Building Strong Digital Foundations: Digital Fluency-focused Partnerships among Early Childhood Education Service Providers and Public Libraries in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

ABSTRACT Digital fluency is part of the early childhood curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand but there is evidence that early childhood kaiako (teachers) lack confidence in this area of their work. Although many public library services maintain ongoing partnerships with early childhood education (ECE) providers, the extent to which these collaborations support digital fluency remains unclear. This research investigates the extent and nature of public library partnerships with ECE providers with a specific focus on collaboration on digital fluency. It explores the benefits and challenges associated with these partnerships in supporting the digital fluency curriculum in Aotearoa. A questionnaire consisting of multiple choice and open-form questions was sent to all public library services in Aotearoa gathering data on the types of programmes public libraries currently offer to ECE services, any focus on digital fluency, the benefits and challenges of the current partnerships, and plans and strategies for future collaboration. The findings reveal that most participating libraries have established partnerships, offering learning opportunities through storytimes, makerspaces, and various other activities. The use of digital devices, apps, and websites to support learning is evident, suggesting significant potential for public libraries to collaborate more extensively with ECE providers in fostering young children's digital fluency.