Many times we think of libraries as vast shelves of books, with long tables with dim reading lights. Open your library up as a cozy, reading environment.
Many times librarians talk about the joy of sitting in a comfy chair and reading a good book. This comfy chair can be in our library. Physical comfort and a welcoming environment assist in increasing student reading time. In my library I have animal shaped pillows and chair pads that students use to lay on the floor and read.
Story time has a great impact on reading for enjoyment and reading comprehension. Studies show that the impact of being read to doesn't stop with elementary school. Patrons' auditory vocabulary is two grades higher than their reading vocabulary. By reading to patrons, or having them read along, they can connect to more complex vocabulary. They are exposed to new words in context. They see words that they have heard and see them in context.
Points, rewards, and gimmicks may help students start to read. We want to build readers who read freely, selecting material that interests them.
Have a wide variety of materials available. Reading goes on all the time outside the pages of books. Celebrate and nurture this type of reading. How many magazines do you have available for reading in the library? Do your patrons want gaming magazines? Subscribe to one or two. Reading about how to play a video game is reading for a purpose. Patrons evaluate information in light of their own experience. Do you need sports magazines? Reading about different types of cheer shoes is being an informed consumer.
Are you getting graphic in your library? A vibrant library should offer a variety of graphic novels. These books help boys keep the habit of reading and encourage struggling and reluctant readers.
The goal of every librarian has been the right book at the right time for every patron. Having a welcoming environment means having the right reading materials for every patron.
