The Morgridge College of Education is pleased to announce that Early Childhood Librarianship Fellowships are now available for students entering Fall 2013. After admission, interested students will be considered for fellowship money that will cover approximately 60% of Master’s in Library and Information Science program costs. To apply for admission into the program, start by clicking on “Application” at the top of this page.
Fellows in the program will be prepared to serve the early literacy needs of very young children (0-5 years), caregivers, families, educators, and community coalitions in Colorado. Through partnerships established with several disciplines, practice areas, and institutions, fellows will complete extensive coursework and direct experiences in the settings most pertinent to early childhood literacy. LIS Early Childhood Fellows will be placed in public libraries and pre-schools with an emphasis on diversity of programs and populations.
The primary goal of this project is to increase the number of Master’s in Library and Information Science (MLIS)-degreed librarians who are prepared to serve this community need. Using experiential learning in at least 5 partner public libraries and at least 5 early childhood education centers, and an interdisciplinary curriculum including LIS coursework and Child, Family, and School Psychology (CFSP) coursework in brain development, language acquisition, and special needs, fellows will be uniquely prepared. Early literacy skills improve learning achievement and enhance the joy of reading, yet, many young children are disadvantaged in acquiring these skills. Furthermore, most MLIS programs in the U.S. provide only one or two courses in early childhood library services.
A secondary goal is to increase the knowledge and skills of public librarians, early childhood educators, families, and caregivers in order to encourage the development of young children’s early literacy skills. These guidelines will be incorporated into instructional sessions for the targeted groups. The strengths of this project include the highly critical need for early childhood librarians, the unique configuration of partners, and the experiential learning component.
For complete information on this exciting opportunity contact Dr. Mary Stansbury at Mary.Stansbury@du.edu.