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Family Place Biannual Symposiums

This biannual national event brings together Family Place colleagues from around the country as well as staff from those libraries interested in learning more about the Family Place Libraries™ initiative.  Participants have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas with one another and hear presentations from experts in the fields of early childhood, parenting and early literacy.

Past Symposium presenters include author, educator and developmental psychologist, Dr. Betty Bardige; design architect, James R. Keller and parenting and child development expert, Jennifer Birckmayer.

Previous Symposiums

IMLS National Leadership Grant Highlights

Kathy Deerr

Kathy Deerr

About the Presenter:
Kathy Deerr, National Coordinator, Family Place Libraries™.
About the Presentation:

IMLS: Institute of Museum and Library Services

Out of the Box: Innovative Partnerships & Outreach

Family Place Librarians

About the Presenter:
A panel of Family Place librarians from across the country share some unique partnerships to support early learning.
About the Presentation:

8th Family Place Symposium. Denver, CO.

A panel of Family Place librarians from across the country share some unique partnerships to support early learning.

A Wealth of Words: Developing Language and Literacy with Infants and Toddlers

Dr. Betty Bardige

Dr. Betty Bardige

About the Presenter:
Dr. Bardige is a developmental psychologist, educator, child advocate and author of numerous publications. Her most recent title is At a Loss for Words: How America is Failing Our Children and What We Can Do About It.
About the Presentation:

Betty Bardige provides an urgent argument for infants and toddlers to experience language in an interactive, relational way to establish crucial language skills. She offers guidance on what works—at home and in society to reduce the achievement gap that begins before three years of age, and the vital role librarians play in this process.

Symposium Introductions: The Development of Family Place in Pennsylvania

Susan Pannebaker

Susan Pannebaker

About the Presenter:
Susan Pannebaker, Youth Services Coordinator, Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania.
About the Presentation:

Susan Pannebaker, Youth Services Coordinator, Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania discusses the development of Family Place as a state supported initiative in  Pennsylvania.

Building Block: Creating Spaces for Young Children

James R. Keller

James R. Keller

About the Presenter:
James R. Keller, AIA, is a partner with the multi-disciplined architectural & engineering firm VITETTA, based in Philadelphia. Mr. Keller created the VITETTA Library Design Studio in 1996.
About the Presentation:

At the 2010 National Family Place Symposium, held at the Multnomah Public Library, architect, James Keller shared ideas for creating inviting, attractive and functional early childhood library spaces. Click the link above to view his presentation.