Reading Promotion in the United States

Michael DowlingDirector, International Relations Office and Chapter Relations Office

American Library Association

Literacy- ALA Key Action Area

The American Library Association assists and promotes libraries in helping children and adults develop the skills they need-the ability to read and use computers-understanding that the ability to seek and effectively utilize information

resources is essential in a global information society.

(Other Key Action Areas)• Intellectual Freedom • Equity of Access

• Continuing Education• Diversity• Advocacy

Why Does Reading Matter?

National Reading Studies

NEA Study Findings

(Study only focused on reading of literature, not overall reading of newspapers, magazines, comics, or computer generated reading)

ALA Products and Resources to Promote Reading

•Leader in Selecting Award Winning Books

•Books, webinars on Reading Promotion

• Celebrity READ Posters and CD’s to create local made posters

• Other Posters, guides, pencils, bookmarks, etc.

ALA Early Reading Program

Audience Focused Reading Promotion

Reluctant Readers and Therapy Dogs

Summer Reading Programs

• 48 States participate in the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP). It is a grassroots consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials.

• The participating systems and states develop a unified and high-quality promotional and programming product. Participants have access to the same artwork, incentives and publicity, in addition to an extensive manual of programming and promotional ideas.

ChildrenTeensandAdults

10% of Chicago Kids ParticipatedAveraged Number of Books Read-23

Teen Read Week™ October 16– 22 , 2011

•Teen Read Week is an initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Teen Read Week started in 1998.

• It encourages teens to read poetry, audiobooks, books about music, and more.

•Libraries celebrate Teen Read Week with a variety of special events and programs aimed at encouraging teens to read for pleasure and to visit their libraries for free reading materials.

•Teens have so many options for entertainment, so it's important to remind them to spend time reading for pleasure: it's free, fun, and can be done anywhere!

•Research shows that teens who read for fun have better test scores and are more likely to succeed in the workforce.

Targeting Troubled Teens

• Begun in 1998 in Seattle, Washington, by Librarian Nancy Pearl, the One Book concept was developed to build a sense of community while promoting literacy.

• ALA promotes “One Book One Community” reading promotion project, which connect people to literature through reading and discussion, have exploded in popularity in recent years. Usually organized by libraries, they bring members of a community together to read and discuss the same literary work. Discussions usually take place in small groups and sometimes authors participate.

• ALA provides ‘how to’ resources

• Over 1,000 Communities and Universities have created One Book programs

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Northwestern University

The Big Read• The Big Read is a program of the National

Endowment for the Arts (U.S. Government) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.

• Each community event lasts approximately one month and includes a kick-off event to launch the program locally, ideally attended by the mayor and other local luminaries; major events devoted specifically to the book (panel discussions, author reading, and the like)

• The NEA inaugurated The Big Read as a pilot

project in 2006 with ten communities featuring four books. The Big Read continues to expand to include more communities and additional books. By June 2011, 949 grants have been awarded to communities.

The Future is Now- eBooks and Libraries

94% of academic libraries offer ebooks

72% of public libraries offer ebooks

33% of school libraries offer ebooks

Library Journal Publishes Library eBook Survey Results http://www.libraries.wright.edu/noshelfrequired/2011/02/09/library-journal-publishes-library-ebook-survey-results-sample-data-here/

ALA and eBooks

•Books•Websites of Resources•Webinars•Conference Programs•Policy Development - eBook and digital content committees/task forces