Marrying Technology with Traditional Learning:The Go! Kits for Young Children at Montgomery County Public Libraries, MD

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) has developed, under the umbrella initiative “All Children Excel” (ACE), a unique early literacy and education program and service that MCPL offers to children and their families to help them succeed in school - Go! Kits. These science-based kits are especially designed for children and their families to explore the world of science while combining playing and learning. Go! Kits are customized for young children of various ages with each kit focused on a specific science topic designed to appeal to a young child’s curiosity and imagination. Every kit – easily transported with wheels - is equipped with two books about a specific science-based topic, an educational toy, a mini-iPad preloaded with several topic and age-appropriate apps, two related e-books, plus a folder with instructions and information for the whole family. MCPL began offering Go! Kits in January 2014 at select branches. Currently, there are 99 Go! Kits available for circulation in MCPL. Success has been measured by the popularity and high demand of the kits as well as inquiries by other library systems, which are interested in the creation, development and implementation of the Go! Kits.