It is rare that an initiative with no significant financial support catches the imagination of local services, but the National Year of Reading has certainly provided a welcome platform for those who are passionate about reading. The National Year of Reading has provided an opportunity for a wide range of groups to share their goals and work…

This paper presents additional information from the authors' 2009 survey of young people's reading and writing--for more information see their forthcoming report Clark and Douglas (2010) "Young People's Reading and Writing: An in-depth study focusing on enjoyment, behaviour, attitudes and attainment." To support the School Library…

Background: It is widely believed that there are reciprocal links between reading achievement and reading exposure: children who read more do better at reading, and reading achievement itself promotes reading. We tested the hypotheses that these links arise because children's genetically influenced reading performance is correlated with their…

A librarian stresses that book selection in public libraries should satisfy community interests and needs rather than the "balanced stock" recommended by Melvil Dewey. (MBR)

Reading for pleasure is associated with numerous educational and social benefits. For example, it has been associated with increased reading attainment and writing ability, greater breadth of vocabulary and greater general knowledge (e.g. Cox and Guthrie, 2001). Children who read very little do not reap these benefits, and studies show that when…

Describes a nationwide survey of the voluntary reading interests and habits of Jamaican children to discover the specific reading interests of sixth graders relative to the known reading interests of their peers in North America and the United Kingdom. Discusses the role of gender and geography. (Author/LRW)

Reported here are the results of a research project that examined the role of UK public libraries in addressing adult literacy including approaches and issues. Eight public libraries were selected as case studies and adult literacy provision was investigated using staff interviews. The interviews provided support for the role of public libraries…

This paper explores reading for pleasure, its importance, and its impact on literacy attainment and other outcomes and reviews much of the research on the importance of reading for pleasure. A debate has been rife in the UK over the past few years as to how best to teach children to read, which culminated in an "Independent Review of the…

In the United Kingdom in 1977 a national questionnaire survey was conducted by the University of Sheffield (England) under the direction of Frank Whitehead with children ages 10-14 years old to discover the kind and extent of children's voluntary reading. In 1994/95, Whitehead's study was replicated in the context of the 1990s. This report…

This practical guide is intended to help teachers encourage recreational reading in a second language. The guide is based on the experience of one British school. The guide's first section offers suggestions for finding and selecting appropriate books or story collections, library instruction, keeping individual reading diaries, and helping slow…