What is it about?
This paper explores the contribution of public library storytimes to the development of young children's early literacy skills. The research found that the storytimes were very successful in promoting excitement about books and reading but did not focus on letter/word recognition consistently.
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Why is it important?
The work provides direct observational evidence of the extent to which storytime programs around Aotearoa New Zealand demonstrate good practice in terms of preschool children's early literacy experiences, and support early literacy practices within communities.
Perspectives
For me, this paper reinforces the idea that public libraries can play a huge role in community-based literacy activities through appropriate, targeted programming. It also raises issues around the modelling of good practice to caregivers attending the storytimes with the children and how the librarians leading the sessions can convey and reinforce positive messages about the importance of reading with children and demonstrate effective techniques for doing so.
Professor Anne Goulding
Victoria University of Wellington
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Observing preschool storytime practices in Aotearoa New Zealand's urban public libraries, Library & Information Science Research, July 2017, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.lisr.2017.07.005.
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