Relationships between Literature Programs, Library Corner Designs, and Children’s Use of Literature

The purpose of the research was to survey and then describe the physical characteristics of library corners and literature activities used by teachers in early childhood classrooms. Children’s frequency of use of literature during their free-play period was recorded to determine if there was a relationship between literature use and physical design characteristics of library corners and literature activities carried out by teachers. The results from 133 nursery through second grade rooms indicated that many did not have well designed library corners. The results from 67 nursery and kindergarten rooms indicated that many did not have regularly planned literature activities. In most rooms there was infrequent use of library corners by children during their free-play period. There were however many positive correlations found between children’s frequency of use of literature and physical design or program characteristics.