# Applications of ICT in Libraries/Supporting Reader Development

This page is designed for the use of students undertaking the **Level 7
PDA** (previously called Diploma) in **Applications of ICT in
Libraries**.

This qualification was developed by the **Scottish Library and
Information Council (SLIC)** and are
validated by the **Scottish Qualifications Authority
(SQA)**

**Supporting Reader Development** is an optional unit in the programme.

Information regarding the **background to the courses**, **content** and
**certification opportunities** can be obtained by following the old
(Diploma ICTL) or Level 8 PDA (Advanced
Diploma ICTL) links.

Further information can be obtained from **angela.lees@sqa.org.uk**

# Objectives of reader development

In recent years libraries have moved towards fostering reader
development, a more reader-centred approach. A good definition of reader
development is:

\'\'\'active intervention to:

-   increase people'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\'\'\'

(See <http://www.openingthebook.com/reader-centred-library>)

Add alternative definitions below.

# Reader development techniques

Reader development is not about reading "better" books, in the sense
that these are more worthy literary titles - the objective is that the
reader relishes the reading experience and reads the books with a sense
of satisfaction. Reader development can involve:

-   reading promotions
-   use of genres
-   literacy initiatives
-   reader centred selection skills

## Reading promotion

It is important at the outset to distinguish between reading promotion
and reader development.

A reading promotion aims to market a small number of titles while reader
development sells the whole reading experience and what it can do for
you, rather than promoting individual books or writers.

That said, however, reading promotions can still play an important role
as part of a wider reader development programme, as they can alert
readers to titles which they might otherwise remain unaware of.

Reading promotions may be local (within the library or local authority
library service), national or even international. Reading promotions
focus on small or moderate numbers of book titles which are grouped
together and marketed as a list or reading pathway for the client group.
This group might be adults, younger clients or clients with special
needs or specific language requirements. Sometimes, language, subject or
publisher links them together.

Although reading promotions are not reader-centred (their objective is
to increase sales or issues), they do bring books to the attention of
readers and may attract new readers because of their display and
supporting print materials. Grouping books together in a promotion
centres the reader's attention on them and will lead to increased client
use of this stock.

**Activity:** Find some examples of recent book promotions in which your
library service has participated. Discuss with colleagues what was
successful or unsuccessful about these promotions.

## Current book promotions

There are so many book promotions that we could not attempt to give a
comprehensive listing. However, here are three examples of current book
promotions which could be applicable to public libraries, together with
our comments on these. Maybe some of them were included in your list.

### Richard and Judy's Summer Reads

<http://www.richardandjudybookclub.co.uk/>

Celebrities Richard and Judy promote reading through their Summer Reads
and Book Club. Whilst this is a small range of titles, these titles
receive a high profile in the media and outlets like supermarkets,
bookshops, stations and airports. It is always important to be aware of
what is in the media spotlight, as requests from clients will follow.
Richard and Judy's titles are contemporary paperback fiction.

### Welsh Book Council

<http://www.cllc.org.uk/hafan-home>

This website promotes access to books by Welsh publishers and contains
useful reading suggestions for readers. It is important that
local/national authors and publishers are promoted to encourage and
sustain the growth and development of the local/national cultural
industry. In addition Welsh/Gaelic language material should be made
available to meet the needs of readers.

### Mills and Boon

<http://www.millsandboon.co.uk>

Mills and Boon publishers are well known for their range of romantic
fiction. Their website includes a large number of titles but it will
only appeal to a limited group of readers and has a commercial rather
than reader-centred objective.

# Genre

A genre is a "family" group of books which share style, form, or
content, e.g.: crime fiction.

**Activity:** List other fiction genres which are common in public
libraries.

## Fiction genres

When you look round any bookshop or library, you see that it is possible
to group fiction into many genres. New genres emerge all the time -- a
few years ago, for instance, "chick lit" was unheard of; now it is one
of the best selling fiction genres. The most common fiction genre
groupings are:

-   literary fiction
-   crime
-   romance
-   fantasy and sci-fi
-   blockbusters
-   historical
-   short stories
-   westerns
-   defined by country, e.g.: Canadian literature

## Arranging collections by genre

Many libraries organise part of their fiction collection by genre and
the identifying spine labels for the different genres (e.g.: a gun for
crime) will be familiar to many library clients. Libraries do this to
help clients who habitually read, for example, crime novels. This means
that clients regularly go to the same area of stock for their reading
material and can miss out on wider reading choices.

Some might argue that arranging the non-fiction stock using a
classification system removes the need for genres in this area of the
library. However, many libraries use genres for some of their
non-fiction stock. Common examples are biographies and travel books.

For the client who is completely focused on one genre it is undoubtedly
helpful if they find all the books in this genre in one place in the
library. But the disadvantage of this approach is that it can discourage
more adventurous reading.

The client may never look beyond the few shelves which contain the
selection of "his/her books", even though other books elsewhere could be
of interest to them. While some clients will always limit their reading
choices to a particular genre, others can, with support, can be led to
enjoy reading across a wider range.

# Literacy initiatives

Literacy initiatives can make a significant contribution to reader
development. Such initiatives exist at both local and national level.

There are many literacy initiatives related to education. These include
the **National Literacy Strategy**, **National Priorities for
Education** and **Literacy Hour**.

The ability to read fluently is an important life skill and opens doors
to better job prospects, improved economic prospects and more leisure
choices. In the UK, the issues are about low levels of literacy rather
than illiteracy, but **23% of adults in the UK struggle with basic
literacy**.

The website of the **National Literacy Trust**,
<http://www.literacytrust.org.uk> has lots of statistical information.
Good functional literacy is important to the well being of individuals
as well as the economy of the country and reading/writing abilities are
essential for everyday tasks such as writing shopping lists, texting and
using medicines properly.

Government initiatives to improve literacy in education include the
introduction of the **Literacy Hour**. The **National Literacy Trust**
was established in 1993 to improve skills, confidence and pleasure in
reading. The NLT goes wider than formal education and there are
well-developed national networks for Adult Literacy and Numeracy support
and development.

**Activity:** Go to <http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/projects_networks>
and look at the details of the latest literacy initiatives applicable to
libraries. Choose those of interest to your own library service and
consider how you could use them as part of reader development.

## Examples of literacy initiatives

In England, **The Reading Agency** brings libraries and adult literacy
together in partnership and promotions include **Got Kids?** **Get
Reading!** and **First Choice**.

The Reading Agency runs an annual literacy initiative - the \'Six Books
Challenge\' aimed at adults and learners in further education.

You can find out more at
<http://readingagency.org.uk/adults/quick-guides/six-book-challenge/>

In Scotland, the **Big Plus** brand promotes adult literacy and
numeracy. There is a partnership between **Communities Scotland's
Learning Connections** and libraries which is developing projects,
collections and providing training.

<http://www.thebigplus.com/about/About_The_Big_Plus>

**Activity:** Browse through the following literacy related websites for
younger clients. Do any of them have activities which you could link
into or adapt for your library service? Note: most of these sites give
links to other related sites which may also provide you with
inspiration.

**The Child Literacy Centre** <http://www.childliteracy.com>

**My home library** <http://www.myhomelibrary.org>

# Reader-centred stock selection

When choosing stock it is important that you consider the reading
preferences of clients. Using reader-centred selection skills in general
stock selection is good practice. You will keep your clients' reading
preferences in mind as you take account of current demands, gaps in
stock, levels and formats of stock and the condition and currency of
stock. You may need to think about developing specific areas of stock.
You may also need to select specific items or generate lists for
individual clients and their meeting their needs should be the focus.

Later we'll discuss what is involved in carrying out an interview with
the client to establish their reading history and preferences and in
building a reader-profile. Following on from that you will draw on your
knowledge of the reading resources available in order to develop a
reader-centred list or pathway. Here we discuss some of the resources
which are available to assist you in stock selection.

Activity: Make a list of the range of resources which are available to
you when you are selecting stock to recommend to a reader whose
reader-profile you have established. Remember you can be accessing stock
which already exists in your library service or you may be ordering new
stock for the client.

## Resources

For stock within your library service you will use the library catalogue
and themed lists such as the Quick Reads collection for emergent
readers:

<http://www.quickreads.org.uk/>

To identify new stock you can use online sources -- there are many
online selection tools which are useful in locating resources which your
own service does not have. Examples include:

Scottish Bibliographies Online:
<http://www.scotlandsculture.org/sbo/sbo.htm>

Which Book - for widening
fiction choice (with reviews from library staff)

Other resources for assisting in stock selection include:

-   catalogues of other libraries
-   bibliographies
-   review journals
-   publishers' lists
-   pre-publication lists
-   specialist suppliers
-   showroom and bookshop visits
-   trade publications

### Library catalogues

Online library catalogues can assist you in your search for appropriate
material. Most UK library catalogues can be searched via the Internet.

The UK Public Libraries Page
<http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac940/weblibs.html> is a
useful resource, linking to the web-available catalogues.

Some services "clump" together the catalogues of several libraries. A
single-search interface is used to cross-search multiple catalogues in a
single search action, such as <http://www.ni-libraries.net/> for
Northern Ireland or CatCymru for Wales
<http://library.wales.org/catcymru/>

### Bibliographies

A bibliography is a list of materials on a particular subject or by a
particular author.

The publication, in either printed or electronic format, is usually
arranged by author, date or subject, and provides information such as
author, title, publisher and date of publication. This can then be used
to identify sources and place orders for clients.

Activity: Find out which bibliographies are held in hard copy in your
library service and consider how each might be of use to you for
reader-centred stock selection.

### Review journals

Review journals offer more information about books, articles or research
than is found in bibliographies. A review will summarise the contents
and make an evaluative statement about its contribution within its
context. Good examples include newspapers such as:

The Sunday Times <http://www.timesonline.co.uk>

The Guardian <http://www.guardian.co.uk/>

Remember though, however respected the journal or reviewer, reviews are
the views of one individual and so need to be evaluated carefully.

### Publishers' lists

Publisher's websites and lists offer useful information. Caution must be
exercised when using these to select material as publishers and
booksellers have a commercial imperative. So you must always apply your
selection criteria.

Books from Scotland (http://www.booksfromscotland.com) is supported by
Publishing Scotland's website and highlights new books as does their
Facebook page
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/BooksfromScotlandcom/28776550495) and
Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/scottishbooks). They also have an RSS
news feed.

### Pre-publication lists

These lists offer useful information about forthcoming publications.

However, library staff know that they must be especially careful when
using information from pre-publication lists as these lists may be
produced many months before an item is actually published. In the
interval between the pre-publication list and the actual publication of
the item, the date of publication, length, format and price may change.

### Specialist suppliers

Specialist suppliers are used to ensure that range and depth is
developed within collections. This might be a particular interest,
specialist language material, dual language material, or alternative
formats such as Braille or for emergent readers.

### Showroom and bookshop visits

Visits to showrooms and bookshops offer the opportunity to browse
through the books. The downsides are that the range is limited to what
is available in stock and that it takes considerable time and travel to
select from a wide range of stock effectively and efficiently.

### Trade publications

The Bookseller is a weekly trade publication, which lists new
publications and forthcoming titles <http://www.thebookseller.com>

