Open the Door for Reading: Strengthened Libraries - Gothenburg

Sustainable city – open to the world

Strengthened libraries – in the city where we read The Public Libraries of Gothenburg

What, how and for whom?

• New methods or strengthening existing reading promotions • Outreach activities • Changes in opening hours • A broader range of media options • Language development • Diversity and multilingualism • Priority groups • Provide broader access to literature, story-telling and community information • Democratic meeting places, dialogue, freedom of speech Sustainable city – open to the world

Sustainable city – open to the world

Goal • The project will reinforce reading promotion activities for children and young people, linked to the public libraries in Gothenburg, towards the city’s goal for equality by: - highlighting, developing and strengthening reading promotion activities that are already taking place.

- building on existing structures, reinforcing existing networks, and developing existing initiatives.

- raising quality and sustainability standards over time.

Sustainable city – open to the world

PROJECT FOCUS AREAS 1. DEVELOPMENT OF READING PROMOTION INITIATIVES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTHS IN THREE ARENAS • In the library itself • In outreach activities in the community • Digitally AND THE INITIATIVE SHOULD… adopt a family-centered approach whenever possible.

• The initiatives should be founded on the principle of proportionate universality – we will strive to ensure equal opportunities for all children, but we will intensify our efforts whenever we see the need.

Sustainable city – open to the world

2. STRENGTHENING AND SYSTEMATISATION OF NETWORKS • Strengthen and systematize existing networks to support children's reading and language development in health promotion settings such as family centers and preschools.

• Form networks and develop synergies with school and preschool administrations • Identify other operating areas where new, solid networks that promote reading among children and youths can be created.

Sustainable city – open to the world

3. DEVELOP EXISTING READING INITIATIVES • Reading promotion initiatives already existing will be deepened and broadened in order to reach out to more people, and to assure they will be equally provided throughout the city.

4. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT • Raise the quality of existing reading promotion activities.

Sustainable city – open to the world

5. IDENTIFICATION OF KEY DEVELOPMENT AREAS • Identify "white spots“, where reading promotion is not in progress • Reading promotion areas already identified for development: -areas where children spend their leisure time and recreation activities.

-children with functional variations -focus on multilingualism.

6. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH • The project includes skills development for the members of the project group.

• In an effort to establish a common knowledge base for children's reading and language development, skills enhancement initiatives are being run for all library employees who come into contact with children and young people through library activities that are open to the general public.

• The project will be monitored and documented by researchers who will focus on follow-up and evaluation.

Sustainable city – open to the world

Sustainable city – open to the world

Some ongoing processes

• Survey

• Digital idea bank

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Reading promotion education for new professions Book gifts and more Coordination of summer activities

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Pop up library in collaboration with the Garden Society

Sustainable city – open to the world

Sustainable city – open to the world

Ideas forward Accessibility issues, as trying out a ”NPF-library”

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”The reading tram”

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Obsticles?

Difficulties?

Challenges?

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For further reflections Are there new partners you could connect with, eg. other administrations, non-profit sectors etc.

Are there any possible professions among you that could be trained in reading promotion?

Is it possible to make targeted efforts in priority areas?

Is it possible to implement or further develop an accessibility perspective in the library?

Is it possible to deepen a multilingual perspective in the promotion of reading?

Can you develop a family-centered approach, to reach the adults around the child with the reading-promoting message?

Sustainable city – open to the world

Sustainable city – open to the world

Contact Department of Culture City Library of Gothenburg Project manager, Strengthened libraries Bodil Alvarsdotter bodil.alvarsdotter@kultur.goteborg.se