Library services from birth to five: delivering the best start

Abstract

Avril Brock has written several books in partnership with Carolynn Rankin on language, literacy and library services. She has recently published The Early Years Reflective Practice Handbook for early childhood educators. Avril has also written books and journal articles on play, professionalism, bilingualism and early language development. She has worked in higher education since 1989 at Bradford College and Leeds Metropolitan University, after beinghaving been a deputy head, primary and early years teacher in West Yorkshire, often working with linguistically diverse children. Avril's PhD longitudinal research elicited early years educators' thinking about their professionalism and this resulted in a typology of professionalism which has been developed across the early years interdisciplinary team. She has been involved in interdisciplinary partnerships with colleagues in West Yorkshire, Europe and the USA. Carolynn Rankin is currently a Visiting Fellow in the Faculty of Arts, Environment, and Technology at Leeds Metropolitan University. Carolynn worked as an information management specialist for 20 years before moving into professional education in 2000. Carolynn has interdisciplinary research interests, exploring the connections between civil society, social justice, and access to literacy and learning via libraries. Her current research projects include a longitudinal evaluation of the development of the Sister Libraries programme for the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA). Carolynn's professional activities include the role of External Examiner for the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Professional Registration Board, and Assessor for CILIP Accreditation for Learning Providers. She is a member of the IFLA Standing Committee Library Theory and Research Section.