A paper presented to the 1 st School Librarian’s Workshop On 13 th June 2013 At National Museum Hall, Kampala By Prof. J.R. Ikoja Odongo Soroti University.

A paper presented to the 1st School

Librarian’s WorkshopOn 13th June 2013

At National Museum Hall, Kampala

ByProf. J.R. Ikoja Odongo

Soroti University

“Creative relations bridging the gap between librarians and other stakeholders to promote literacy levels”

“Reading makes a full man, speaking a ready man, writing

makes him exact”

English philosopher Francis Bacon (1576- 1626)

Exploring ways librarians create relations bridging the gap between themselves and other stakeholders in promoting literacy levels

Libraries are store houses of information, knowledge. They are created to collect information materials e.g. magazines. What else?

Librarian is an organizer of information materials in a library. These materials are containers of information, knowledge. They come in different forms e.g. books, musical instruments, toys etc.

Literacy is traditionally known as the ability to read, write and do some numeracy. But this has extended to a situation when learning becomes lifelong learning

School is a centre for learning where pupils, teachers meet for graded learning to take place. Pupils, teachers and other staff make a school.

Reading teaches us so many things

that no human can do

Pursuit of knowledge

Adding to existing stock of

knowledge

Seeking individual self-improvement

For creative purposes

For participating in modern society

Enhancing chances of success at school

Literacy is a premium whether in Africa or elsewhere in the world

Literacy drives development

Unless the country is literate, it cannot move forward

Who are school literates?

Not teachers and children?

Our emphasis, the children

Satisfying pupils or children’s intellectual curiosity. Their need to know about practical things

Reading helps children read about strange and unfamiliar situations and people. They learn to recognize that other people also have their needs and they learn to appreciate.

Reading is the most effective way to improve language ability. Children acquire sensitivity to sentence structure and spelling, while their vocabulary is enriched in the context of meaning and experience.

Many children in Uganda do not know how to read. Biggest blame is on UPE.

Of those who do, many do not enjoy reading.

There are other competing needs or there is nothing stimulating to read or children are not encouraged to do so.

Lives of children should not be squandered by leaving them the way they are

We as leaders librarians, teachers, publishers, should plan for them

Children’s future is our future.

Why?

Nature of the education system

Lack of appropriate reading

materials

Reading culture is not nurtured

Competition from other media

Poor information systems

Few bookshops, ill equipped

libraries

To encourage and support reading activities.

To motivate and guide children all the way if there is to be an improvement in the quality and the extent of their reading.

To collaborate with others (teachers)

Why? Teacher and librarian are the ones who work together to design a plan of action whereby they can work out a specific programme of planned reading and related activities

Cultivate the child’s emotional and cultural development.

How? Books help people to think if this reading helps to meet their emotional needs.

Parents butcher the spirit of creativity among their children in many ways.

Ignoring what their children like or do when playing

Ignoring children’s creativity and innovativeness

Poor guardianship or parenthood Allowing children spend more time in

TV related activities

How? Children’s reading activity is organized

where parents are called to listen and appreciate.

Best children readers are rewarded with gifts

Librarian follows this activity asking parents to buy reading books for their children.

Schools should learn that libraries are centres of learning.

Librarian is there to promote learning.

Librarian should help school establish classroom libraries and reading corners.

Head teachers should assist school acquire books and magazines or ask children bring them from their homes.

School should establish Reading corner that affords some children the first opportunity to come in contact with books.

Pupils should be allowed to select a book from the reading corner which they would like the teacher to read for them.

Books in the reading corner should be changed regularly. Why?

Books should always be available in the classroom.

Pupils should be allowed to go and handle books as much as possible.

Colourful cushions or mats should be placed close to books

Reading games, flashcards, puzzles, magazines and books can be kept in the reading corner.

Pupils should be given the task of keeping this part of the room tidy and have the responsibility of keeping books clean

When reading or telling a story a teacher should sit in the reading corner so that pupils can associate the books with pleasure.

When the story time is over pupils should be able to select and use the books themselves.

Pupils should be asked to read themselves. They may be asked to dramatize stories. They become the actors. This makes the story come alive e.g. a story of a king or giant elephant

Teaching pupils to serve as class library monitors. They will be responsible for keeping the collection tidy, secure and supervising the return of books. An important aspect out of this is the book discussion.

Book discussions help pupils know what books are, what they are made of and their types. Pupils can then be asked to talk about a writer or particular book. Books discussed must be available.

A teacher can introduce a type of story such as fantasy such as Alice in the wonderland and the discussion is made around that.

Paintings, drawings, photographs are important inspirational activities of artists. Sometimes what artists do is difficult to understand. Sometimes they are easy to interpret. However the library may serve as a source of inspiration for artwork done in the school.

Artist’s exhibition can be held with the support of librarian. When looking through the books and magazines, pupils obtain ideas and gain an understanding of style, design, colour schemes and techniques.

From that pupils can be given a chance to make their own illustrations of episodes from stories they read. They can design book covers.

Librarian can design an art competition and offer book prize for the best entry.

Publisher makes information products like books, magazines. Bookseller sells. Librarian is buyer and keeper of their products. The products in sufficient quantity make a library.

Role of librarian is to organize these materials to become a feature of a school, or classroom.

Librarian uses the opportunity to highlight new material and bringing this to the attention of pupils or children. Simple displays can be arranged on tables or small book shelves or book cases. This raises interest among children to like books and reading.

Nobody hates gifts especially eatable ones. But it is time for us to learn that gifts designed to build life lies in knowledge gifts such as books.

Books can be offered as prizes for good work, as a reward for achievement. This in itself will encourage further reading and develop literacy

Cultural practice are activities people do to maintain their cultures in their ethnic groups or cultures

Activities include: cooking, brewing alcohol, marriage ceremonies

In promoting literacy we copy, practice and recycle

Those activities teach literacy in mother tongue They emphasize learning processes

What are the determinants to literacy?

What is the role of language in literacy development?

What would be our agenda for literacy development?

Do we know children’s reading needs?

Literacy drives reading: how do we do it?

There has to be a reading text (author)

Are our teachers and librarians reading models?

Do they have study skills?

“A good book is the precious life

blood of the master’s spirit,

embalmed and treasured up on

purpose for a life beyond.”

Thank you for participating