 |
There are hundreds of examples around the country of how
businesses have become involved in partnerships to promote
literacy whether through improving the literacy skills
of the workforce and their families, providing volunteers
or supporting and funding initiatives. 2008 is the National Year of Reading - read The National Year of Reading - a challenge for business! (pdf) to get inspired.
Improving employees basic skills and developing their potential increases companies' productivity and improves morale. The network for workplace language, literacy and numeracy supports the Government's Skills for Life strategy by sharing good practice and providing continuing professional development. If you belong to a union, Unionlearn and their local representatives can help you to spread the lifelong learning message in to other members, visit www.unionlearn.org.uk
Ideas for promoting reading in the workplace
Useful links
Business and literacy resources
Read case studies on how family reading has been used in the workplace.
Workplace library: set up a library within the workplace
and encourage borrowing. The library could be of books brought
in by staff or donated by the company. A local librarian may
be able to help set one up. Ford, in Dagenham set up a workplace library with
the help of a visiting local librarian who brought boxes
of books onto the shop floor. Employees were encouraged
to borrow books for themselves and their children.
Children's library exchange: Create a children's library within the workplace. Encourage staff to bring in books their children have grown out of so they can be borrowed by parents (grandparents, uncles, or aunts) of other children.
Magazines in reception: always have magazines and
newspapers available at reception in staff rooms and in canteens.
Buy a book as present to staff who have a new child.
Reading Groups: a workplace reading group can help
staff get to know each other better, and so work more effectively
as a team. Provide space for meetings to take place and photocopying
facilities to help organize each meeting.
Swap a book at work day: ask staff if they would like to bring in a book to swap with a colleague. Make it anonymous with a 'mystery book swap': staff bring in old books wrapped in newspaper and then select a mystery book from the collection. The National Literacy Trust ran a national Swap A Book promotion in September 2001, providing ideas and promotional materials to help businesses to organise their own events. Download the materials from the Swap a Book promotion
Celebrate World Book Day, Bedtime Reading Week and National
Poetry Day: make the most of national reading
events to celebrate reading at work.
| |
80px.gif)
