The importance of volunteer work for successful children’s and adult literacy programs in US public libraries – a view from outside
| dc.audience | Audience::Public Libraries Section | |
| dc.audience | Audience::School Libraries Section | |
| dc.audience | Audience::Literacy and Reading Section | |
| dc.audience | Audience::Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section | |
| dc.conference.sessionType | Literacy and Reading, Libraries for Children and Young Adults, Public Libraries and School Libraries | |
| dc.conference.venue | Centennial Hall | |
| dc.contributor.author | Hoerning, Beate | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-24T08:48:07Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-24T08:48:07Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017 | |
| dc.description.abstract | There is a wide range of possible activities for people who want to volunteer in US public libraries. Among all these opportunities – library literacy programs are one of the most important programs that are staffed by volunteers. After giving a short overview on the history and the current situation of promoting literacy through public libraries for community members of all ages and backgrounds (immigrants as well as native-born Americans), this paper describes the results of a qualitative study. The study is based on a combination of field research and problem-centered interviews with volunteers and librarians (volunteer coordinators) – held in public libraries in 11 US states – and will be discussed with focus on literacy aspects. US public library literacy programs and their volunteers – seen through the eyes of a German researcher: What are the motivations of volunteer tutors to help people to read and write? Is there a connection between the literacy volunteers’ backgrounds and their chosen fields of activity in the library? What are the reasons why particularly a public library is a good place for immigrants or illiterates who are looking for help? | en |
| dc.identifier.citation | Agee, J. (2005). Literacy, aliteracy, and lifelong learning. New library world, 106(5/6), 244–252. Bertin, S. (2004). A history of youth summer reading programs in public libraries. Master’s Paper for the M.S. in L.S degree, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Farmer, L., & Stricevic, I. (2011). Using Research to Promote Literacy and Reading in Libraries: Guidelines for Librarians. Ifla Professional Report No. 125. Fiore, C. D. (2005). Fiore's summer library reading program handbook. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publ. Ghoting, S. N., & Martin-Díaz, P. (2013). Storytimes for everyone!: Developing young children's language and literacy. ALA Editions. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. Hanselmann, R., & Dellinger, R. (2016). Retaining English as a Second Language Tutors for an adult literacy program at a joint-use library. In C. Smallwood & L. Sanborn (Eds.), Library volunteers welcome! Strategies for attracting, retaining and making the most of willing helpers (pp. 12–18). Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Hilyard, N. B. (2004). Perspectives on literacy. Public libraries, 43(1), 18–23. Hörning, B. (2015). Volunteering in US Public Libraries. Dissertation, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, from urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-100240582 McDowell, K. (2007). The cultural origins of youth services librarianship, 1876-1900. Dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL. Medina, Y. (2013). Plaza Comunitaria. Literacy programming @ the library. Public libraries, 52(1), 36–37. National Center for Education Statistics (2002). National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL): 120 Years of Literacy. Retrieved June 13, 2017, from National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/naal/lit_history.asp Reid, R. (2009). Family storytime. American libraries, 40(5), 44–45. Seymour, W. N., & Layne, E. N. (1979). For the people: Fighting for public libraries. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. Van Slyck, A. A. (1995). Free to all: Carnegie libraries & American culture 1890-1920. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Weibel, M. C. (2007). Adult learners welcome here: A handbook for librarians and literacy teachers. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publ. Wiegand, W. A. (2015). Part of our lives: A people's history of the American public library. New York, NY: Oxford Univ Press. | |
| dc.identifier.relatedurl | http://2017.ifla.org/ | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.ifla.org/handle/20.500.14598/6074 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.rights | Attribution 4.0 International | |
| dc.rights.accessRights | open access | |
| dc.rights.uri | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |
| dc.subject.keyword | Literacy programs | |
| dc.subject.keyword | volunteering | |
| dc.subject.keyword | public libraries | |
| dc.subject.keyword | USA | |
| dc.title | The importance of volunteer work for successful children’s and adult literacy programs in US public libraries – a view from outside | en |
| dc.type | Article | |
| ifla.Unit | Section:Public Libraries Section | |
| ifla.Unit | Section::School Libraries Section | |
| ifla.Unit | Section::Literacy and Reading Section | |
| ifla.Unit | Section::Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section | |
| ifla.oPubId | https://library.ifla.org/id/eprint/1757/ |
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