and Sara Laughlin will discuss outcome measurement. for 4 years. It was suggested that organizers get evaluations from ALSC institute. People might want more "how to do it" Should Saroj Ghoting do this?

2. Post-Spring Symposium Meeting of Task Force and Sites will be Saturday, March 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the Palmer House.

3. Program on early lit will also be held at ALA Annual in Toronto, Do We Make a Difference? Evaluation of Public Library Services to Preschool Children will be held Monday, June 23, 2003, 1:30-3:30pm.

4. A program proposal has also been submitted for PLA NC04 in Seattle. Programs have not yet been selected.

5. Stephanie Anton noted that ALSC is working on a Born to Read revision. Contact is ALSC staff member Linda May. Stephanie also discussed the ALSC IMLS project: 21st Century Learner conference, to be held 9-21 and 9-22 in DC. Type of program hasn't been decided. Email Linda Mays if you want to go. It is not an invitation only. Elaine submitted to Malore a one-page "professional partnerships with a research base" proposal. ALSC-IMLS group is to meet at the end of January to decide the status of this.

6. The Task Force will work on an article for AL that is to appear in the Sept. 03 issue. article. Elaine, Ellen, Sara,Ginny and Harriet will work on.

7. Following up on the PLA strategic plan, the group discussed possible partners: IMLS; COSLA; Natl League of Cities; Natl assn for Ed of young child; Natl head start assn; Natl Council on Learning Disabilities; NICHD; Regional Labs--10-DOE; Reading is Fundamental; Zero to 3; First Book.
   
   PLA and ALSC should id partners and work together. Should also be clear on funding partners (LC Center for Book, SLJ?)) vs. key strategic partnerships vs. research partners (NICHD or Reading Council) vs. policy level partners (Natl Governors Assn. -- ICMA (City Managers). Also be sure to partner within ALA. Goal is to be at table when research is being developed.

8. Discussion of status of demonstration site evaluations. By June 03 we should have consultant's report. What is TF going to report back? Is next step is train the trainer?
   
   How to continue; what is the structure to be to make this continue to happen? Need to sustain inter-divisional piece.

9. Balance of meeting was devoted to answering sites' questions re evaluation.

Members Present: Harriet Henderson (co-chair); Elaine Meyers (co-chair); Ellen Fader; Gretchen Wronka; Virginia Walter.

Absent: Sari Feldman

Visitors: Sara Laughlin, project evaluation consultant; Barb Macikas, PLA staff liaison and Stephanie Anton, ALSC, staff liaison were present. Demonstration site representatives also were present.

PLA is a division of the American Library Association. Copyright Statement.