CILIP | EARLY YEARS LIBRARY NETWORK TO RAISE QUALITY OF LIBRARY SERVICES TO PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

National support for specialist staff launched by CILIP

News 02/12/03

CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals has launched the Early Years Library Network (EYLN). Funded by a partnership between CILIP and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, it seeks to raise the quality of library services to pre-school children by providing a national support mechanism for specialist early years library staff.

The EYLN has developed a web site providing electronic support at www.eyln.org.uk, “The site seeks to entertain as well as providing a practical resource with opportunities to swap ideas, fine tune thinking and highlight good practice mixed with early years book news - including competitions,” says CILIP’s Early Years Development Manager Natasha Innocent. “There’s also a people section with interviews with early years library workers to find out what life is like at the sharp end!”

The EYLN is currently consulting library authorities on the core early years library offer that could be marketed nationally “to create awareness that every parent and child under five can turn to their library for support in encouraging the early enjoyment of language and book sharing,” Natasha adds.

“This is part of the Vision Into Action plan, funded by Framework for the Future,” she continues. “An early years consultation kit is downloadable from the web site to ensure that all Library Authorities have the opportunity to feed into this process.”

Membership of the Early Years Library Network is open to all library authorities, whether or not they have specialist early years library staff. A small annual subscription of £30 is chargeable for membership of the network- this is a condition of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, which has funded the network for three years. So far, 116 library authorities have currently taken out membership.

For more information or to join the EYLN…

Contact: Natasha Innocent, Early Years Library Network Manager.
Tel: 01227 265532
Email: natasha.innocent@cilip.org.uk

Notes to Editors

CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers, with well over 20,000 members working in all sectors, including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher education, schools, local and central government, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries.

CILIP’s goals are to: position the profession at the heart of the information revolution; develop and enhance the role and skills of all its Members; present and champion those skills, together with new ones which will be acquired through continuing professional development; and ensure that individuals, enterprises and not for profit organisations have ready and timely access to the information they need.

Updated: 09 August 2004