2.4 Online resources that promote reading to clients with special needs.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Carrying out structured interviews with clients with special needs and with specific language requirements
   1. Identifying current reading experience and preferences of clients
   2. The importance of reader development
3. Evaluation of online resources for use in reader development for clients with special needs and with specific language requirements
4. Reader development initiatives for clients with special needs or with specific language requirements
5. Reader development websites for clients with special needs or with specific language requirements
6. Online resources for reader development for clients with special needs or with specific language requirements
7. Thematic approaches to reader development for clients with special needs or with specific language requirements

The importance of reader development

Library staff should do their best to consider their clients' needs and think what strategies to use to increase their reading choices. Nowadays, with easier access to global publishing, there is attractive fiction and non-fiction available in different formats. Just as with any other clients, these readers can feel somewhat overwhelmed and need to develop skills in making reading choices. Books are also available in dual language editions. Large print, spoken-word and Braille provide access to a range of reading and offer ways to meet a variety of needs.

There are a number of books available in the "cross-over" area between teenage and adult fiction. Books such as Mark Haddon's "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" may appeal to some of this client group. However, the quality of presentation, illustration and content for emergent readers (or those with lower levels of literacy) is not always as good as in mainstream publishing.

Readability is particularly important with some members of this client group. The Vital Link (http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/vitallink/) has a "good read" section. If you are concerned about the level of literacy required to fluently read a particular book you can refer to the Literary Trust's website and learn to "SMOG" (simplified measure of gobbledygook) a book. This formula is a guide for you to use so that you have your own list of recommended reads.

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