Digital Publishing for Children in the Public Library - the Success and Challenges

Abstract

Publishing model of the Public library "Fran Galović" Koprivnica, Croatia attracted an interest of professionals at the IFLA Congress 2016 (the article version of author's presentation is available at https://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jep/3336451.0020.207?view=text;rgn=main.).

The newest practice of the same library in digital publishing for children will be presented. The Library has launched a pilot project in 2018 to attract interest of children to the library and reading in digital environment.

Successes were: more than 50 children between the age of 5 and 12 came to the Library to research and learn about local history, myths and legends; they developed their creativity in writing and illustrating picture books, and increased their ICT skills by digitizing fairy tales. Results have been 8 digital picture books, as an innovative approach to reading by combining the world of fairy tales (the history, legends, cultural heritage) and the digital world (tools for their internet availability) (available at http://www.knjiznica-koprivnica.hr/knjiznica/defaultcont.asp?id=504&n=2). Special font was used and audio format was produced to make picture books accessible to children with reading difficulties. Challenges were: in the lack of digital picture books in Croatia librarians as mentors to children had to find their own model of publishing; they had to discover the most optimal online format for digital publishing; they were not able to produce picture books alone, but in finding partners in local writer and volunteers; there is a question visibility and availability of digital picture books to children and parents (digital format on internet and smartphones vs analogue format on book shelves).