2.1 Demonstrate an understanding of reader development

Table of Contents

1. Objectives of reader development
   1. Definition of reader development
   2. Reader development techniques
2. Reading promotions
3. Genre
4. Literacy initiatives
5. Reader-centred stock selection

Objectives of reader development

Public libraries have always been in the business of supplying books to their clients and encouraging the reading habit. This has involved choosing a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction stock which would be expected to appeal to differing client tastes and interests and then promoting the use of this stock to clients.

Typically, libraries have promoted use of their stock by methods such as themed book lists, displays, reading schemes for children etc.

1

Book lists, displays and reading schemes Themed book lists, displays, and reading schemes for children do have their place. However, can you think of any reason why one might criticise such activities? One might criticise these traditional methods in that they can tend to focus on a limited range of "literary" titles rather on the real needs and interests of the clients - a sort of "librarian knows best" approach, which can be a turn off for many readers. In other words, they are not sufficiently reader-centred.

Let's look at a definition of reader development...