Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, students should be able to:
- explain the meaning, forms and value of literacy;
- demonstrate an understanding fo the aquisition of reading skills and the reading habits of young people;
- summerise the influence which information technology and the media have on the development of the child, children's book publishing and library provision;
- describe the role of the British childrenn's public library service and associated organisations in supporting the social, educational, cultural and recreational needs of the young;
- outline the principles of managing the collection of a children's library;
- discuss the value and range of promotional activities currently offered by children's libraries.
Brief description
Library services to children and young people have long constituted one of the most important branches of the public library profession. Library services to children and young people are striving to satisfy needs in appropriate ways. Increasingly, children's librarians have also recognised the need to extend their services to those adults who are concerned with young people, and collections on topics such as parenting, child development, even adult fiction are being established in many children's libraries.
Although the promotion of reading and writing is viewed as a fundamental tenet of the philosophy of children's librarianship, collections and services have not been immune to the influence of the new technologies. Current developments in education have played a significant part in bringing together schools' and children's librarians.
Aims
The overall aim of this module, is to elucidate the contribution which the British children's library service makes to the educational, cultural and social development of children and young people.