Drop in younger children visiting
libraries is worrying, says Chris Riddell
A The children’s laureate, Chris Riddell,
has said a drop in the number of younger children visiting libraries is of
great concern. The findings, part of a Department for Culture, Media and Sport
report into children’s activities, reveal a 26% decline in the number of five
to 10-year-olds who had used a library in the past seven days.
B In 2010, 18.7% children aged five to 10
had done so, compared to 13.8% in 2014. Within that age group, the number who
had made a trip to their library at some point over the past 12 months had
decreased from 76.4% in 2010 to 67.7% in 2014.
C Riddell, an author and illustrator,
said: “A drop in younger children visiting libraries is of great
concern. As children’s laureate, I am passionate about the role of libraries,
both in schools and in the wider community. They are unique places where
children can begin their journey as readers, as well as being creative hubs. “Some of my favourite events have
taken place in libraries, and over the next two years I intend to visit as many
libraries as I can.” He added that he supported the Reading Agency’s summer
reading challenge, which encourages children aged four to 11 to read six
books over the course of the school holidays. In these austere times, libraries have never been more important as a way
for every child to access books and reading.
D But Diana Gerald, chief executive of
reading charity Book Trust, said the figures were “amazing”. She said: “Over
recent years children’s use of libraries has been consistently high, and even
with all the other modern attractions libraries are still visited by 70% of
under-15s – that’s quite amazing. Book Trust research shows that reading
helps close the poverty gap and is actually more important for a child’s
educational success than their family’s socio-economic status. Well-resourced libraries
remain a gateway to equality of educational achievement and an affordable
source of great pleasure. All children should have easy access to a library.”
E Cressida Cowell, author of the
bestselling How To Train Your Dragon series, which has been adapted for film,
said reading was “the most important thing you can do for improving literacy
and communication skills”. She added: “Libraries are particularly good for
children experimenting and trying books that they might not have expected to
like. A great librarian can truly make a difference in thousands of children’s
lives.”
Adjusted to
(1)
hub – centrum, středisko
austere – prostý, jednoduchý
1) Read the article and match each of the headings to
a paragraph.
1 Gerald’s satisfaction and importance of reading
2 Comparison of years 2010
and 2014
3 Cowell stresses importance of a good librarian
4 Less children have attended libraries in summer
5 Riddell thinks libraries are important social hubs
2) Read the article and answer the questions.
1 What is Riddell worried
about?
2 What are differences between figures in 2010 and
2014?
3 Why are libraries important for children according
to Riddell?
4 How are reading and development of a child connected?
5 How does reading affect poverty?
3) Explain the following words and phrases.
1 drop in younger children visiting
libraries
2 begin their journey as readers
3 summer reading challenge
4 reading helps close the poverty gap
5 libraries remain a gateway to equality
of educational achievement
4) Answer the following questions.
What
is literacy? How does it influence our
life? How can we support children’s literacy? How do libraries influence our
lives? What free time activities do libraries offer?
Video:
Tips, sources of information:
Source:
(1)
Drop
in younger children visiting libraries is worrying, says Chris Riddell. The
Guardian [online]. 2015 [cit. 2015-09-21]. Available at:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/24/drop-younger-children-visiting-libraries-chris-riddell
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