Public Libraries

Libraries are safe, familiar, and flexible spaces that welcome all families and children and serve as community hubs. Library staff are ready to meet families wherever they are, and to share in the joys of children’s discoveries and imaginations.

The Brazelton Touchpoints Center (BTC) has partnered with library staff to offer Touchpoints trainings and workshops that support public libraries’ goals of welcoming and inspiring young children and their families, and serving as their community connectors. Read about this partnership on our website: What is Touchpoints Doing in Libraries? and in an article in School Library Journal: Little Patrons, Big Ideas: New approaches in early learning have implications for public libraries.

Explore!

Visit our Professional Development page to learn more about the following trainings and workshops and more!

• Touchpoints in Libraries: Understanding Child Development and Engaging Families — This 28-hour virtual training is designed for all professionals working in any library setting who want to deepen their engagement with families. The course builds understanding of a child’s developmental process from birth to 6 years. Participants develop skills for connecting with families through culturally-responsive, strengths-based interactions.
• Strengths-Based Family Engagement in Libraries Workshop Series — In this 5-part series, participants learn strategies to engage with families, and solve problems together when situations feel challenging.
• Inside a Child’s Mind: The Touchpoints of Development — This 4-part workshop series explores children’s perspectives on their own developmental process from birth through preschool. Learn how you can enter into each child’s world, understand what they are experiencing, and best support their unique developmental process.
• Navigating Challenging Conversations Workshop Series — This 3-part series explores how perspectives and bias may affect when and how we experience conversations as challenging. Participants practice applying a strengths-based approach to engage effectively in challenging conversations.
• Strengths-based Leadership, Mentorship, and Coaching — This 2-part workshop series offers strategies you can use to further cultivate and sustain a strengths-based approach in your leadership, mentorship and coaching role.

Register for an upcoming training for library staff!

Attend one of our Family-to-Family Real Talk Series conversations! These free webinars create dialogue and connections that build community between and among affinity groups of parents, and open up safe spaces for honest conversations about challenges and opportunities that matter to their families today.