| Genevieve
Clarke
Biography:
Genevieve Clarke has been working for The Reading
Agency since November 2003. This follows four years as Manager of
the National Reading Campaign at the National Literacy Trust. Genevieve
previously worked in magazine and book publishing and as an adult
literacy tutor in college and community settings.
Abstract:
More
Vital Than Ever: Libraries Supporting
New
Adult Readers
Improving
the nation's adult skills levels is high on policy agendas throughout
the UK. Libraries have a crucial part to play in engaging, supporting
and inspiring adult literacy learners. The national Vital Link programme,
run by The Reading Agency in partnership with the National Literacy
Trust, has defined and promoted the library offer for adult literacy
with a particular focus on reading for pleasure. Working with the
library and adult literacy sectors, it has provided support tools,
identified books at the right level for emergent adult readers,
created a range of book promotions for adults and families and built
a unique database of over 500 titles at www.firstchoicebooks.org.uk
Evaluation has shown that libraries' creative reading activity
has beneficial outcomes for learners: ‘…emergent readers are learning
to do new things and to do things differently … Over three-quarters
of respondents reported an increase in skills.' ( Confidence
All Round: The Impact on Emergent Adult Readers of Reading for Pleasure
through Libraries , Morris Hargreaves McIntyre, 2005.)
The Vital Link works closely with BBC
RaW and Quick Reads and, with support from the Government's Skills
for Life Strategy Unit, promotes reading for pleasure and links with
libraries to adult literacy practitioners. Now it is launching a national
Six Book Challenge in association with Costa Book Awards based on
a successful model developed by Yorkshire Libraries. This offers libraries
a strong product for delivering a reading service to all adults who
are improving their literacy skills. This session tells the story
of The Vital Link so far and outlines the long-term aims for libraries'
role in engaging new adult readers.
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