It is now widely demonstrated that even from a very young age, a child is a reader in every sense, and that a familiarity with books and stories has surprisingly positive effects on emotional, cognitive, and relational development. The zero-to-five age period is one of the most powerful for learning, with effects that impact the rest of life. Reading and being read to is the best way to combat advancing poverty and to offer every child the opportunity to become an active member of the community: “Culture pays off, knowledge lifts people out of poverty.”
A children’s library can create social contexts, becoming one of the main services to welcome and support the potential of children. Establishing and maintaining it according to the principles of environmental psychology and relational architecture in a spirit of sharing is no longer an option but a duty.
The manual is aimed at public administrators, librarians, parents, and educators, and proposes concrete measures to enhance and promote the public library service.
