Libraly Journal

Libraly Journal ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (417): 100-112.

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The Promotion and Guarantee of United States Federal Education Act on the Formation and Development of Family Engagement Concepts in Public Libraries

Zhang Li ,Bai Hua   

  • Online:2026-01-15 Published:2026-01-29
  • About author:Zhang Li Bai Hua

Abstract:

This paper systematically exams U. S. federal education acts from the perspective of familyparticipation with the goal of understanding how these policies support and shape the concept of familyengagement in public libraries in the United States. By analyzing the institutional guarantees embedded inthese acts it aims to provide policy insights and references for implementing family engagementinitiatives in public libraries in China. By adopting historical analysis this paper reviews and analyzesearly-childhood education legislation centered on the Head Start Act and school-age education legislationcentered on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Federal education acts provide ideologicalguidance financial guarantees and project support for public libraries to implement the concept of familyparticipation. Early-childhood education and school-age education are the two fields where the concept offamily engagement intersect with public libraries. The former provides an entry point for integratingfamily engagement into library practice while and the latter enables its sustained development. From theformulation of the family participation framework to the implementation of strategies and the promotion ofrelated projects the evolution of family engagement in public libraries aligns closely with its progressionin early-childhood and school education.

Key words: Federal education act, Family engagement, Public library, United States