This
article from American Libraries brings up several points I have been thinking about lately. Well said, Mr. Raab, well said.
- "As a librarian, it stands to reason that at some point in your career you’ve wondered just how you can help get young people to enjoy reading. Well, I’m here to tell you that if you’ve ever felt like a failure in that regard—don’t. The simple fact is this: Literacy starts at home. If parents surround their child with books, read to him or her from the start, and promote reading throughout the child’s development, chances are quite good that the child will grow up to be a reader. And the more he or she reads, the more he or she will read."
- "This is illustrated by the Matthew effect, a term coined by sociologist Robert K. Merton. It’s a phenomenon whereby the rich get richer and the poor get poorer; when applied to reading, it can be said that the more a child reads, the more he or she can read. Vocabulary skills get stronger, more intricate plots can be followed, and what once seemed a chore can soon be enjoyable. It’s just like exercise: Do it every day and you’ll feel energized; do it once a month and you’ll be in pain."
- "When parents and teachers criticize the amount of time kids spend online, they’re forgetting one key fact: You have to be literate to use the internet effectively. By focusing children's enthusiasm for online exploration and expression on powerful educational tools, parents and teachers can promote literacy alongside technology."
This supports my belief that libraries can and should provide access to
both books and new technologies. Contrary to many news articles that claim the Internet will kill books and the culture of reading, I believe books and technology support, not hinder, each other. It does not have to be a choice-- books OR technology-- it can be both.
