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| This article first appeared in the September 2002
issue of Literacy Today
(issue no. 32). |
Libraries have huge potential to support people wanting to improve
their literacy levels. Genevieve Clarke, manager of the National
Reading Campaign, reports on a ground-breaking programme.
"I really enjoyed The Big Book of Scandal. It's
the first time I've read a complete book. " Heidi, a woman in
her 30s studying for an NVQ in care, is one of the participants
in the Vital Link, which is exploring ways in which libraries
can motivate and inspire less confident readers. Heidi was encouraged
by her tutor to join one of several groups for new readers in
Bedford Central Library. She is now looking forward to choosing
more books for herself and sharing her views with fellow students.
We all know that the gloomy statistics about adult literacy
levels actually hide a far more complex situation in which the
majority are on the borderline of functional literacy and find
reading far easier than writing. Even so, many, like Heidi,
will not have considered reading for the sheer enjoyment of
it or braving a library counter to take out a book for themselves.
Supported through the second year of reader development funding
from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund, the Vital
Link has begun to tackle this by trialling a variety of approaches
to recruiting and supporting new readers. Led by the Reading
Agency with the National Reading Campaign and the National Literacy
Trust as key partners, the programme has also drawn on expertise
from the Basic Skills Agency, the Adult Basic Skills Strategy
Unit, ClLIP (previously the Library Association) and others.
With the Government's Skills for Life strategy having set targets
for 750,000 learners to improve their literacy skills by 2004,
libraries, like museums, are recognising that they can play
a crucial role.
One of the first objectives for the Vital Link was to encourage
librarians and basic skills tutors to work together. This involved
awareness training for both professions and a greater understanding
of their respective roles. Then came the challenge of improving
the resources on offer for students at the moment, 'dire' in
many people's eyes. The Vital Link has now developed a reading
promotion under the banner First Choice, which specifically
identifies fiction (including graphic novels), non-fiction,
poetry and audio titles which can provide a way into the enjoyment
of reading for less confident readers. This draws upon work
previously undertaken by Essex Libraries to identify criteria
for choosing appropriate stock.
The nine library authorities involved range from Essex and Norfolk,
who had reviewed their policy for basic skills collections in
recent years, to those such as Doncaster and Wandsworth, who
were virtually starting from scratch. Together with their local
basic skills providers, participating authorities have explored
ways to work with existing and new learners in settings ranging
from colleges and libraries to prisons and a youth offending
team.
The Vital Link has attracted high-level interest as an example
of how one public sector can lend invaluable support to another
in the drive to improve literacy levels among adults. Lessons
learnt will be disseminated throughout the library service and
the basic skills sector through a toolkit, training programmes
and a national conference. Central to these will be the findings
of the cross-departmental evaluation team from the University
of Sheffield.
Meanwhile, the push to provide stronger support for less confident
readers through libraries will continue, but sustainability
will depend upon longer-term funding. There is a role for publishers
too in recognising the potential of this market. More of them
could follow the example of Irish publishers New Island Press
who, through the encouragement of best-selling author Patricia
Scanlan (formerly a librarian), have now published 18 Open Door
titles for new adult readers by well- known names such as Roddy
Doyle, Maeve Binchy and Vincent Banville. More are planned featuring
top British authors. Let's hope that Heidi will have rather
more titles to choose from in the near future.
| Since this article was written, the Vital Link has received
new national funding for 2003-2006 from The Museums, Libraries
and Archives Council. Visit www.vitallink.org.uk.
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