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Background
First Choice Books database – expanded
The Vital Link booklists
Other useful resources:
A central focus of The Vital Link programme has been to identify collections of titles from mainstream fiction and non-fiction stock that will appeal to emergent readers and act as a key tool for reader development work through libraries. These were launched and branded First Choice in 2002 with the idea that they are recommended titles for adults for whom the whole process of choosing books for their own enjoyment is a new experience. It also gets away from the idea that a basic skills collection should be separated out from ‘normal’ books. Instead the aim is to help adults who are improving their reading skills to move on from easier mainstream books to more challenging ones within their area of interest.
These collections were developed with feedback from emergent readers combined with recommendations from library and basic skill professionals about what works for their learners. The underpinning stock selection criteria were developed by librarians in partnership with basic skills tutors and draw on work done previously by Essex Libraries to create their Quick Reads fiction collection which was tested further during The Vital Link programme. These criteria include elements such as length, presentation, nature of content and structural issues such as plot complexity for fiction and layout for non-fiction. The SMOG methodology has been used for assessing the readability level of each text.
All selected titles have been incorporated into www.firstchoicebooks.org.uk Originally launched in 2005, this has now been entirely redesigned and expanded but it remains a world first – an online database where practitioners and readers can search for books by different themes, genres, titles, author and readability level and see the stock selection criteria for each title. Practitioners and readers can rate titles and submit reviews as well as see the new titles added to the database.
Fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, poetry, short stories and children's titles are featured on the site. It also includes a range of titles specially written for emergent readers such as Quick Reads and those from publishers such as Sandstone Press, New Island and Barrington Stoke, as well as audio from WF Howes.
There is a facility to submit new titles that fit the stock selection criteria as well as get full information about the criteria and how to use the SMOG formula. Practitioners can also print out booklists from the site.
We are keen to work with library services or learning providers in order to continue expanding this database. Please contact ruth.harrison@readingagency.org.uk if you would like to get involved with this process.
Since the launch of the original First Choice promotion, The Vital Link has produced a series of booklists to support libraries in identifying and promoting mainstream and specially-written titles for emergent readers. These have included lists to complement promotional work targeted at parents with low literacy - Got kids? Get reading!, and at Dads - Five Minutes, both of which have proved very popular.
The relaunch of the First Choice Books database in January 2008 has given us the opportunity to review and update these lists. We have also launched an entirely new list to support the Six Book Challenge, which started in January 2008. Three lists are now downloadable below and we will shortly make available a fourth - an updated list of titles for parents with low literacy to enjoy themselves and to share with their children. All the titles on the Vital Link book lists are featured on the First Choice Books database at www.firstchoicebooks.org.uk
• The Vital Link book list (launched in October 2007 to support the Six Book Challenge)
• The Vital Link mainstream backlist (last updated October 2007)
• The Vital Link emergent reader backlist (last updated October 2007)
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