Research/Reports

Burnaby Public Library is proud to announce the launch of Embracing Diversity: Sharing Our Songs and Rhymes, a web-based public education project that encourages learning about cultural diversity and promotes inclusiveness. Please click here to direct to Embracing Diversity website.

The project invites communities to explore their diversity and share across cultures through children's songs and rhymes. It was created to help build neighbourhoods where everyone, regardless of where they are from, is better understood and respected and has a greater sense of belonging.

Embracing Diversity resources are designed for use by community workers who serve children and families, by families themselves, and by all who endeavour to create welcoming and inclusive communities.

All project resources are presented online and include:

Videos of two children's songs or rhymes in 15 languages (two per language),performed by native speakers and intercut with personal commentary
Subtitled versions of these videos, with transcripts and translations of the lyrics or words
Lists of books and other library materials with cultural stories or information about countries where these languages are spoken
Thematic ideas for programs that feature the songs and rhymes
Videos of five welcoming phrases in each of the 15 languages
Lists of books and other library materials about cross-cultural understanding, raising bilingual children and the importance of maintaining first languages

The project languages are Arabic, Cantonese, Dari, English, Farsi, Filipino, French, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese and Urdu.

Read to Me: National Literacy Survey

4/10/2011

The summary report of the National Survey of Early Literacy Programs is available on the Read to Me! Please click here to direct to Read to Me website.

An annotated bibliography of key resources and a list of (most) programs that participated in the survey are also posted there. We hope that you'll have the opportunity to take a look, and that these resources will be useful to you.

The great diversity of approaches to early literacy needs across Canada, and the passion of those conducting the work, were apparent in the survey responses.

Beginning with Books

1/3/2011

Check out the article "Beginning with Books" about toddlers and early literacy.

Originally written for publication for ECE professionals, Beginning with Books is a monthly look at early literacy from a public library perspective.