School Libraries Supporting Literacy and Wellbeing

Student literacy is a perennial concern, and school libraries can play an important role in improving academic, vocational, and social outcomes for struggling students. This book explores the links between reading, literacy, and wellbeing, and how school library professionals can build reading engagement and promote student wellbeing through various approaches. It also highlights the challenges facing school libraries and their professional staff and provides tips for mitigating these challenges to ensure that they can reach their full potential.

Format: Hardback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Facet Publishing

Student literacy is a persistent concern in and across nations, with measurement and accountability continually ramped up at both individual student and school levels. Debates about literacy and how it can best be improved are never far from media headlines. However, relatively little consideration is given to the role that school libraries and their staff play in building and maintaining student literacy, despite research linking school libraries and qualified staff to student literacy gains. With the number of students who struggle with basic literacy skills increasing in many nations, school libraries can play an important role in improving the academic, vocational, and social outcomes for these young people, thereby increasing their opportunities. Fostering student well-being is also a key priority for schools given the challenges young people face in current times.

This book seeks to promote greater understanding of the links between reading, literacy, and well-being that could help students cope with these challenges, and the role of the school library in leading this approach. It explores the current role of school library professionals and highlights how literacy and well-being education and support sit within this, paying specific attention to how school library professionals build reading engagement and promote student well-being through various approaches, such as fostering health literacy and creating nurturing environments. Readers will be empowered to build a case for the importance of their role and library, and audit their current literacy and well-being offerings, and adjust or extend them where applicable based on best practice. The book also explores some of the many challenges facing school libraries and their professional staff that may need to be mitigated.

School libraries are vital in promoting student literacy and well-being. They provide access to a wide range of resources, including books, magazines, newspapers, and electronic materials, that can help students develop their reading skills and knowledge. School libraries also offer a safe and comfortable space for students to study, collaborate, and relax, which can help improve their academic performance and mental health.

One of the key ways that school libraries promote student literacy is by providing access to a wide range of books. Books can help students develop their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, which are essential for academic success. School libraries also offer a variety of genres and formats, including fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels, to appeal to different reading interests and abilities.

In addition to providing access to books, school libraries also offer a range of literacy and well-being programs and services. These programs can include book clubs.

Dimension: 238 x 159 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783305766