Background

Background Information

This section presents information relating to each of the following:
 * Library and Community Demographics in relation to the SRP
 * SRP target group and rationale
 * Development Information for target age group- Physical and Motor, Social and Emotional, Language and Literacy, Cognitive

**Library and Community Demographics** Physically, the Strathcona Branch Library is not one of the largest in the Edmonton Public Library System (EPL) but it is one of the busiest. Several factors account for the latter including its location and programs. Summer Reading programs (SRP) have been a staple at Strathcona although there is no children's librarian nor physical space designated specifically for children. In actuality, the area used by children is open to everyone- basically this open area is multipurpose. Nonetheless, the third floor of the building is houses the program room. This is the only usage for this area which is quite spacious and fully equipped with a built in stage and puppetry station. The program room can accommodate more than fifty (50) children and adults. It can be easily accessed by elevator or stairs. The program room affords privacy and may lessen the need for noise control. This due in part by its location on the top floor - away from mainstream library activities. Hence, if children become overly exuberant during programs there is little worry that they would disturb any other library users.. Overall, the staff complement at Strathcona Branch is twenty-four (24) which includes a manager and an assistant manager.

Programs implemented in an SRP is an undertaking that has roots in the types of neighborhoods and ultimately the people that the library staff serves. This has implications for the types of activities developed and the audience targeted. Strathcona Branch Library serves a total of nine neighborhoods. These neighborhoods can be typically described as single family residential areas (City of Edmonton, 2011). The latter is an important consideration particularly as the notion of whole family involvement is the overall aim of the SRP. Other relevant and important demographics information includes:
 * The library serves a number of schools. This has lead to partnerships and a great avenue to reach the target audience and their caregivers.
 * 2006 census figures reveal most residents have access to transportation- either public or private. As a result, travelling to and from the library is not problematic. Although, free parking is problematic for those who may choose to use their private vehicle.
 * Many of the families who reside in the neighborhoods served by the library are long time residents (City of Edmonton, 2011). This signals that residents are aware of the existence of the library and that perhaps may have used its services at some point particularly for summer programming.
 * All neighborhoods have significant population in the age range 0-9. The highest is Strathcona at 12% whereas the lowest is Garneau at 3% (City of Edmonton, 2011). The numbers suggest there is a market for the age range targeted by the SRP.

**SRP Target Group and Rationale** Children 3- 8 years old and their families form the primary target group for the upcoming SRP. Largely, the promotion and planned activities will bend toward the framework of family involvement or family literacy. The latter has been supported by research as a way of helping significantly a child's literacy development (Hughes-Hassell and Harada, 2007, p. 82). SRP's are about creating or enhancing young readers. Children in the age group aforementioned are in need of support or scaffolding in order to become literate and functioning citizens in their communities. The target age group are in the beginning stages of their own literacy development hence support is crucial. SRP's are about getting children reading or at the very least get them excited about it. This cannot be done in isolation especially for beginner readers of which the target age group represent. **Developmental Stages of Target Age Group** The developmental stages highlighted are - physical and motor, social and emotional, language and literacy and cognitive. This has implications for the types of activities the children target can fully participate in, the level of responses and overall understanding that can be elicited. A general overview for each developmental stages aforementioned is given below based on a guide by Petty (2010). The overview is categorized under two age ranges namely 3-5 and 6-8 years.

//__Physical and Motor__// __//Social and Emotional//__ __//Language and Literacy//__ __//Cognitive//__
 * Age Range**: Three - Five (3-5) years
 * Likes activities to be repeated
 * "Explore their world with all senses"
 * Energetic and imaginative
 * Motor skills are developing
 * Can put puzzles together
 * Learning to tie shoelaces
 * Begin to have a sense of humour
 * Likes to engage in silly behaviour
 * Can engage in solitary and pretend play
 * Demonstrates independence
 * Attention span is increasing
 * Can play games with rules
 * "Language skills begin to flourish"
 * "Are great storytellers and likes to be read to"
 * Likes to learn new words
 * Enjoys rhymes and songs
 * Can follow three step directions
 * "Converse easily with adults"
 * "Beginning to notice differences and similarities of real objects"
 * Patterns are beginning to be noticed
 * "Recognizes name in print"
 * "Is interested in the alphabet"
 * "Expresses interest in creative movements"

__//Physical and Motor//__ //__Social and Emotional__// __//Language and Literacy//__ //__Cognitive__//
 * Age Range**: Six- Eight (6-8) years
 * Can engage in vigorous physical/motor activities
 * Is very involved in active play
 * "Demonstrates good body coordination"
 * "Builds and takes things apart"
 * Demonstrates good hand to eye coordination
 * Ability to write numbers and letters is growing
 * Plays in groups
 * Enjoys organized activities alone or with others
 * "Seeks adult approval"
 * "Is influenced by peer pressure"- good and bad
 * Can make friends easily
 * "Plays primarily with own gender"
 * "Ask a lot of question"
 * "Enjoys story writing"
 * "Adjust language to match audience"
 * "Uses slang"
 * "Tell stories- real or imagined"
 * "Can use language to solve problems"
 * "Is aware of time"
 * Attention span can last up to 30 minutes
 * Reads for pleasure and with comprehension
 * "Shows interest in current events"
 * "Demonstrates an interest in places and other cultures"
 * "Engages in projects"