Through Hartford Public Library’s (HPL) programming and early literacy initiatives, as well as work with partner organizations and the community, HPL recognizes that access to good, quality early literacy resources and training is an essential need for the people who provide care for children ages birth to five. Daycare providers themselves have asked librarians for support around this issue. Leap Into Learning (LiL) is the program of services HPL offers for children ages birth through five, along with their parents and caregivers, to ensure all children in Hartford are prepared to enter Kindergarten ready to learn.

HPL’s Youth Services Department staff is trained in both early literacy best practices as part of their professional degree qualifications and through regular skill building courses and professional development. The professionally trained staff plans and implements early literacy programming and curates collections of supportive materials available for borrowing.