Following on from their ground-breaking first book, Delivering the Best Start, Rankin and Brock return to the subject of pre-school and early years library provision with contributions and case studies from innovators and experts around the world.
There is a growing awareness of the significance of the first five years of life for intellectual, social and emotional development and early intervention is of political interest. This book provides knowledge and understanding about early language and literacy development and how young children become successful through enjoyable and meaningful experiences.
Coverage includes:

• an examination of the key role of library practitioners who work with young children
• the importance of effective interdisciplinary teamwork for professionals working with the early years
• a focus on involving parents and carers and valuing their culture, language, heritage and community
• practical guidance given on setting up and running pre-school library services
• contributions and case studies from experts around the world.

This book will be useful reading for early years professionals and librarians, those responsible for commissioning and delivering pre-school library services, students of library and information studies or childhood studies and practitioners undertaking practical early years qualifications.

1. Take them to the library: the pathway of opportunity - Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock
2. What you need to know about promoting early reading with young children from birth to five - Avril Brock and Carolynn Rankin
3. City of Literature … it all starts with ABCD! The City of Melbourne and the Abecedarian Approach - Paula Kelly
4. Transforming practice through research: evaluating the Better Beginnings family literacy programme- Caroline Barratt-Pugh and Nola Allen
5. People and partnerships, skills and knowledge- Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock
6. Resources for early years libraries: books, toys and other delights - Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock
7. Using digital media in early years library services - Francesca de Freitas and Tess Prendergast
8. Using play to enhance early years literacy in babies and toddlers: ‘Read, Play and Grow’ at Brooklyn Public Library - Rachel Payne
9. Inclusive early literacy - Tess Prendergast
10. Music and rhyme-time sessions for the under-fives - Shelley Bullas and Ben Lawrence
11. Part 1: Reaching your audience: the librarian’s role - Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock
11. Part 2: International perspectives: country case studies (Australia: Storytime with Dad - Carolyn Bourke; Croatia: Early reading programmes at Zadar Public Library - Dajana Brunac; Denmark: Aalborg Bibliotekerne for all ages, including the youngest as V.I.P. library users - Maria Sjøblom; Italy: Nati per Leggere – selecting the bibliography of recommended books - Giovanna Malgaroli; Northern Ireland: Rhythm and Rhyme in Libraries NI - Marie-Elaine Tierney, Jessica Bates and Andrew Carlin; Russia: Moscow State Library for Children: the A.P. Gaidar Central City Children’s Library - Tatiana Kalashnikova; Sweden: Library activities for children 0–5 years old: some best practices from Sweden - Ingrid Källström) 12. Successful library activities for the early years and ways to promote books effectively - Anne Harding
13. Designing family-friendly libraries for the early years - Carolynn Rankin and Rachel Van Riel
14. Planning: organizing projects and money matters in the early years library - Carolynn Rankin