Pre-schools using and cooperating with the public libraries in Kalmar and Växjö, (Sweden)

The purpose was to examine how the pre-schools used the public libraries in two Swedishtowns. We also examined if and how the pre-schools and the public libraries were coopera­ting.Literature showed that it is possible to stimulate children's language development and this is a duty for pre-schools and public libraries. We sent an inquiry to all pre-schools divisions in both towns. We interviewed two librarians. Our results showed that the pre-schools did use the libraries to a great extent but they didn't cooperate with the libraries in the sense that they had elaborated agreements. It was a great joy for the teachers and the children to read and it was useful. The respondents of the inquiry and the librarians wanted to exchange knowledge and experiences. The last years' cuts in municipal budgets and changes of organisations negatively affected the possibilities of cooperating. The teachers inquired especially some information about books.Our conclusions were: cooperation between the pre-schools and the libraries is one possible way to secure children 's access to books and libraries and to improve the work with literature among children