The purpose of this national early literacy framework and strategy for Australian public libraries is to define the special role of public libraries in early literacy; to raise the profile of the important role that public libraries play in pre-school learning both internally (with library staff) and externally, with the public, government and especially funding bodies; to gain formal recognition from government and other agencies providing early childhood support and services, resulting in the inclusion of public library representatives in high level state, territory and local government p