Building Museum-University-Library Partnerships for Family Learning and Engagement: Lessons from the Talk with Me Toolkits

The Talk with Me Toolkits project illustrates how museum resources can be leveraged through intentional, interdisciplinary collaboration to support early childhood development and family engagement. Developed by the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology in partnership with the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy (Penn State University) and Family Place Libraries™, the Toolkits are free digital resources designed to promote language-rich interactions between caregivers and young children. Each Toolkit features thematic Smithsonian images and media paired with conversation prompts, hands-on activities, and children’s book recommendations. This article examines the benefits each partner brought to and gained from the collaboration. The Smithsonian strengthened family-learning offerings through early-literacy expertise and library-based field testing. The Goodling Institute shaped real-world digital tools while reaching families in new settings. Family Place Libraries enhanced early learning services by incorporating authentic museum materials and modeling new informal learning approaches. Together, these organizations demonstrate how cross-sector partnerships expand museum education’s reach and relevance, particularly for underserved families and early learning audiences.