Skip to main content

BUILDing Supportive Communities with Libraries, Museums, and Early Childhood Systems

Planning Tool
By: BUILD Initiative, The Institute of Museum and Library Services May 1, 2017
Get Resource

Libraries and museums are among our communities’ most engaging and trusted learning institutions and provide a place for children, parents, caregivers, and other adults to play and learn. This toolkit outlines strategies for leaders from early childhood programs, libraries, and museums to pool their talents and resources to strengthen outcomes for child and families and extend the reach of their programs and services.

Explore More

No Place to Grow: Rethinking Homelessness Through a Whole-Child, Whole-Family Lens 

Archived Webinar June 11, 2025

Imagine trying to raise your joyful, curious two-year-old in a walk-in closet. There’s no room for toys, no space to play, and every sound echoes too loudly. You’re constantly on edge—not because you’re hiding your child, but because you’re worried that the typical noise of a developing toddler might be too much for the homeowner. The fear of losing even this small, temporary space looms during everyday moments, from enjoying your child’s laughter to dealing with their tantrums. This is what homelessness can look like for families across the country—living in cramped, unstable conditions that threaten not just housing security, but a child’s developmental foundation.

When It’s Too Hot to Play, Sleep, or Learn: Supporting Children and Caregivers in a Warming World

Archived Webinar May 12, 2025

When we think about young children and temperature, we often think about cold conditions and the protections needed to stay warm and safe. But how often do we consider the opposite: extreme heat? As climate change drives temperatures higher, extreme heat is becoming a more frequent and dangerous part of everyday life, especially for young children and caregivers living in under-resourced communities.