Building a Culture for Literacy through School and Community Library Programs A symposium Ninth Annual Conference of the International Association for the Improvement of Mother Tongue Education (IAIMTE) June 11-13, 2013 Paris, France

Welcome & Overview Chair: Dr Jon Shapiro (University of British Columbia, Canada) Chair: Dr Jon Shapiro (University of British Columbia, Canada) Welcome & Introductions Welcome & Introductions Goals of the Symposium Goals of the Symposium To highlight the emerging role of libraries and community partners--including government and NGOs--in literacy development. To highlight the emerging role of libraries and community partners--including government and NGOs--in literacy development. To provide concrete examples drawn from global communities that demonstrate how libraries are working to support local literacies; and To provide concrete examples drawn from global communities that demonstrate how libraries are working to support local literacies; and To suggest recommendations for supporting the critical role for libraries in supporting global literacies. To suggest recommendations for supporting the critical role for libraries in supporting global literacies.

Opening Remarks Questions and/or Issues that might arise Donated materials versus the development of indigenous materials Donated materials versus the development of indigenous materials The role of community libraries versus school libraries The role of community libraries versus school libraries How to build capacity How to build capacity National versus regional foci National versus regional foci Traditional versus digital materials Traditional versus digital materials

Opening Remarks The role of code switching when teaching comprehension and research and study skills The role of code switching when teaching comprehension and research and study skills How do we measure success? How do we measure success?

Paper One: Successes and Challenges for Publishing and Distributing Mother Tongue Materials in Ethiopia Research Children acquire linguistic and cognitive skills more readily in their mother tongue, then able to transfer these to a widely used, national and regional language(Education for All, 2008) Positive effects of mother-tongue instruction stronger for groups concentrated in rural areas Policy Policy Multilingual, multiethnic society and educational reform Multilingual, multiethnic society and educational reform Practice: Practice:

Successes of CE Publishing Program Partnerships Partnerships Ministries, Communities Ministries, Communities Builds capacity Builds capacity Extending orature to literature Extending orature to literature Authors, Illustrators, Editors, Publishing Authors, Illustrators, Editors, Publishing Scope of materials – genre, readership, language, purpose Scope of materials – genre, readership, language, purpose Curriculum links – to learning to read, to learning subjects Curriculum links – to learning to read, to learning subjects Provides opportunities for reading promotion Provides opportunities for reading promotion

Challenges to CE Publishing Program Improving quality of materials Improving quality of materials Limited publication runs Limited publication runs Extending connections to other organizations for materials for critical topics (health, women, families) Extending connections to other organizations for materials for critical topics (health, women, families) Navigating bureacracies – production and distribution Navigating bureacracies – production and distribution Training educators Training educators knowledge of CE books knowledge of CE books how to USE the books effectively to support literacy and learning how to USE the books effectively to support literacy and learning Work overload decreases excitement and necessary time Work overload decreases excitement and necessary time

Addressing Challenges: Educator Training

Paper Two: Libraries Supporting Local Literacies Dr Ray Doiron (University of Prince Edward Island, Canada) & Dr Marlene Asselin (University of British Columbia, Canada) Dr Ray Doiron (University of Prince Edward Island, Canada) & Dr Marlene Asselin (University of British Columbia, Canada) Background Background Small community and/or school libraries are contributing to the development of learning communities in both developed and developing parts of the world. Small community and/or school libraries are contributing to the development of learning communities in both developed and developing parts of the world. Libraries have always responded to and contributed to the literacy needs of the communities they serve. Libraries have always responded to and contributed to the literacy needs of the communities they serve. Role and importance of libraries has grown exponentially to meet 21 st century needs and to support local community development. Role and importance of libraries has grown exponentially to meet 21 st century needs and to support local community development.

Profiles – 11 Global Libraries 11 school/community libraries invited to submit profiles. 11 school/community libraries invited to submit profiles. 3 libraries from Asia; 2 from Europe; 2 from Africa; 1 from Australia; 2 from South America; and 1 from North America were examined. 3 libraries from Asia; 2 from Europe; 2 from Africa; 1 from Australia; 2 from South America; and 1 from North America were examined. Each library provided: a) Brief history and information about the location and facility; b) Information on the collection; c) Community engagement; d) Examples of library activities; e) Issues and Challenges; and f) Strategies and Solutions. Each library provided: a) Brief history and information about the location and facility; b) Information on the collection; c) Community engagement; d) Examples of library activities; e) Issues and Challenges; and f) Strategies and Solutions.

Common Themes Emerging from the Profiles Building a Culture for Reading Building a Culture for Reading Main goal was to increase awareness throughout the community of the role of reading in our lives. Main goal was to increase awareness throughout the community of the role of reading in our lives. Reading promotion activities in the eleven libraries suggest successful programmes are built around meaningful and responsive community partnerships, are alert to readers’ interests and personal choices and use diverse resources. Reading promotion activities in the eleven libraries suggest successful programmes are built around meaningful and responsive community partnerships, are alert to readers’ interests and personal choices and use diverse resources. Recognize the value of sustained programmes over time – not “one-off” events. Recognize the value of sustained programmes over time – not “one-off” events. Librarian as Literacy Educator Librarian as Literacy Educator We are all “teachers of literacy.” We are all “teachers of literacy.” Librarians are actually supporting and teaching multiple literacies in multiple ways. Librarians are actually supporting and teaching multiple literacies in multiple ways. We teach: information/research skills; navigational/effective search skills; study skills; communication skills etc. We teach: information/research skills; navigational/effective search skills; study skills; communication skills etc.

An Ecological Framework for Library Development Context/Environment Equity/Social Justice Partnerships/InteractionsAction/Research Community Library

Paper Three: Children Using New Technologies: Implications for Public and Community Library Services Dr. Keith McPherson, University of British Columbia, Canada Child Trends, 2012 Gardner, 2012; Sanches & Slazar, 2012 Ofulue, sideview.JPG ile:Child_and_Computer_08473.jpg le:Welcome_multilingual_Guernsey_tour ism.jpg Current research finds:

Young Children Learning with New Literacies What are the literacy and learning principles young children apply when using new ICTS outside of school? What are the implications for children’s services in public and community libraries?

4 Main Literacy and Learning Principles/Practices 1) 1)Multilingual, multimodal, & networked 2) Play-based & student centred 3) Reciprocal mentoring 4) Adaptable to multiple & changing contexts nations

Questions/Challenges for public and community libraries How can libraries promote development of multiple literacies? How can public library services be developed to duplicate social networking and reciprocal mentoring? Will online networked community online services promote access, inclusion, equity and social justice? How to assess and incorporate service that meet youngest patrons?

Discussant Dr. Helen Boelens Dr. Helen Boelens

Questions & Comments