Category Archives: Literacy

Reading and Library Audience – a Russian Report

The project of electronic database “Reading and Library Audience: Library Science and Sociological Research” is being implemented by two of the largest libraries in Russia (Russian State Children’s Library, Russian National Library).

In Russia there is a large and well-developed network of libraries of various types. The composition of the library audience, the motives and content of reading, the behavior of real and online library users are constantly changing. Observing these processes, many libraries conduct research on the interests of their users, study the demand for the library and its services, and the satisfaction of the population with library services.

The goal of our project is to create and develop an electronic resource that includes the constant collection of information on sociological and library studies on reading and the readership conducted by Russian libraries, including in partnership with other organizations (research centers, Universities etc.). The project is interdisciplinary and is carried out “at the intersection” of library science and sociology. The database contains over 120 studies, conducted in different parts of Russia and on a national scale.

The site of the project “Reading and Library Audience: Library Science and Sociological Research” includes a constantly updated database that contains:

  • full-text documents of the methodological base of research, reports, articles and other documents, which reflect the results of research activities of Russian libraries;
  • additional information on reading and readership studies obtained by third parties outside of libraries and library research.

Organization of replenishment of the database of research activities and provision of free access to it:

  • enables all interested parties to receive information about research carried out annually in libraries of various types (public, children’s, youth and other libraries).
  • serves as a basis for monitoring the research activities of libraries;
  • allows to do a secondary analysis of research data, to study changes in the reading and behavior of visitors to libraries of various types and types;
  • contributes to the development of comparable indicators of reading study, library visitors and library services;
  • helps the organization and conduct of corporate research, will allow researchers to create interregional working groups for complex research;
  • initiates the development of methods for assessing the effectiveness and quality of library activities, a comprehensive analysis of the state of library services to the population.

Joint efforts on regular current and retrospective replenishment of the database will make it possible to solve the assigned tasks, including helping each specific library in its research activities, as well as provide an idea of ​​the state of reading and reader preferences, library services, as in a regional and on a national scale.

On March 18-19, 2021, the Second Scientific and Practical Laboratory “We Study Reading: Formats and Practices” in a hybrid format with the support of the Russian Library Association (Section of Children’s Libraries and Section on Reading) was held at the Russian State Children’s Library. More than 1000 specialists from Russia, Kazahstan, China (Shanhai) joined the work of the laboratory. Specialists whose researches already included in database “Reading and Library Audience: Library Science and Sociological Research” presented reports on the materials of their current research. All the materials are available on the website of Russian State Children’s Library

For further information please contact Kolosova Elena kolosova@rgdb.ru

Center for Children’s Books Webinars

A crossroads for critical inquiry, professional training, and educational outreach, the Center for Children’s Books (CCB) at the iSchool at Illinois is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. In its dual role as research collection and educational community, the Center has a national impact on the future of reading and readers.

The CCB supports its mission by providing space, staff, and other support to affiliates; housing collections and other research tools; and sponsoring outreach, scholarly conferences, and instructional activities. Affiliates include School and University faculty and academic staff, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, and the iSchool’s School Librarian Licensure Program.

To commemorate its diamond anniversary, the CCB is holding a virtual lecture series featuring iSchool youth services faculty and alumni speaking about the Center’s history and activities, with an emphasis on children’s literature, storytelling, diversity, and literacy as a public health issue. The lectures, which are open to all, will be held at 12:00 p.m. CT. Speakers and presentations will include:

  • February 25: “CENTERED: The Life and Times of a Book Review Journal,” presented by Professor Emerita Betsy Hearne.
  • March 3: “Storytelling: From Story Times to Epistemological Information Divides,” presented by Associate Professor Kate McDowell (MS ’99, PhD ’07).
  • March 23: “Advocacy and Infographics: Doing the Work for Diversity in Youth Literature and Librarianship,” presented by Sarah Park Dahlen (MS ’09, PhD ’09), associate professor of library and information science at St. Catherine University.
  • April 6, “Books Build Better Brains: Sharing Books as a Public Health Intervention,” presented by Dipesh Navsaria (MS ’04), pediatrician and medical director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin.

“Given the focus on the Center’s history, it is especially appropriate that three of the speakers were students of the fourth, longtime CCB director and Bulletin editor Professor Emerita Betsy Hearne,” said Professor and CCB Director Sara L. Schwebel. “The Center for Children’s Books has been led by a series of remarkable women who enjoyed long associations with the Center and its Bulletin, including Zena Sutherland, Betsy Hearne, and Deborah Stevenson—all of whom commanded tremendous industry-wide respect in the world of children’s books. During the most recent decade, the iSchool has welcomed four new youth services faculty members with diverse research interests and disciplinary backgrounds. As we celebrate the many successes of the CCB over the past 75 years, we are also engaged in strategic planning with an eye to the future.”

More information about the anniversary celebration is available on the CCB website.

European Read On Project

The “READ ON guide”, produced by the partners of the European READ ON project, is a guide for teachers, youth workers, festivals, creative writing tutors and anyone working with young people aged 12 to 19. Inside you can find 15 IDEAS THAT YOU CAN ADAPT

 The READ ON project gets young people reading, writing, illustrating, creating graphic novels, interviewing authors, offering their own spin on their favourite book, and curating events at literature festivals, both in their own country and across Europe.

 READ ON is a four-year project bringing together seven organisations in six countries working in six languages, funded by the EU Creative Europe programme.

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From June 2017 to December, these organisations are working with young people aged 12-19 at public events, through their schools, youth groups and writing clubs or by themselves.

You can find more information, as well as get involved as a school, youth organisation or individual, at www.readon.eu and https://www.facebook.com/readoneu

  Read more about the project partners, following the link: https://readon.eu/about/partner

African-American Read-In

The 2021 National African American Read-In (AARI) begins on February 1. AARI is the nation’s first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature. It was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. Although most participants won’t be able to gather in person to celebrate, NCTE encourages schools, libraries, bookstores, and community and professional organizations to host virtual events for this year’s AARI. The AARI toolkit contains several resources for getting started. With many AARI events moving online, this year’s virtual celebration will transcend geographic boundaries. Visit the AARI map to find events across the United States.

For details, go to https://ncte.org/get-involved/african-american-read-in/

READ ON European Project Guide

The “READ ON guide”, produced by the partners of the European READ ON project, is a guide for teachers, youth workers, festivals, creative writing tutors and anyone working with young people aged 12 to 19.

Inside you can find 15 IDEAS THAT YOU CAN ADAPT

READ ON is a four-year project bringing together seven organisations in six countries working in six languages, funded by the EU Creative Europe programme.

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Read more about the project partners, following the link: https://readon.eu/about/partner

The READ ON project gets young people reading, writing, illustrating, creating graphic novels, interviewing authors, offering their own spin on their favourite book, and curating events at literature festivals, both in their own country and across Europe.

You can find more information, as well as get involved as a school, youth organisation or individual, at www.readon.eu and https://www.facebook.com/readoneu

Fell free to share the READ ON Guide in your local and national networks and your local and national authorities as well.  

 

Kind regards

João Paulo Proença

Apply for Literacy Awards

Applications are being accepted for the 2021 Library of Congress Literacy Awards from Jan. 15 to March 5. The awards are made possible through the generosity of philanthropist David M. Rubenstein.

The Literacy Awards — established by the Library of Congress and Rubenstein — were first conferred in 2013 to honor and support organizations working to promote literacy both in the United States and abroad. The awards encourage the continuing development of innovative methods for promoting literacy and the dissemination of the most successful practices.

The awards are intended to draw public attention to the importance of literacy and the need to promote literacy and encourage reading. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden will make the final selection of the prize winners with recommendations from an advisory board of literacy experts.

Three prizes will be awarded in 2021:

  • The David M. Rubenstein Prize ($150,000) is awarded for an outstanding and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels. The prize is awarded to an organization based either in the United States or abroad that has demonstrated exceptional and sustained depth in its commitment to the advancement of literacy.
  • The American Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels or the national awareness of the importance of literacy. The prize is awarded to an organization that is based in the United States.
  • The International Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in a country other than the United States. The prize is awarded to an organization that is based either in the United States or abroad.

Other organizations will be honored for their successful practices in various areas of literacy promotion.

The application rules and a downloadable application form may be accessed at read.gov/literacyawards. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on March 5, 2021.

A live webinar on the application process will be held on Jan. 28 from 3 – 4 p.m. ET. Please visit www.read.gov/literacyawards/apply.html for details about registering. Attendees must register in advance. The webinar will be recorded and made available on the Literacy Awards webpage.

The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program is administered by the Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives Office, a unit of the Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement at the Library of Congress.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.