Early Childhood Resource
Centers
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Background
Created in 1991 – lead agencies were originally public
schools, community agencies and libraries.
FY09 Competitive Bid – only public libraries were
eligible to apply. Goal was to leverage existing capacity
of libraries to disseminate resources statewide at no
additional cost to EEC.
Purpose
Provide access to materials and resources for early
education and care programs and families statewide;
Provide EEC educators/providers with professional
development opportunities, and
Offer programming that supports parents in the role of
their child’s first teacher.
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Leveraging the Massachusetts
Library Networks
Current Early Childhood Resource Center sites:
 Cambridge Public Library
 Falmouth Public Library
 Haverhill Public Library
 Norfolk Public Library
 Springfield Public Library
Every library is part of a network. Networks include more
than 300 public libraries, 38 academic libraries, and a
small number of school libraries.
Thousands of ECRC materials have been loaned through
these networks.
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ECRCs create broader access to early childhood resources
for parents, schools, and for all EEC initiatives.
Early Childhood Resource Centers
Activities Provided
End of Year Data: FY09
Events Offered
Number of Participants
Parent/Teacher/Provider Workshops
18
518
Child/Family Presentations
81
658
615
Number of Resource Materials Loaned
4,151
Number of Outreach Activities Preformed
46
Children
Adults
End of Year Data: FY10
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Events Offered
Number of Participants
Parent/Teacher/Provider Workshops
55
800
Child/Family Presentations
78
944
597
Number of Resource Materials Loaned
6,807
Number of Outreach Activities Preformed
39
Children
Adults
What We Know About Early Language and
Literacy Development
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
Early language and literacy (reading and writing) development begins
in the first three years of life and is closely linked to a child's earliest
experiences with books and stories.

The interactions that young children have with such literacy materials
as books, paper, and crayons, and with the adults in their lives are
the building blocks for language, reading and writing development.

Children learn to talk, read, and write through such social literacy
experiences as adults or older children interacting with them using
books and other literacy materials, including magazines, markers, and
paper.

Language, reading, and writing skills develop at the same time and
are intimately linked.

Early literacy development is a continuous developmental process that
begins in the first years of life.

Early literacy skills develop in real life settings through positive
interactions with literacy materials and other people.
1 retrieved from Zero to Three, the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families
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http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/early-language-literacy/earlyliteracy2pagehandout.pdf, April 28,
2011
Aligning Focus of ECRCs with Research Findings and
Early Literacy Action Steps 2
Families play an active role in language and literacy
development and are supported in developing
necessary skills.

Develop a framework for effective support of
family engagement around language and
literacy;

Provide families with information about
supporting their children’s language and
literacy development and the availability of
community resources.
2 Governor Patrick has convened a Joint Departmental Committee for Early Literacy comprised of members of the Boards and the
Commissioners of Early Education and Care, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Higher Education. The Committee has
developed several action steps including the one noted above to engage families.
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FY12 Proposed Services
Primary Focus: Early and Family Literacy
Early Childhood Resource Centers will:

Provide child/family interactive events/activities that strengthen the
literacy focus within the parent child relationship. At least 24 hours of
activities should be provided over 12 months;

Provide opportunities to engage the dual language learner in literacy
rich activities;

Promote awareness of free book programs in the community, and

Connect parents to adult literacy programs.
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Early Childhood Resources Centers will continue to:

Catalogue, house and maintain an established collection of early
childhood resources;

Purchase appropriate early childhood materials as allowed in budget
to keep resources current (include curriculum, parenting support,
children’s books, teacher/provider books);

Maintain relationships with the coordinators of local public preschools and EEC initiatives, including CFCE Programs, CCR&Rs, Head
Start, and FCC systems to close the proficiency gap, and

Promote awareness of family-friendly books, videos, and theme kits
available for loan to parents/children/families.
FY12 ECRC Competitive Request for
Proposal
Seeks Bids to fund up to five ECRC contracts to public
libraries:
• Annual funding allocation of $7,000 per ECRC
• Total annual funding of $35,000.00
• Total 3 year contract award of $105,000.00
RFR timeline
• Board vote on RFR criteria and budget: May 10, 2011
• RFR posted: May/June (Tentatively)
• Funds awarded: July/August (Tentatively)
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