Congress OKs Head Start Bill

More Head Start programs will be working closely with libraries now that the House and Senate have passed the Improving Head Start Act, which recognizes the important role that libraries play in improving literacy.

“The legislation says that a good Head Start program includes collaboration with a library,” says Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association's Washington office. “It means that more libraries—especially those in high poverty areas—will be able to offer innovative, high-quality programming.” This is the first time that Congress has mentioned libraries in the federal early childhood development program, aimed at increasing school readiness for kids who come from low-income families. As a result, Head Start will be encouraged to partner with school and public libraries on events such as storytime, promoting the use of library cards, providing new books in Head Start classrooms, and giving parents and caregivers support in literacy efforts.

Last spring, the leaders of the Association for Library Service to Children, the American Association of School Librarians, and the Young Adult Library Services Association met with members of the House and Senate during ALA's National Legislative Day to lobby for inclusion of libraries in the bill. The law doesn't earmark additional funds, but libraries can request reimbursement for expenditures—ranging from books to supplies. The bill will now head to President Bush's desk for his signature.