Title: Librarian’s role in creating readers
Author:National Library of New Zealand
Full Text & Source:http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/creating-readers/creating-readers-strategies/librarians-role-creating-readers
The Internet, Online, 4/05/2016
Sample Text:
School librarians are an important member of the group of adults charged with creating readers, which includes parents, teachers, librarians. Ways you can help students become engaged readers range from providing opportunities to read for pleasure and a diverse collection to partnering with families, public librarians and teaching staff.
Contents
Reader development supported by the school librarian
Promoting the library collection
Targeting the librarian’s professional expertise
Further information
Reader development supported by the school librarian
“Reader development” means active intervention; “selling” the reading experience and what it can do for the reader to:
- increase children’s confidence and enjoyment of reading
- open up reading choices
- offer opportunities for people to share their reading experience
- raise the status of reading as a creative activity.
Rachel Van Riel has developed this concept to encourage, support and foster audience engagement with reading and literature.
Collaborating with teachers, parents/whānau and local public library staff is an important way of helping stimulate and reinforce a reading culture within the school and school community. Activities might include:
- promoting a print-rich environment in the library, classrooms, online and at home
- delivering an annual programme of reading, writing and oral language activities
- organising special events supporting literacy.
Read more about the school librarian’s role in the library team
Promoting the library collection
To target collection development and reading incentive programmes, build a profile of your community. A wide variety of relevant and culturally inclusive resources is vital to appeal to all students. Knowing your students’ interests as well as their reading abilities, helps librarians to match books with readers successfully and to do “book talks” that are most likely to engage the children.
Ways to help students to choose books include:
- creating reader-friendly environments using clear, helpful signage and attractively displayed resources with plenty of face-out display of book covers
- building an inclusive collection with a wide range of resources and formats
- promoting books across ages such as promoting sophisticated picture books and easy reading fiction as “quick reads” to older children, helping encourage struggling readers to find books that suit their abilities.
Read more about helping students choose books for reading pleasure
Targeting the librarian’s professional expertise
There are various ways you can work collaboratively with teachers, parents / whānau and the wider community by sharing knowledge, expertise and resources. For example, working with teachers to learn students personal interests as well as their reading abilities, you can better help match books with readers. Knowing students interests also helps you to promote books and do “book talks” that are most likely to interest the children.
Read more about building collaborative relationships
Collaborating with teachers
Library staff can work in partnership with teachers by exchanging ideas and co-creating opportunities to support student literacy initiatives.
Examples of successful library staff collaborations with teachers include:
- to promote use of sophisticated picture books and online tools such as book trailers as promotional tools (DOC).
- working with English teachers to ensure best possible outcomes for students and the school’s NCEA programme
- working with literacy leaders to increase teacher knowledge of literature for children and young people, including digital resources. This could form part of your school’s professional learning programme.
Read more about school staff as readers
Liaising with parents
Ways you can help readers by involving parents / whānau include:
- providing selected book lists to parents targeted to their child’s interests and reading level
- inviting parents into the library to choose books for and with their children
- promoting series fiction to parents
- sending messages home to parents about great read-alouds and great new books.
Read more about Home-school partnerships for fostering literacy at home.
read the full article online……
ANNETTE J DUNLEA 
You must be logged in to post a comment.