CBL Project: Spreading a Love for Libraries Alicia LeBoeuf
Definition of the Problem Some are under the impression that library usage is on a decline, or at the very least, acknowledging that libraries might be dealing with new challenges in the modern area. “In the age of Google, the Internet, and near-ubiquitous access to information that is available anywhere at any time, the public library is facing perplexing questions about its relevance and its future. ” Herrera, Luis. “The Paradox and the Promise: Rainie, Lee. “Americans, Perspectives on the Future of Public Libraries.” Libraries and Learning.” Public Library Quarterly , vol. 35, no. 4, Oct. 2016, pp. Pew Research Center: 267–275. EBSCOhost, Internet, Science & Tech, doi:10.1080/01616846.2016.1244990. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, 6 Feb. 2017.
Definition of the Problem According to some sources, people (adults and children alike) are not reading as much for pleasure anymore. “Less than 20% of U.S. teens report reading a book, magazine or newspaper for daily pleasure.” “One of every three teenagers has not read a book for pleasure in a year.” Twenge, J. M., Martin, G. N., & Spitzberg, B. H. (2018). Trends in U.S. Adolescents’ media use, 1976–2016: The rise of digital media, the decline of TV, and the (near) demise of Ingraham, Christopher. “The Long, print. Psychology of Popular Media Culture. Advance online Steady Decline of Literary Reading.” The publication. Washington Post , WP Company, 7 Sept. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000203 2016.
Solution & Implementation Solution: Contribute programming to local libraries that focus on making reading a fun experience. After going through several different project ideas, I decided that the best way to spread a love for libraries is to work directly with them in order to provide additional programming in the form of activities and workshops. These activities and workshops are meant to: Encourage reading more and broadening reading horizons ● Increase awareness of library resources ● Foster creativity and a sense of community ●
Activity: Reading Challenge (Adult Version) Purpose: The purpose of this reading challenge activity is to encourage people to broaden their reading horizons. While many might make a New Year’s Resolution to read more books, this reading challenge provides specific reading goals, thus making it more likely for people to actually achieve their resolution. Another purpose of this reading challenge is to make reading fun for those who might come to see it as a chore or something they don’t have time for anymore. While it’s dubbed a reading “challenge,” that’s only meant to encourage participants not to give up! The reading prompts themselves are meant to add some more adventure when it comes to participants selecting their next book to read. At the end of the challenge, hopefully, participants will find that not only have they read more books but that they’ve also read books that they normally wouldn’t have read without this reading challenge. Target Audience: The audience for this reading challenge activity is quite broad, though it not recommended for those under the age of 14 due to the difficulty of some of the prompts. The main target audience is adults or those with a more advanced reading level.
Activity: Reading Challenge (Kid Version) Purpose: This reading challenge is meant to encourage students in middle school and high school to keep their mind sharp during their summer break by encouraging them to use their newfound free time for reading books. Like the adult edition, the reading challenge has a strong focus on broadening reading horizons. Hopefully, pre-teens and teens alike can discover new authors and genres through this reading challenge, while also making sure they read more over the summer. Target Audience: The target audience is for those between the ages of 12 and 17, specifically those in late middle school or early high school years. This may be adjusted depending on the reading level and/or maturity of the potential participant.
Bookmark Workshop #1 Description: This bookmark workshop is all about letting elementary school-age children express themselves by creating their own personal bookmark. Not only does this workshop encourage creativity, but it also encourages children to read more books! Purpose: While this workshop is primarily focused on creativity and having fun, it is the hope that once children create their own bookmark that is personalized especially for them, they will want to be able to utilize it. And the only way to use their new bookmark is to read, preferably by asking their parent/guardian if they make check out some books from the library in order to gather new reading material.
Bookmark Workshop #2 Description: In this bookmark workshop, bookmarks will be created for distribution throughout the library. Older children are invited to take part in this activity, and will also have the opportunity to create a bookmark for themselves. Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to promote a love for reading and positivity. Children are encouraged to create as many as bookmarks as they want, including one for themselves if they chose. The bookmarks should be thoughtfully made, and contain a positive message. All children are required to write “Thank you for supporting your local library” somewhere on the bookmark. Afterward, the children are welcome to place their newly-made bookmarks in books throughout the library so that future readers will have a chance to find them. This workshop also encourages creativity.
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