Transcript School libraries

Children of today and
tomorrow:
challenges for school and public
libraries
Marian Koren
Netherlands Public Library Association
Athens, June 10, 2009
Content







School libraries and public libraries
Rights of the Child
Children’s right to information
Implications for schools and libraries
Practical applications
Child participation
Examples
Principles for library services
• Human rights
• From UNESCO/IFLA manifestos
• International guidelines
• National legislation
• Local priorities
• Society in development
Global library principles
• Basic human values
- Freedom
and development of
society and of individuals
- non-discrimination, respect,
privacy
– Human development and well-informed
citizens
– Free and unlimited access to thought,
knowledge information and culture
• UNESCO/IFLA Manifesto and
Guidelines
 public libraries
 services to children
 young adults
 school libraries
International cooperation
• IFLA
• IASL
• ENSIL, european level: will participate at
Frankfurter Buchmesse
• IRA
• IBBY
Rights of the Child
• human rights
– All human beings are born free and equal
in dignity and rights. They are endowed
with reason and conscience and should
act towards one another in a spirit of
brotherhood
• childhood
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
The right of the child
to information
•
•
•
•
•
Freedom of expression
Access to information
Education
Cultural participation
To know about rights
Needs or
rights
active
perspective
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Child is passive or
Target or
Without/
with
With/
without
Without/
with
Promises or
Cultural variations or
Charity or
Political will or
all children
sustainability
hierarchy of rights
duties
obligations
universal
policy
political choice
Rights, needs, interests
• Children of today
• Children of tomorrow
• Literacy competencies
• (sustainability aspects)
Article 12 Child’s participation
1. States Parties shall assure to the child
who is capable of forming his or her
own views the right to express those
views freely in all matters affecting the
child, the views of the child being given
due weight in accordance with the age
and maturity of the child.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Access to information
Making your own choice
Joy of reading
Media skills
Critical reflection
Fantasy and creativity
Cultural participation
Learning for life
Human rights
education
•General human rights
•Children’s rights
•International and nearby
•big and small injustices
•facts and experience
Media education
•
•
•
•
From library instruction to media education
Finding useful materials
Judging various sources
Discussing media behaviour: respect, privacy,
open dialogue, non formal education
• Active approach, new skills: Critical use of media
to make own content and productions
Self-education
and citizenship
• Modern citizenship:
civil, political, social,
cultural
• Democracy, Lifelong
learning, Social
inclusion
• For libraries: New
tools, new services
Development of libraries
Stronger school library services through
• legislation:
– Croatia, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden
• educated librarians/professionals
– (two systems: educated librarians
– Teachers with additional library training
• standards/professionals requirements
– Nordic counries, Croatia, Portugal
• strong public libraries network
. Netherlands
School libraries in the Netherlands
Schools
• Primary education: 3000
• Secondary education: 670
• Organised school librarians: LWSVO
• 500 members mainly secondary education
and vocational education
• - very few school libraries in primary
education; some work with
parents/volunteers
Partnerships
Education
schools
university
Municipality
Public information
Local information
archive
Culture:
museums
theatre
Public
library
Community
Neighbourhood
centre
Information
media
bookshops
Partnerships
Culture:
museums
theatre
Public
Library
Schools
School
library
Municipality
Public information
Local information
archive
Community
Neighbourhood
centre
Information
media
bookshops
School and library combinations
1. Public library service
2. Small or large physical school library
3. Combined school library and children’s branch library
1. in school
2. in branch library
4. Combined school library and neighbourhood branch
library
1. in school
2. In branch library
School
and library
Other combinations and partnerships under
one roof in Kulturhus
•
•
•
•
•
School
Library
Bank
Senior homes
Kindergarten
• Adapted Dutch concept
New pedagogical/didactic
concepts
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
100 talents/Reggio Emilia
Multiple intelligences
Student focus
Self-learning, group learning
New media Literacy skills
School & community integration
extended school, partnerships
After school activities = incl. library
services
New concepts for Services to
children
• Children’s expressions: the library of the 100
languages
• Children’s Information Centre
• Digital reference services: Al@din (NL),
Spørg Olivia (DK)
• Homework support
• Web based services for reading, homework
– Cooperation of librarians and teachers
• Interactive child communication forum
Programmes with schools
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
National reading programme
Children’s Book Week
Reading Aloud Contest
Reading Aloud Days
Children’s Jury
Library visits
Storytelling/ presentations of books
Children have a voice, a vote
Children’s Jury
• Co-operation of libraries, book trade
and television
• Children read last year’s books
• They vote for their favourites, Top 5 list,
including comments
• Local activities to encourage reading
and voting
• National final on TV: Children’s Jury
Award
Services to schools
Materials:
• Theme collections
• Reading materials/projects
Expertise:
• collection development
• Literacy training
• Reading curriculum
• Media coach, Reading coach
Digital services
National level
• www.schoolbieb.nl
• www.jeugdbibliotheek.nl
• Supporting reading programmes
• www.leesplein.nl
Locally
- composed digital theme lessons
- Dedicated games
- Homework support
Reading Plaza
Digital school library
Child participation, also in
libraries
Public library and city hall
Heerhugowaard
Two levels designed
by children!
Information desk children’s department
Stimulating imagination,
activities
games shelves
Cooperation Concept BSB
Aim: reducing chances that language and
development are lagging behind
Mission:
• Stimulate use of services which help to
create bigger chances for children
• Connect in-school and out of school life
• Integrate leisure time world of the child
• Strengthen language and social skills
Example: children’s participation
• Running the (school/ youth) library
– By children themselves
– Children’s participation
– Developing skills, experiences, cooperation
– Relationships with environment/
neighbourhood
– Research based: more involvement, more
and better reading
Reaching out to more children
•
•
•
•
In independentlibraries
In a school
In a public library, main library
In school library
With the concept of Extended School
Library= child participation
City of Hoorn
•
•
•
•
•
•
Integrated community school
Extended school
Youth library
Children do all jobs they agree on
Adult volunteer in the background
Children from different schools, get
training, do jobs when the class visits the
library.
Project plan
• Orientation
– Model plan, critical success factors
– Cooperation, communication
• Preparation
• Implementation
• Evaluation
Preparation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Description project leader
Committee and steeering group
State of the art/Zero- measurement
Collections
Computers
Recruite library workers
Train library workers
Recruite volunteers (parents)
Creative group
• Children from different schools (3 from
each)
• Ideas for projects
• Ideas for implementing annual reading
programmes (e.g. Children’s Book week)
• Receive training, about making posters,
presentations
Children’s Press Bureau
• Children from different school
• Special training in workshop
• Interview and write newsletter for schools
(1x 3 months)
• Exclusive interviewds of visiting authors;
article in local weekly (house to house)
Own initiative reading promotion
•
•
•
•
Smiley project
Vote about the book you read
= colour applicable smiley
Smiley cards; top 10 of a smiley
– Very cool!
– Boring!
– I dont’know…
– Sad
Research
Effects on
1. reading in leisure time
2. Attitude towards books
3. Imago of the library
4. Comprehensive reading
First two are strongest effects of the concept
How to do
• Children are the boss
• They propose how their library space
should be
• Create some nice corners, like home
• A place to sit, another to play, another to
draw and colour
• Logo competition
• Self service
School libraries
• At the heart of school life and learning
• Partner in larger library network
• Partner in local community/
neighbourhood
• Partner in children’s participation
• Partner in educational innovation
Contact: [email protected]