Mother Goose programs for infants combine service to both adults and infants, with the ultimate mission of promoting behaviors that will lead to literacy. As reflected in the examples that follow, some consider an infant story time a service directed primarily toward the education and training of parents and caregivers. Others see it primarily as a direct service to infants.

The specific goals of any program must be determined by individual libraries. The goals of most Mother Goose programs will probably include those similar to the ones that follow, in that they will focus on literature sharing experiences between the infant and her caregiver using developmentally appropriate materials. In addition, a library may choose to try to reach new users, to act as a networking location for new parents, to act as an educator on infant-related topics other than those involving literature, or any number of other goals determined appropriate.

Service to Caregivers
In Books, Babies, and Libraries, Ellin Greene states that "storytimes for children under age three are informational programs designed to introduce parents and caregivers to library materials and services and to demonstrate effective ways of sharing literature with very young children" (1991, p. 73). Most of Greene's goals are stated first in terms of service to the parents To Greene, the goals of such a program are as follows:

1. To bring parents an awareness of quality books and non print materials developmentally appropriate for young children
2. To give parents participatory experiences in sharing literature with their children and an opportunity to observe effective storytelling
3. To introduce the public library as a resource center for parents
4. To provide a place for first-time parents to meet
5. To give infants and toddlers a joyous experience so that they will associate books and libraries with pleasure (1991, p. 73)

Service to Children
In Mother Goose Time, Jane Marino and Dorothy F. Houlihan view infant story times as "language enrichment program[s] for babies" (p. 14). Here, most of the goals are stated in terms of the child first:

1. To bring babies into the library so that you can introduce them and their caregivers to the wonderful literature that awaits them
2. To demonstrate the importance and value of this age group in and of itself, and as a part of the library's public
3. To give parents and babies the opportunity and ability to share rhymes and songs both within the context of the program and outside the library
4. To establish and foster a life-long library habit
5. To build a rapport with the parents, some of whom are new library users, that they will appreciate and remember, bringing them back not just to this program but to the library, again and again (p. 14)

Service to Children and Caregivers
"Book Babies: Two Programs for the Very Young" discusses two infant story time programs in Idaho. Both of these programs have the additional goal of offering information about parenting. The goals of the Book Babies program at Pocatello Public Library were as follows:

1. To attract new library users, specifically young parents, non-reading parents, single parents and teen parents
2. To encourage an early start with books and other language activities
3. To provide an adult language model for the participating adults
4. To provide socialization for parents and infants
5. To serve all members of families in addition to the parent (s), grandparents and other children
6. To provide experts to speak on topics of interest to parents of infants and toddlers (Sherman and Rudeen, 1989, p. 89)

At American Falls Public Library, the Book Babies program had the following goals:

1. To introduce babies and their parents to the joys of reading together
2. To encourage children's language, social and cognitive development
3. To offer basic information on topics related to parenting (Sherman and Rudeen, 1989, p. 90)

A Service for Adults Only
The Vermont Center for the Book in conjunction with the Vermont Department of Libraries, and the Vermont Department of Education, offers a different type of program, a series of workshops for adults called "Beginning With Mother Goose." The purpose of this program is to provide "adults [with] the books, information and activities they need to help babies start their lives as readers. Group discussions promote the exchange of ideas, information and practical application. Activities extend the reach of books into everyday adventures. The books and stories used in Beginning With Mother Goose promote discover and love of language in babies from birth to three years (including pre-birth in utero).
[http://www.vermontbook.org/goose.html] (7/31/1999)