Gaming
The December 2009 issue of American Libraries has an article by ALA President, Camila Alire about Gaming & Literacy. She states that you must be literate to play games and thus libraries should be using gaming to promote literacy. What is not covered is how to attract teens with lower literacy skills into libraries to play games. I am sure this is happening, but it needs to be a conscious effort or we'll end up serving our usual big readers, not those with lower level skills.
Please share your stories on how libraries attract low level readers and help them gain literacy skills in a fun way via games... .. Resources: Gaming Toolkit
Libraries and Learning
In the same issue, a letter to the editor notes that many attending college lack critical thinking skills, an important aspect of literacy. Joseph McDonald goes on to say that libraries should focus on giving their customers great learning experiences in reading and writing. He dares to say that maybe libraries should be foundations of learning and teaching --not simply information.
We know that library volunteer literacy programs strive to do this, but not all libraries have these learning programs. Some in Florida, like Brevard and Broward Counties, have cut literacy programs or severely weakened them. On the positive side, others libraries like Citrus and the City of Largo are getting into the literacy business and many like Lake County and New Port Richey continue to have vibrant programs.
Adult and family literacy programs are a way to position libraries as a vital.
As we start the new year, I want to say congratulations to all public libraries who provide adult literacy programs or who have very strong partnerships with community programs, in spite of severe cuts in funding an personnel.
