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Reading Motivation and Library Visits...
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From: Caroline Parr <CParr>
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:41:49 -0400
I've been fascinated by the many comments about how kids find books, and concerned when teachers report that children either don't have library cards or have difficulty getting to the library.
Maia, have you or your sister used your library's website to find books and place holds on them? (Your sister can also call or email her library to find out what books her favorite author has written.) That's an increasingly popular way for people to use libraries. Our patrons can also post book reviews online, email requests for book suggestions (wildly popular with teens) and otherwise join an active online community that supports reading. And our library is hardly alone in doing this.
How do our kids find books? One way is through the library's many book discussion programs for kids and teens. Teens involved in our middle school program are sometime stretched to try new books through this program, though peer recommendations are still the most powerful. Last year's group favorites ranged from Alice Hoffman's Green Angel to Varjak Paw to For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy. (See more at http://www.teenspoint.org/schools/cafe_book/index.asp)
Here in Fredericksburg, VA, about an hour south of Washington, DC, we're finding that our library outreach efforts are effective. At recent back-to-school events, most kids seemed to have library cards already, unless they were new to town (and we have lots and lots of newcomers in this fast-growing area). We make it as easy as possible for people to get cards, including an online form people can fill out to get their cards mailed to them. We also, like most libraries, host tons of library visits from schools, preschools, and homeschool groups.
I say all this not to toot our own horn but to point out that libraries are THE place to start when you need information or want to connect with other book people. Bookstores are some of my favorite places, too, but start with your free, locally owned and operated library and see where it takes you!
Caroline
Caroline S. Parr Youth Services Coordinator Central Rappahannock Regional Library 1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401 voice: 5407260 / fax: 54073?11 www.LibraryPoint.org
Received on Thu 14 Oct 2004 10:41:49 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:41:49 -0400
I've been fascinated by the many comments about how kids find books, and concerned when teachers report that children either don't have library cards or have difficulty getting to the library.
Maia, have you or your sister used your library's website to find books and place holds on them? (Your sister can also call or email her library to find out what books her favorite author has written.) That's an increasingly popular way for people to use libraries. Our patrons can also post book reviews online, email requests for book suggestions (wildly popular with teens) and otherwise join an active online community that supports reading. And our library is hardly alone in doing this.
How do our kids find books? One way is through the library's many book discussion programs for kids and teens. Teens involved in our middle school program are sometime stretched to try new books through this program, though peer recommendations are still the most powerful. Last year's group favorites ranged from Alice Hoffman's Green Angel to Varjak Paw to For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy. (See more at http://www.teenspoint.org/schools/cafe_book/index.asp)
Here in Fredericksburg, VA, about an hour south of Washington, DC, we're finding that our library outreach efforts are effective. At recent back-to-school events, most kids seemed to have library cards already, unless they were new to town (and we have lots and lots of newcomers in this fast-growing area). We make it as easy as possible for people to get cards, including an online form people can fill out to get their cards mailed to them. We also, like most libraries, host tons of library visits from schools, preschools, and homeschool groups.
I say all this not to toot our own horn but to point out that libraries are THE place to start when you need information or want to connect with other book people. Bookstores are some of my favorite places, too, but start with your free, locally owned and operated library and see where it takes you!
Caroline
Caroline S. Parr Youth Services Coordinator Central Rappahannock Regional Library 1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401 voice: 5407260 / fax: 54073?11 www.LibraryPoint.org
Received on Thu 14 Oct 2004 10:41:49 AM CDT
