Promoting collections in libraries for new and less confident adult readers is tricky territory. A carefully-chosen selection of titles can be wasted if learners do not know it is there. There is all the more reason then to use these promotional materials to make the link with basic skills providers so that tutors have a clearer idea of what the library has to offer.

The Vital Link programme has promotional materials available to support the Essential First Choice collection. If you haven't already made an order, see the Resources catalogue at www.readingagency.org.uk for more information and a downloadable order form.

Here are some ideas for how you could be using these resources. And don't forget that Adult Learners' Week and Family Learning Week present an ideal opportunity to put some of these suggestions into practice.

Advocacy leaflets

Building a partnership with local basic skills providers is an essential first step to reaching adults with low literacy levels. But providers may not realise how libraries have changed and the range of resources they can provide. Using the sophisticated First Choice design, this new leaflet provides a concise summary of what libraries have to offer and promotes the book collections with supporting quotes and space for your contact details. Use it to:

• reinforce a first approach to a local college, Adult & Community Education Service, voluntary sector or commercial training provider
• encourage a basic skills provider to pass on the message to individual tutors
• circulate to local basic skills networks
• support an advocacy presentation at a meeting of your local Learning Partnership

Getting into Reading leaflets

The new Getting into Reading leaflets are for adult learners. They contain positive messages around reading and the support that learners can get from libraries in becoming independent readers. Use them to:

• hand out to learners either at the library or at basic skills classes
• to enhance your First Choice display
• support your advocacy to basic skills
• provide staff with support materials for adult learners

• alert basic skills tutors to the book collections in their local library
• introduce First Choice to a group of learners and decorate the room where they meet in a college, community centre or other venue
• initiate a debate with learners about how they find their way round a library and what signposting they would like
• promote the First Choice collections in the library
• publicise any special events or activities for less confident readers

Stickers

One of the purposes of the First Choice materials is to support you in creating a dedicated space in your library that is actively promoting reading to adult learners. The stickers reinforce the branding of the books making them easily recognisable and accessible to learners and tutors. They support learners in making their own reading choices and help you to promote independent reading.

Reading diaries

The aim of the Vital Link programme is to support learners so that they become independent readers and are motivated to continue their learning. The First Choice reading diaries are designed so that learners can record the books they have read along with comments and other points to remember. Use them to:

• work with tutors and learners when visiting a basic skills class
• encourage learners to think about what they have read or want to read
• offer to tutors as an incentive to link up with the library
• source other titles that learners have enjoyed and check them against the stock selection criteria (see Vital Link toolkit for this)
• back up reading activity with new or less confident adult readers in the library
• support a basic skills reading group

You could consider developing a First Choice goody bag or welcome pack for adult learners to include, for example, a reading diary, a Getting into Reading leaflet, a library joining card and library information for adult learners. This could be used when doing initial visits to a basic skills class or as a welcome when learners first come to the library for an introductory tour.