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Is Reading Cool in Your School

Summary:
"Start with the Child" is research produced by Morris Hargreaves McIntyre to support libraries and archive services in attracting young people from 3-16.
Some of the findings:
  • Young people become increasingly influenced by their peers. They have spending power and are influenced by packaging and marketing.
  • ICT usage is high and important to them.
  • Their surroundings matter. Music plays an important part in their lives.
  • They want to be given responsibility.
  • They want their cultures to be reflected and valued.
Implications:
  • Décor
    • Teenager-friendly
    • Bright but not childish
    • Modern furniture
    • Celebrate young culture i.e. posters, music, etc.
  • Peer group
    • 'Reader Recommends' notice board or whiteboards
    • Book chains - write comment in front of book
    • Book of the Day
    • Book in a bag e.g. Year 8 choose books for incoming Year7, football team choose books, etc.
    • Reading groups - genre groups are particularly successful.
Other interesting facts:
  • 75% of fiction borrowers choose randomly.
  • 60% of books bought are unplanned, impulse purchases.
  • Boy-tracing in libraries shows that their visits last between 5 and 7 minutes.
Top Tips for Reader Development:
  • The 'Returns' trolley - 50% of books are taken from the returns trolley - they have already been chosen and so therefore it's a recommendation.
  • Think like a supermarket - make reading visible.
  • Use outward windows/wall space to advertise.
  • Use tabletops for similar books; genre; size; colour, etc.
  • "Chocolate by the till" translates to "Poetry for the queue".
  • Analyse browsing patterns - 'hot spots' and 'cold spots' and place your books where kids will take them.
  • Books facing outwards.
  • Displays that can be disturbed.
  • "Sell the Sizzle" - sell the experience of the book, not detailed reviews.
  • Involve kids in producing displays, choosing books, etc.
  • Help pupils to browse - e.g. choose 3 books: one for your best friend, one for your enemy and one for your teacher.
  • Over the summer, send in a postcard with what you are reading - create a display.
  • New covers for books - competitions for redesigning the Millennium covers.
  • Browser boxes for kids who come in at lunchtime.
  • Swap a book - bring in books to swap for another.
  • Carnegie Shadowing - can involve parents too.
  • Consider arrangements of books on shelves, e.g. by genre.
  • "If you like ... then try ..." posters.
  • Websites.
  • Involve the "cool" in the school to promote reading.

Website Suggestions:

www.openingthebook.com Website of the reader development consultancy.
www.branching-out.net Reader development in action.
www.cool-reads.co.uk Is an excellent site for book reviews written by 10-15 year olds.
www.achuka.co.uk Excellent site for keeping up-to-date with new books.
www.bbc.co.uk/arts/books Lots of information on adult and children's authors/works, events and TV tie-ins.
www.grouchy.com American site reviewing teenage "angstbooks" - most are American but well worth a look.
www.artscouncil.org.uk Provides information on arts in England and a link to www.liveliterature.net which details events and gives advice to organisers and authors, plus a useful 'links" section.
www.booktrust.org.uk Invaluable resource for librarians and teachers.
www.readingagency.org.uk Information and resources on reader development.
www.literacytrust.org.uk Lots of information/resources/links to support reader development.
www.nawe.co.uk The National Association of Writers in Education fosters the development of creative writing in all educational settings; lots of information for teachers, book reviews and examples of children's work.
www.ukchildrensbooks.co.uk Is a gateway to authors and illustrators' personal websites.
www.storiesfromtheweb.org Interactive reader development site for children, hosted by Birmingham Library and information Service.
www.storiesfromtheweb.org The Open Book e-zine which features book reviews and articles.
www.ncll.reading.ac.uk Follow the links through Books and Resources to find an online version of 'Looking for an author?'
 
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Page Last Updated: 22 January 2007