The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.
Not Just Book Shelves: Libraries as Key Spaces for Family Engagement (New America, September 1, 2016)
September 1, 2016
Libraries play an important role in communities by supporting families and promoting children’s learning. In Not Just Book Shelves: Libraries as Key Spaces for Family Engagement, Lara Burt’s blog post for New America highlights Harvard Family Research Project’s and the Public Library Association’s new report on family engagement in public libraries.
While access to high-quality out-of-school time learning opportunities often varies across family income levels, libraries are a welcoming space and a valuable resource for all families. As a result, libraries are well positioned to engage in family engagement efforts and to promote “children’s learning across time and across community and virtual spaces,” state Harvard Family Research Project’s M. Elena Lopez, Margaret Caspe, and Lorette McWilliams.
The article and report detail how libraries across the country are already engaging in family engagement work with five main actions: Reaching Out, Raising Up, Reinforcing, Relating, and Reimagining.
Read Not Just Book Shelves: Libraries as Key Spaces for Family Engagement and Public Libraries: A Vital Space for Family Engagement.