Monthly Archives: July 2012

Chair’s message

Chair Leikny Indergaard

Chair Leikny Indergaard

Dear Colleagues,

I welcome you to a short Summer 2012 issue (no. 32) of the IFLA Section on Literacy and Reading´s newsletter (PDF).

This year the position of a newsletter editor is empty, so the section has not produced the usual newsletter. But in the meantime our section has established a blog — the International Literacy and Reading blog http://blogs.ifla.org/literacy-reading/  — where you can find information about matters concerning reading and literacy from all over the world. Thanks to all members who have contributed to the blog!

And thanks to Lesley Farmer who was willing to do the editor job with this issue of the newsletter in a very short timeline.

This year has been a busy time for some of our members. The LiR Section was one of the organizers of the International Symposium  Reading link between generations: towards social solidarity held in Tunisia last September, and several members participated as speakers and moderators. The section’s most important project this year has been the proceedings from the Tunis-conference. It has been hard work to finish the book, with much thanks to Ivanka Stricevic and Ahmed Ksibi. The book will be launched in Helsinki at our session Monday 13 August. You can read a short presentation of the book, and a review by Lesley Farmer in this newsletter.

In a couple of weeks we will be in Helsinki for the78th IFLA World Library and Information Congress, an inspiring week among librarians from all over the world. The LiR section’s session has the theme Libraries for Literacy: Linking generations, Empowering communities, which will be held on Monday 13 August 16.00 p.m.

I hope to meet many of you in Helsinki!

Leikny Haga Indergaard

Chair

New section monograph

New IFLA publication

Ivanka Stričević, Ivanka, & Ksibi, Ahmed, (Eds.). (2012). Intergenerational solidarity in libraries /
La solidarité intergénérationnelle dans les bibliothèques.
The Hague : IFLA/ De Gruyter. 2012.

 

This edited volume builds on the successful international symposium ‘Reading as a link between generations: Towards a more interdependent society,’ which was held in Hammamet, Tunisia, in September 2011. This symposium dealt with the libraries’ role in a world impacted by globalization, economic crises, and socio-cultural transformations. These changes underline the tension between texto and techno generations that can stress family and intergenerational interdependence. The symposium asserted that joint reading activities can facilitate intergenerational solidarity, emphasizing collective life experience. To that end, libraries are positioned to build social cohesion through intergenerational services and programs.

The volume’s editors are noted academians. Ivanka Stričević is associate professor at the University of Zadar in Croatia, and chaired IFLA’s Literacy and Reading section from 2007 to 2011. Ahmed Ksibi is professor atthe University of Manouba in Tunisia, and works with several regional and international organizations. About thirty authors from around the world contributed to this anthology.

The book is divided into six parts : background and theoretical framework, international outlook in libraries, intergenerational programs in libraries, integrating older people in inclusive libraries, and new information and communication technologies and new shared reading. Chapters are written in English or French, and occasionally appear in both languages. Sample chapters include country-specific issues, developing a contemporary culture of reading, storytelling, using social mdia, the mobile literacy gap, using the expertise of different generations, successful intergenerational reading programs, and intergenerational reading initiatives of professional organizations, The final part provides the full text of the Tunisian Declaration on Libraries, Reading, and Intergenerational Dialogue.

This book collects a variety of valuable insights about intergenerational dialogue in practice, using shared reading as the focus for cultural solidarity. As such, it provides a useful model of leveraging international discussions about literacy, and offers a unique contribution to global librarianship.

 

Ivanka Stricevic will present the book and lead a discussion its subject during:
Session 108 Libraries for literacy: linking generations, empowering communities

Monday, 13 August 16:00–18:00 Session Room 4

 

INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY IN LIBRARIES /
LA SOLIDARITÉ INTERGÉNÉRATIONNELLE DANS LES BIBLIOTHÈQUES

Ivanka Stricevic and Ahmed Ksibi (Eds.)

Berlin/Munich: De Gruyter Saur, 2012

ISBN: 978-3-11-028098-2

(IFLA Publications 156)

Euro 99,95 / for USA, Canada, Mexico US$ 140.00
Special price for IFLA members Euro 79,95 / for USA, Canada, Mexico US$ 115.00

 

Publisher’s link

Africa’s International Book Fair Roars into life

Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) JULY -AUGUST 2012

This is a great event all book lovers you are invited!!! Chisita, Collence.T. will present a paper see programme

THEME: “AFRICAN LITERATURE IN THE GLOBAL & DIGITAL ERA”

Venue: Crowne Plaza Monomutapa Hotel

30 JULY DAY ONE
08:15 to 08:55 Arrival & Registration: ZIBFA Secretariat
08.55 to 09.15 Performances: Albert Nyathi, Moreblessing Size
09.15 to 09.30 Welcoming Remarks
Chair: ZIBFA General Council Chairperson Mr Stephen Chifunyise
09.30 to 10.15 Keynote Address: Professor Bhebhe
“African Literature In The Global & Digital Era”.

10.15 to 10.30 Tea break

Opening Ceremony
Chair: ZIBFA Executive Board Chairperson Mr Musaemura Zimunya
10.30 – 10.45 Norwegian Embassy, Culture Fund, Kopinor
10.45 – 11.00 The Honourable Nelson Chamisa, Minister of Information and Technology
11.00 – 11.25 The Honourable Lazarus Dokora, The Deputy Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and
Culture
11.25 – 11.40 Discussion
First Session: African Literature and Criticism
Chair: Dr. Rino Zhuwarara
11.45 to 12.05 Professor Maurice Vambe “The Absence of Proliferated Obstacles In Zimbabwean
Literature”
12.05 to 12.25 Mr Advice Viriri “Ubuntu Philosophy and African Identities”
12.25 to 12.45 Mr Tavengwa Gwekwerere “Rethinking Identity Crisis in Literature and Culture”
12.45 to 13.00 Discussion

13.00 to 14.00 Lunch
Second Session: African Literature and Digitisation
Chair: Dr Hikwa (NUST)
14.00 to 14.25 Rudo Nyangulu “Writing, Publishing and Reading In The Digital Era”
14.25 to 14.45 Mr Fungai James Tichawangana “Writing, Publishing and Reading In The Digital Era”
14.40 to 15.00 Mr Kay Shiri “The Digital Divide and the African Reader”
15.00 to 15.30 Discussion

15.30 to 16.00 Tea break

Third Session: African Literature and Digitisation
Chair: Dr. Thinkwell Ngwenya
16.00 to 16.20 Ms Mandi Chikombero “Teaching Literature and Humanities in an Online Environment”
16.20 to 16.40 Mr Collence Chisita “Which Way Zimbabwe National Bibliography? Challenges of Enforcing Legal Deposit in the Context of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s)”
16.40 to 17.00 Mrs Sifundo Nkomo “Social Media and Children’s Literature”
17.00 to 17.20 Discussion
31 JULY DAY TWO
Fourth Session: Identity and Literature In Africa
Chair: Mrs. R Magosvongwe
08.40 to 09.00 Professor Katy Khan “Before the Arab Spring: Voicing, Female Narratives in Post-Colonial North African Context”
09.00 to 09.20 Dr Chitepo “Art and Social Change”
09.20 to 09.40 Mr Mangeya and Mr Tagwirei “Rethinking Identity and Crisis”
09.40 to 10.00 Dr V.G Chivaura “Language, Literature and Development in African Literature”
10.00 to 10.40 Discussion

10.40 to 11.00 Tea break
Fifth Session: Copyright, Access To Books and Piracy In Africa
Chair: Mr Nda Dlodlo
Respondent: Mr Trond Andreassen
11.00 to 11.20 Mr Blazio Tafirei “The Publisher, Bookseller and Piracy In Zimbabwe”
11.20 to 11.40 Mr Greenfield Chilongo “Digitization and Legal Access To Content”
11.40 to 12.00 Mrs Sibongile Jele “The Enforcement of Copyright Law: The Bulawayo Case”
12.00 to 12.30 Chief Superintendend, Ever Mlilo “Copyright Violations: The View from the Police”
12.30 to 13.00 Discussion
13.00 to 14.00 Lunch
Sixth Session: The Threat of Globalization To African Culture and Languages
Chair: Professor Z. Gambahaya
14.00 to 14.20 Mr Felix Moyo “The State of Ndebele Literature”
14.20 to 14.40 Dr Edgar Mberi “State of Minority Languages”
14.40 to 15.00 Mr Ivan Bachisi “Zimbabwean Literature from the Diaspora: Economic and Family Dynamics”
15.00 to 15.20 Ms Tendai Mangena “Africana Womanism”
15.20 to 15.40 Dr X.F Carelse “The Political, Social and Economic Role of the Diaspora”
15.40 to 15.50 Discussion
15.50 to 16.00 Tea break
Rapporteur’s Presentation
16.00 to 16.45 Ms Effort Chingono (NUST) “Rapporteur’s report”
16.45 to 17.30 Discussion and Closin

Literacy and Reading Websites

USBBY Outstanding International Books (OIB) List http://www.usbby.org/list_oibl.html

Since 2006 USBBY has selected an honor list of international books for young people. The USBBY Outstanding International Books List is published each year in the February issue of School Library Journal and as a bookmark. The Outstanding International Books (OIB) committee is charged with selecting international books that are deemed most outstanding of those published during the calendar year. For the purposes of this honor list, the term “international book” is used to describe a book published or distributed in the United States that originated or was first published in a country other than the U.S.

World Public Library – Children’s Collection http://worldlibrary.net/Collection.aspx?collection=17 is compiled from scans of popular original children’s books.

Middle East Book Awards http://www.meoc.us/meoc/book-awards

This site covers countries in the Arab World, Iran, Israel, Afghanistan, and Turkey.

Worlds of Words (http://wowlit.org), developed by the University of Arizona, shares an international collection of children’s and teen literature. Books may be searched by region, age, and genre.

World Digital Library (http://www.wdl.org/) makes available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from countries and cultures around the world. Items are browsable by place, time, topic, type of item, and institution.

The Directory of Open Access Books (www.doabooks.org ) was recently launched by OAPEN (Open Access Publishing in European Networks).  This discovery service offers peer reviewed books published under an Open Access license. DOAB provides a searchable index to the information about these books, with links to the full texts of the publications at the publisher’s website or repository.

IFLA Literacy Resources

New IFLA Media and Information Literacy Recommendations

In cooperation with UNESCO’s Information for All Programme (IFAP), the IFLA Information Literacy Section drafted new Media and Information Literacy Recommendations which are now available in several languages. In December 2011 these recommendations were formally endorsed by the IFLA Governing Board. The recommendations will also be a topic at the international conference of Media and Information Literacy for Knowledge Societies on 24-28 June 2012 in Moscow.

 

Information Literacy World Languages Project http://www.ifla.org/en/information-literacy/projects

This project is making very good progress adding more and more languages to its database, and is adding more and more different languages terms for Information Literacy to the international logo. The project’s logo is in 46 different languages, and lists of information literacy resources have been contributed in thirteen languages.

Literary Awards

2012 Hans Christian Andersen Award

The Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury of the international Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) announces that María Teresa Andruetto from Argentina is the winner of the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Author Award. and Peter Sís from the Czech Republic is the winner of the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator Award. The Andersen medals and diplomas will be presented to the winners at the international IBBY Congress in London on 25 August 2012.

The Hans Christian Andersen Award, considered the most prestigious in international children’s literature, is given biennially by the International Board on Books for Young People to a living author and illustrator whose complete works are judged to have made lasting contributions to children’s literature. In awarding the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for writing to María Teresa Andruetto the Jury recognized her mastery in writing important and original works strongly focused on aesthetics. She creates sensitive books, which are deep and poetic with a clear literary base. Her books relate to a great variety of topics, such as migration, inner worlds, injustice, love, poverty, violence or political affairs.

In awarding the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration to Peter Sís the Jury recognized his extraordinary originality and deep creative power to relate highly complex stories that can be interpreted on different levels. The jury particularly appreciated his use of different design and artistic techniques, his innovative subtle balance to depict well-documented and historical events and fantastic elements.

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2012 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

In a ceremony on 28 May Dutch author Guus Kuijer was presented with the 2012 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) by HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. In his acceptance speech, Kuijer said: “A boy once told me that reading was like bungee jumping inside his head. So I wish you all a great bungee jumping season.” Guus Kuijer, born 1942, is an author living and working in the Netherlands. He made his debut as a children’s writer in 1975 and has since published over 30 titles, mostly aimed at readers entering their teenage years. His key work is Het boek van alle dingen (2004, The Book of Everything). Kuijer is the recipient of numerous awards, and his books have been translated into more than ten languages including English, Swedish, German, Italian and Japanese.

Recent Research

Gasser, U., et al. (2012). Youth and digital media: From credibility to information quality. Cambridge: Harvard University. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2005272

This report seeks to understand youths’ real experiences of online information quality. Building upon a process- and context-oriented information quality framework, this paper seeks to map and explore what we know about the ways in which young users of age 18 and under search for information online, how they evaluate information, and how their related practices of content creation, levels of new literacies, general digital media usage, and social patterns affect these activities. A review of selected literature at the intersection of digital media, youth, and information quality — primarily works from library and information science, sociology, education, and selected ethnographic studies — reveals patterns in youth’s information-seeking behavior, but also highlights the importance of contextual and demographic factors both for search and evaluation. Looking at the phenomenon from an information-learning and educational perspective, the literature shows that youth develop competencies for personal goals that sometimes do not transfer to school, and are sometimes not appropriate for school. Thus far, educational initiatives to educate youth about search, evaluation, or creation have depended greatly on the local circumstances for their success or failure. The report synthesizes more than three years of research. One key finding: Youth use cues and heuristics to evaluate quality, especially visual and interactive elements.

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Krashen, S., Lee, S., & McQuillan, J. (2012). Is The library important? Multivariate studies at the national and international level. http://backseatlinguist.com/blog/

Three multivariate analyses, all controlling for the effects of poverty, confirm the importance of the library. Replicating McQuillan’s analysis of 1992 NAEP scores, access to books in school and public libraries was a significant predictor of 2007 fourth grade NAEP reading scores, as well as the difference between grade 4 and grade 8 2007 NAEP reading scores, suggesting that access is important for improvement after grade 4. Access (school/classroom libraries) was a significant predictor of scores on the PIRLS test, a reading test given to fourth graders in 40 countries. In some of the analyses, access to books had a larger impact on reading achievement test scores than poverty, and in other cases had nearly as strong an impact. This suggests that providing more access to books can mitigate the effect of poverty on reading achievement, a conclusion consistent with other recent results. This result is of enormous practical importance: Children of poverty typically have little access to books. It seems that libraries can provide this access.

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Mol., S., & Bus, A. (2011). To read or not to read: A meta-analysis of print exposure from infancy to early adulthood. Psychological Bulletin, 137(2), 267-296. doi: 10.1037/a0021890

This confirming research in Dutch found that children who read books regularly in their spare time do better academically. An upward cycle of causality occurred: children who comprehend text better, and have better technical and spelling skills read more, and their skills improve more each year.

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Williams-Rossi, Miranda, T., Johnson, K., & McKenzie, N. (2012). Reluctant readers in middle school: Successful engagement with text using the e-reader. International Journal of Applied Science and Technology. http://tinyurl.com/d3b6avw.

Previous research in the field has shown that upper elementary and middle school students tend to read less than younger students because of time spent with their friends and in other activities. Also, these same students, particularly boys, may not value reading as much as they did when they were younger. Among those students, research has shown that low-skilled readers have trouble starting, continuing and finishing a book, and that they are stymied by vocabulary and reading comprehension challenges. Skilled readers, on the other hand, enjoy books. Researchers have suggested that technological gadgets, enlarged text and a more favorable environment might encourage reluctant readers. For those reasons the authors pursued a study to see how reluctant readers would respond to e-readers. The study presents reasons e-readers may be beneficial, in particular, to reluctant readers in middle grades.