SHRI.V.L.VERNEKARLIBRARIAN

FACULTY, KVS ZIET MYSORE5 DAY WORKSHOP ON EDUCATIONAL

LEADERSHIP FOR HMS & SR. PRTS

CLASS LIBRARY AND READING HABITS

Library as classroom activity inPrimary EducationIntroduction“The child shall have the right to freedom of

expression; this right shall includefreedom to seek, receive and impart information

and ideas of all kinds, regardless offrontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the

form of art , or through any othermedia of the child’s choice.”(U..Convention on the Rights of the Child,

Article 13(1), 1989)

UESCO School Library Manifesto,“The school library provides information and ideas that are

fundamental to functioning successfully in today’s information and knowledge based society.

The school library equips students with lifelong learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens”

Library services to primary children in Kendriya VidyalayasKendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan gives due importance to its

school libraries. In the lineof CBSE School Library Guidelines, it charted out a policy

for the vidyalaya librariesin 2007.& 2012 To provide library services to primary

children, there is a provision of classlibraries from Class One to Five. The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) forQualitative Improvement of the Primary Education also

emphasizes the functioning ofclass libraries.

CLASS LIBRARIESClass library is a concept of allocating a space within the classroom

for displaying a variety of literature. It provides ready access and function

as activity centers to energize classrooms

Class Libraries The Library Policy for Kendriya Vidyalayas,

2007 /2012 and CMP for Qualitative improvement of the Primary Education articulate that the Class libraries will be under the charge of class teachers.

The class teacher will get books from the main library, which will be in accordance with the standard and interest of the age group of the children of the class concerned.

They should be attractively displayed in modulated cupboards having aluminum frame and transparent acrylic sheet cover.

The teacher would maintain a register regarding the issue of books to the students so that he/she can keep track of the books read and students are not given books they have already read.

Maintenance of the note book name of the book read, its author and a brief account of the content

Selection of books class libraries will also be done by a

committee comprising of H.M., Librarian, Class teacher, two other teachers and two students who will be nominated

by the principal.

National Curriculum Framework 2005 highlights the importance of libraries that

should serve as a place for holding discussions,

story- telling and should have a child friendly ambience

with a positive ethos, good lighting and seating arrangement.

Role of Teacher

· He/she plays a dynamic role to motivate and educate teachers about the functionality of class libraries.· He/she can help teachers ideate and make some persuasive slogans, advertisements for books, write abstracts, prepare learning logs, charts, plan activities around the books.· He/she shall ensure that there is not only circulation of books in class libraries but also the resources prepared by a teacher are shared

Problems and possible solutions Quality of children’s books available

is not as per standards Number of books not adequate Unavailability of Hindi Books Same books for the same class for

the whole year Teachers not getting enough time No storage space

Library Activities :making them ready to learnThe National Curriculum Framework, 2005 gives

greater importance toactivity oriented teaching and learning. KVS calls for proficiency in languages in primary

education along with the former aspect. Where as the CMP for Qualitative Improvement of

the Primary Education suggests to design thepedagogical practices in such a way that the child

should transit from‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’.

1.Activity: Storytelling The story may be told either by the

teacher or a student to the class. Outcome: It provides motivation for

follow-up reading, either because thestoryteller mentions the source of the story,

or the author, or in some other way gives the cue for further activity.

2.Activity: Reading Aloud it is effective in rendering the rhythm and

‘ear appeal’ of poems. Outcome: Improves the reading and

communication skills of the students and attract them to the read out poems or stories.

3.Activity: Book Talks or Book discussions A carefully selected, complete episode

from a book accompanied by suggestions of related books is presented and discussed.

Outcome: Children get an in-depth knowledge about book and other information sources available on that subject area.

4.Activity: Book reviews and book annotations Students write book reviews about the

books they issued from the class library in their library notebooks.

Outcome: Development of writing and analytical skills.

5.Activity: Bulletin boards A “Class Library Bulletin Board” can be placed in the primary section

exclusively for class libraries. Information regarding class-wise list of monthly library activities, new book lists form the main library, selected book reviews or write-ups by students reading lists (prepared by teachers), and pupil’s book recommendations, as book of the week/month, Author of the week/month, etc are displayed. Newspaper clippings on interested topics can also be shown. Each class can be given the duty of maintaining the bulletin board in a

weekly or fortnightly basis.Outcome: Provides publicity for class library activities. Students get aplace for displaying their creative talent.

6.Activity: Open shelf for Children’s magazines and newspapers Children’s periodicals (e.g.: champak, tinkle,

etc), children’s newspaper supplements (e.g.: ‘Young World’ of The Hindu)and copies of newspapers are kept in an open shelf in the primary block.

Outcome: Increases reading habit and imbibe the habit of sharing.

7.Activity: Reading programmes Reading days Reading week Stage conversations, Dramatizations

and puppetsOutcome: Students become more

inclined towards reading and participation in stage programmes will boost their confidence

8.Activity: Competitions and Awards These competitions are conducted as

part of school CCA programme or separately in the class rooms.

- Book Review competition - Book games and Literary Quiz Designing of Book marks , book

jackets and posters on library themes Reading/ Storytelling competition

News Reading competition Favorite Book Contest Library themes themes such as -The book that has influenced me most -Books I would give as gifts -Why Read? -Authors from our state/country -Why I like adventure stories -My favourite magazines/newspapers -Books read more than once -The kind of book I do not like

Best Reader Award Best Class Library Award

Outcome: Motivation to students and teachers to take part in more library and reading related activities

9.Activity: Exhibitions and Displays Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanthi, Bal DiwasOutcome: Great personalities and

important events can be remembered and reading about them makes the students well informed.

10.Activity: Tours Visiting main library Tours can be also arranged to the local

public or academic libraries, museums, galleries and book shops.

Outcome: Children get an idea about resources which are kept in the local(public/academic) libraries and institutions. They became familiar with book shops

11.Activity: Online information sources, its search and evaluation Students are now exposed to huge

amount of online information through internet. Finding the required information is a skill that to be taught.

Outcome: Knowledge about online information sources and its critical evaluation. The activities impart the idea of using Internet as a tool along with printed resources to find information

12 Activity: Installation and Screening of CDs/VCDs/DVDs Class teachers select VCDs/DVDs on Science

and environment(eg. TERI), animated stories, poems, cartoons and language skills from the multimedia collection of the main library and

screen them in the resource room on a weekly or monthly basis.

Outcome: Awareness of current scientific and environmental issues.

Learning becomes more enjoyable in a multimedia environment.

13 Activity: Community Resources Community resources are Human, Institutional and Material resources

Human Resources Parents who are working in different professions such as lawyers, engineers, doctors, scientists, media persons, artists, counselors, psychologists, bank officers, post masters, socialworkers etc are invited into classes.

Institutional resources such as museums, galleries, factories, farms, offices etc are also visited by the

students.

Outcome: Students will get knowledge about

various professions and career opportunities. They understand social, cultural andinstitutional structures of the world outside

the school.

14 Activity: Information Literacy skills Information literacy is the ability to locate pertinent information, evaluate its reliability, analyze and synthesize the information

to construct personal meaning and apply it to informed decision making

Information literacy skillsPrimary children are: -knowing ‘information’ -knowledge about information resources -knowledge about library rules -parts of a book -care of a book -how to use dictionaries, thesaurus and encyclopaedias -how to prepare indexes and bibliographies -how to take notes and refer -how to use periodicals and newspapers -library classification -how to search the library OPAC -how to search and evaluate the internet/online resources

Outcome: Acquiring information literacy skills and preparation for using the main

library.

15 Activity: Class Library Newsletters The newsletter contains information regarding monthly library activities, competitions and exhibitions planned, Competition winners, best reviews by the students and teachers, Book recommendations, reading lists and photographs of activities. The publication responsibility is rotated among classes

and students are deputed as editors. It is released in the school assembly and circulated in the

school.

Outcome: Library publicity and creative

learning.

16.Activity: Using Weblogs (Blogs) Blogs are web diaries where posts are

appeared in a reverse chronological order.

Blogger, Type pad and Word press

Outcome: Students and teachers familiarize

with web technologies and its possibilities in teaching and learning.

Basic requirements Proper planning is a must. Relationship between class teachers and

librarians should be cordial. A functional Class library committee and a Book Selection Committee having

members with keen interest and imagination are positive factors.

Continuous communication among Principal, HM and class teachers in this regard will boost the

cause.

Evaluation

Periodical evaluation of the functioning of class libraries should be conducted.

The number of books circulated and the details of activities conducted in every class shall be recorded.

The effectiveness of the activities should be checked and if not

satisfactory, they must be restructured.

Preparation of Class library Programm

a class library programme should be prepared every year.

The programme should clearly mention the aim, current status, date wise activities, outcomes, evaluation and future plans.

Properly planned and effectively implemented class library programme will be the base for library services for primary children.

Conclusion A child in his growing age needs books and libraries. It enriches his/her reading experiences and develops skills

as independent learners. Age specific strategies should be followed to introduce them

the information skills that should be practiced through out their school career.

A well planned Class library programme, Functional class libraries, creatively designed and well

executed library activities and proper evaluation make students lifelong learners.

CMP for Qualitative improvement of the Primary Education gives ample space for libraries.

The teachers and librarians have to make it a reality.

Reference 1. Chartered Institute of Library and Information

Professionals(CILIP): Primary School Library Guidelines, London, 2002

Fargo, Lucile F.: Activity book for school libraries, American library Association Chicago, 1938

IFLA: UNESCO/IFLA School Library Manifesto, 2000 Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan: Library Policy for Kendriya

Vidyalayas, 2007,2012 Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan: Common Minimum

Programme (CMP)For Qualitative Improvement of the Primary Education, 2008

Leopold, Carolyn Clugston: School libraries worth their keep: a philosophy plus tricks, Scarecrow Press Inc., NJ, 1972

Web reference

1 www.cilip.org.uk 2 www.ifla.org 3 www.kvsangathan.nic.in 4. www.unesco.org/webworld/libraries/