Literacy

Mitchell Library education programme

Aims

Although the responsibility for reading skill acquisition lies with the school, the public library has a long established remit to support literacy.

The role of the public library is to encourage a desire and love of reading. The importance of reading in the social and cultural development of the child is recognised. As a result, librarians are seeking to facilitate this in a number of different ways, by:

  • providing all children with the opportunity to develop at their own pace, through equal access to collections representing the whole range of children's literature
  • ensuring that all children feel that the library is a place for them, not just for adults.

Aims

Changes in the nature of school visits to libraries have allowed staff the opportunity to examine and revitalise the educational visit. A plan outlining the aims of an educational visit programme has been produced. By analysing content, length of visit and frequency, both teachers and library staff are aware of what can be achieved.

The aims of an educational visit programme are to:

  • promote the use of libraries by encouraging individual children to use the library outside school hours
  • increase contacts and links with schools
  • promote the enjoyment of reading and libraries
  • encourage lifelong learning via an information skills programme.

Range of services

The libraries provide a range of services for schools.

  • Storytelling - this is offered in various formats, including puppet shows, story theatre and bilingual storytelling.

  • Education visits - teaching children how to use a library and find relevant information.

  • Reading challenge - a motivational reading scheme designed to stimulate interest in books and reading.

  • ICT visits - teaching children how to surf the net and use CD-ROMs for project-based information.

  • Fiction visits - looking at book extracts, reviews and organising author visits.

  • Library tours - the range of tours offered includes the 'History of Glasgow Bus Tour' and visits for schools to the Mitchell Library. These visits can include a 'behind the scenes tour'. This takes a look at the running of the library and includes many areas not usually seen by the public.