The joy of reading – reading aloud. A complex partnership

Abstract

Research of public libraries for children that was conducted in the National Library in 2008 [Lewandowicz-Nosal, G., 2012] has shown, that reading aloud was the most popular activity in public libraries for children. The activity was carried out by 46% of libraries examined. In those libraries 7024 meetings with over 130 000 participants took place. This is a very big change in comparison to the research from 2000 and also earlier findings [Lewandowicz G., 2003, Białkowska B., 1992]. Where does this change come from? Since 2002 the ABC XXI Foundation has started a nationwide campaign “All of Poland Reads to Kids” with its main slogan “Read to your child for 20 minutes a day – every day”. The campaign has taken place nationwide, not only in public libraries, but also in kindergartens and schools. The program required a private and public partnership, as well as cooperation from different social and local government organisations. It was read aloud not only in the library space, but also in the city area, on squares and during picnics. Adults of different jobs read aloud to children – from mayors, firefighters, policemen to priests. Major cooperative partnerships developed between schools and public librarians. One of the social campaigns to engage readership included a nationwide media (ad campaign on Polish television) and in the big newspapers. In 2002, it was read aloud in 150 cities, and by 2015 in 3400 cities. Thanks to this campaign, reading clubs been created in kindergartens and schools. Reading aloud has become a multigenerational activity (children, parents, grandparents). Since 2008, the campaign has been used in penitentiaries where reading aloud is encouraged as an activity for convicted mothers to do with their small children. This campaign was the forerunner which has led to the next step “National Reading”, which has the endorsement and participation of the Polish President.