Social Reading
Synthesis of Week 13's Discussion for Emerging Literacies
Is Reading Social or Solitary?
"A book has become a place where people congregate and things happen." - Ana
Lecture Ahas
- Summer reading is a huge opportunity for school and public libray collaborations
- Encourage students to read off of Printz and Alex award lists-- summer reading shouldn't always be curriculum-based!
- Our favorite programs to enhance reading culture: YALSA's Teen Top Ten, Somewhat Virtual Book Club, and of course, summer reading
- Sarah on programming: "To expand on [the YA March Madness Competition], I would have a book discussion of the final four for patrons to attend. That way, patrons can openly discuss the merits of the “players” or books."
James on genre book clubs: "You can have a book club where people read different books and share their experience with them. Graphic novels are hugely popular in my library, and I think even if students are reading different graphic novels, and a club could be a neat way to build a community out of that interest."
- Is reading really social now? Or is sharing what you read an auxilliary activity for social media butterflies?
- Cassondra on when we may not be ready for reading to be social: There have times in my life when I have read a book that I have become so attached to that I could not talk about after finishing them. They were great books, books I would definitely recommend, but in the moment the book was too personal to share.
- Meg on social reading at different ages: It’s unfortunate that once they reach a particular reading level there’s less reading aloud a more silent sustained reading, which I’m all for, but I do feel like we are missing out on a huge social connection.
Voices of Literacy: Marjan Ghara and Nick Glass
Marjan Ghara of Biblionasium
- Biblionasium is a safe network where students under age 13 can share what they are reading peer to peer
- It can help parents connect their children with books
- Children choose books based on recommendations from their friends before their parents or teachers
- Maria on why social reading works: "Psychologically and developmentally appropriate, most children and young adults want to fit in."
- Christina: "We can present reading as a sport. One where they must practice, be disciplined and build stamina."
- James B: "I also love that digital bookshelves are easier to share with friends & family and when you move you don't have to carry them."
Nick Glass of Teachingbooks.net
- Teachingbooks.net offers a wealth of resources about books and authors, including lesson plans, author interviews, and audio clips of authors pronouncing their own names
- Booklists organized by awards are helpful in discovering notable books on specific topics (i.e. award-winning books about children with disabilities)
- in-house librarian curates content
- volume and quality of content may vary. There is a great deal of high quality content for some, and less for others
Key Readings and Viewings
The Benefits of Audiobooks with Dr. Rose Brock
Librarians can recommend “immersion reading” or listening to an audio book and reading the printed book at the same time. Audible and Kindle make it easy to read with your eyes and ears but not in tandem
“Do you want to read with your eyes or with your ears?”
James had the idea to use a physical artifact to represent and promote digital audiobooks in his library
Amy: "I’d like to learn more about how younger kids listen to audiobooks. If they don’t have a phone, what other options are there? Perhaps a tablet? Anything else? Also, do you have to have a bunch of different apps to accommodate all the different companies?"
Jacquelyn on audiobook legitimacy: “Do you want to read with your eyes or your ears?” This change of syntax has the power to destigmatize and legitimize audio books. Reluctant readers, auditory learners, readers with ADHD, and kids who just enjoy being read to need to have the freedom and encouragement to listen to audio books and have them “count.”
Bob Stein on the Future of the Book
- Make books a place for people to interact
- Are more AR books going to be published? Will they be popular? Just because we can, should we?
"It has been a consistent realization for me in this class that learning is best done through community experiences. When we feel connected to others, we feel supported emotionally and in our learning. Making space available for reading to be relearned as a social experience should be a priority, especially for those students who read below grade level." - Cassondra
- Reading is not only social for readers, but for authors.
- Self publishing and fandoms drive the market
- Mary on fan fiction: "I think it's every book lover's dream to truly inhabit the world of their favorite story, and by creating fan fiction, they can put themselves in the action, extending and expanding the world of the original book."
