Reading and Learning for Adults

Libraries’ role in supporting

reading and learning for adults

with literacy needs

“The Vital Link has enabled strong partnerships to be developed between libraries and adult learning. It has allowed libraries to demonstrate how reading for pleasure both enhances and enriches the adult literacy curriculum. This updated improvement framework is very welcome as it means that libraries can continue to develop their work with adult learning, building on the work already done.”

Fiona Williams, President of the Society of Chief Librarians and Head of Libraries and Heritage, York City Council

Background

Over half of adults (56%) have literacy skills below the level of a good GCSE.[1] Despite great advances in the scale of achievement and provision since the start of the Skills for Life Strategy in 2001[2], there remains a stubborn skills problem in this country. Libraries have a special contribution to make in engaging, inspiring and sustaining adults on their reading and learning journey as part of their core business of creating a nation of readers.Research tells us that reading for pleasure can improve people’s skills at the same time as increasing their motivation to read and learn more and that libraries have a valuable role in supporting this activity.[3]

The Reading Agency is launching a new improvement framework for libraries’ work in this area, building on the body of practice developed through our work with the Society of Chief Librarians, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and individual authorities since 2003. This is underpinned by the principles of The Vital Link - our approach to partnership working between the library and adult literacy sectors developed with the National Literacy Trust.With the drive for improved skills high on the policy agenda at national and local level, and some funding streamsfor formal and informal provision soon to shift to local authorities, there’s an exciting opportunity for libraries. Working in partnership with local learning providers, it provides a new platform for librariesto promote their role in achieving better outcomes for existing and potential adult literacy learners through improved skills, confidence and employability.

Our framework sets out the management commitment considered necessary for a high-quality offer from libraries to be in place for adults with literacy needs. It groups the elements of service development around four themes - accessibility, learner support, stock provision and reader development activity – together with examples of best practice in each of these areas.
The framework is supported by a range of creative tools on offer from The Reading Agency: our unique database for emergent readers at resources to support use of reading for pleasure; our own practical schemes Six Book Challenge ( and Chatabout ( links to key initiatives such as Quick Reads and BBC and NIACE campaigns; and continuing advocacy to the skills sector on behalf of libraries. It also provides the starting-point for a range of capacity-building modules that we will be offering libraries in 2010 onwards.

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Management commitment to libraries’ offer for adults with literacy needs

1 Libraries’ work to support adult learners with literacy needs written into the library service plan and the local authority’s adult learning plan and linked to local PSA targets and appropriate National Indicators. It should also be recognised as part of the libraries’ contribution to informal adult learning through the Learning Revolution.

2 An identified member of staff responsible for coordination of this work across the authority, linking reader development with lifelong learning/social inclusion activity

3 A partnership at authority level, at a minimum with Adult & Community Education and/or main local colleges, with a steering group to plan, monitor and review a work plan. This should be replicated in partnerships with local providers at area level.

4 Budget allocation for stock and reader development activities for adults with literacy needs across all service points.

5 Use of an evaluation framework for monitoring and gathering evidence of impact on this target audience and the quality of the offer

6 Budget allocation for staff training, eg partnership building, customer care, adult literacy awareness, stock knowledge and reader development, across as many service points as possible

7 Awareness of and implementation of relevant regional and national initiatives, eg Six Book Challenge, Quick Reads, Adult Learners’ Week, Learning at Work Day, BBC campaigns,Learning Revolution, etc, as part of ongoing activity for this audience

8 Use of a range of strategies to reach potential new learners (eg partnerships with agencies working with families, with workplaces through union learning reps, etc)

Standard offer / Best practice examples
1 Adults with literacy needs are welcomed by library staff in and beyond the library, can join easily and feel comfortable in the library environment

Clear signage so that new users with low literacy can find their way around easily and can locate materials in accessible formats
Information packs are renewed on a regular basis for tutors and tailored for learners
Simple joining procedure that is not a barrier for those with low literacy and can be used outside library
Longer loan periods for learners and bulk loans for tutors
Welcoming staff (ie understanding of the target audience through appropriate adult literacy awareness training)
Library tours on offer for groups of learners and individuals
Regular outreach activity beyond the library walls to attract new users and learners

Adults with literacy needs involved in consultation to make the library as accessible as possible
A regular newsletter for local learning providers
Open events in the library for tutors
Mutual awareness raising sessions for library staff and tutors
No requirement for ID or completion of joining forms
Chance to join the library in literacy classes, on mobile visits to workplaces, at outside events
Special tours or events for learners when the library is closed
Courses to introduce new users to the library, eg library virgins
Library staff given adult literacy awareness training to fit their role, eg customer care and stock knowledge for frontline staff, support training for those working one-to-one with learners, outreach training for those working with external partner organizations, reader development training for those visiting classes or running reading activities

2 Adults with literacy needs can turn to their library for taster courses and other informal learning and for information about progression opportunities

Information on courses and other learning opportunities available (eg IAG expertise)

Informal support for adult literacy learners
Classes available in library
Support for using IT available for adults with low literacy

Staff can offer signposting and referral to a range of local courses
Advice sessions available in the library
Opportunity for less confident users to get support with adult literacy issues, eg form-filling
Range of classes available in the library from tasters to full-length courses
Easy access to basic course material offered by providers such as UK Online and BBC

Standard offer / Best practice examples
3 Adults with literacy needs can find appealing reading materials at the right level and get involved in selection and display of new titles

Stock to meet community needs (eg Entry Level learners, emergent readers, ESOL)
Attractive, non-stigmatised book displays for emergent readers (eg Quick Reads, Six Book Challenge collections)
System for feeding back views and needs from learners
Books and other reading materials offered to students in classes
Regular library input into adult literacy provision

Range of attractively-displayed stock for different literacy abilities, eg Fresh Start for Entry Level, Quick Reads for emergent readers
Learners involved in selecting stock on buying trips and in feeding in reviews for noticeboards or library website
Library staff liaise with local tutors and other partner organisations (eg children’s centres, workplaces) to offer book collections and visits to classes to introduce library resources
Regular investment in new emergent reader titles (eg Quick Reads) to cater for needs of local partner organisations running the Six Book Challenge and Chatabout reading groups

4 Adults with literacy needs can get involved in creative reading activities at the right level

Library staff able to signpost to and promote appealing titles at the right reading level for adults with low literacy

Library staff involved in supporting reading for pleasure activities in formal and informal adult learning, eg reading for pleasure integrated into lesson plans and curriculum delivery
Emergent reader groups, Six Book Challenge, reading chains and special events in the library; integration with family reading and learning, reading promotion in the workplace, etc

Frontline staff fully aware of range of reading materials on offer and able to promote them with confidence and sensitivity to adults with literacy needs and the people who work with them
Regular liaison between library staff and local practitioners to ensure that reading for pleasure with the support of libraries is embedded in formal and informal learning activity
Creative reading activity in and outside the library a regular part of the offer to adults with literacy needs, eg library runs and celebrates Six Book Challenge annually, establishment of emergent reader groups through Chatabout, regular collaboration with local children’s centres, workplaces, learning centres for author events.

[1] Skills for Life: Progress in Improving Adult Literacy and Numeracy (National Audit Office 2008)

[2]Skills for Life: Changing lives (Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills 2009)

[3]Practitioners leading research: Weaving reading for pleasure into the Skills for Life adult literacy curriculum (National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy 2007)