Facet Publishing announces the publication of Seeing Sense: Visual literacy as a tool for libraries, learning and reader development by Jake Hope.

The burgeoning field of visual literacy can be universally understood across a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, regardless of traditional literacy levels. A key tool for navigating digital devices, there is often an antipathy surrounding visual literacy borne out of stigma and at times, intimidation.

At a point when funding for public libraries in the UK is in decline, Seeing Sense will include new research and bring together best practice from different organisations and institutions from a national and global perspective. With contributions from Sir Philip Pullman, Chris Riddell and Nick Sharratt, this book will showcase the role of visual literacy as a tool for promoting reading, helping to raise understanding and awareness among librarians and education practitioners, and promoting aspiration and achievement among the children and young people they work with.

Readers can expect an overview of visual literacy and its role in design and display within libraries and resource centres. A number of practical case studies are explored, which illustrate the power and potency of visual literacy as a key tool for making reading accessible, engaging, and appealing for all.

Seeing Sense will be essential reading for public and school librarians as well as researchers, particularly those involved in Library and Information Science. For library and information professionals, this book provides advice on how to gain greater confidence in using and understanding visual literacy as part of strategies to engage readers.

Jake Hope said of the text: ‘Illustrations help cement our early memories of books and reading and often play an important role in scaffolding the first steps on the journey towards learning to read. As people's confidence and skills develop in reading the written word, there often seems a waning in confidence around visual literacy. Seeing Sense was written to help support people in better capturing the power and potential of visual literacy as a tool for reading and learning.’

Jake Hope is a reading development and children's book consultant with a keen interest in librarianship, visual literacy, diversity and children's books. Named as one of top ten librarians of the future in the United Kingdom's 'Love Libraries Campaign', he has been a regular reviewer and commentator on children's books for numerous publications and websites, including leading children's book journal 'Books for Keeps' and the UK's trade magazine ‘The Bookseller.’ As Reading and Learning Development Manager for Lancashire County Council, he designed and delivered a year-long promotion of visual literacy as well as the 'Lancashire Reading Trail', an illustrated scheme aimed at encouraging children to read while fostering an awareness of local geography and culture. He has judged numerous book awards, including the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, for whom he now Chairs the Working Party.

Seeing Sense: Visual Literacy as a tool for libraries, learning and reader development| July 2020 | 224pp | paperback: 9781783304417 | £39.95 | hardback: 9781783304424| £80