Drammen Municipality received funding from the Directorate of Education to strengthen school libraries. Ten schools in Drammen are involved in a project that focuses on children's and young people's reading desire and reading comprehension.
- The aim is for the school library to be a natural part of everyday school life and to be integrated into all subjects. This is a joint venture between the school and the public library that will benefit our children, says project manager Katrine Kirkeby Arnold.
Funds from the Norwegian Directorate for Education in the amount of 1,6 million will also enable the systematic use of school libraries in school education and be an integration place where the various needs of children and youth are taken into account.
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The project manager says that the love of reading is important and wants to turn school libraries into a meeting place.
No limits to what children can read
- We want to meet children where they are, not where we want them to be.
There are no limits to what you can read. Everything from football magazines to novels is good and fun to read and understand. Children differ in language, interests and cultural experiences.
- The desire to read contributes to reading comprehension, and reading is the key to success in all subjects – not only in Norwegian. That is why we want the school library to be an integral part of the school's work with subjects, says the project manager.
An inspiring librarian
The ten schools: Åssiden, Steinberg, Krokstad, Bragernes, Åsen, Øren, Gulskogen, Marienlyst, Børresen, Kjøsterud have different starting points. In Drammensskolen, there is a large variation between schools in access to and use of the library.
As part of the project, representatives from all schools will meet regularly to share experiences and ideas, and a traveling "inspirational librarian" will motivate and increase the competences of all involved.
It is Inger Bergan Mortensen, who usually works at the Mjøndalen library, who is employed as an 'inspirational librarian' and will encourage more use of school libraries than is currently the case.
She has extensive experience as a children's librarian and is passionate about the school library. She is excited but ready for the task of being an inspiration.
- I am very happy that I can participate in the project and help schools to make the school library a natural part of everyday school life. My job is to both inspire the use of libraries and keep them updated with the latest children's and young adult literature. It's important to stay informed if we want children to read more, says Bergan Mortensen.
How does the desire to read arise?
- How do children really want to read?
- To develop an interest in reading, children need to have plenty of books to choose from and access to current literature. A book that we thought was great 30 years ago is not necessarily what captivates today's children and teenagers.
Bergan Mortensen also emphasizes the importance of setting aside time for reading.
- Reading sessions, reading aloud, audiobooks and game-based digital reading all help create a desire to read together. It prevents alienation and, above all, gives a lot of joy.
A variety of ideas, activities and methods
The project will last a year and a half and started in autumn this year. The project itself won't last long, but the knock-on effect will last long, Kirkeby Arnold hopes.
- We want to create a culture of reading. Throughout the project, schools will propose a variety of ideas, activities and methods that work locally and can be continued beyond the end of the project. In the long term, the goal is to spread good practice across all Drammen schools.
Source: Drammen commune
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