COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF ARTS-CULTURE- GAEILGE-EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES SPC

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

HEADED ITEM NO.

HEADED ITEM: A. Reilly

Services provided by Schools Library Service

REPORT:

Report on Children's Library Services

The Library Service provides a wide range of services to primary and post primary schools as well as pre-school facilities across the 104 primary and 33 post primary schools in South Dublin. Services are delivered by local branch libraries to the

schools in their immediate catchment , by the Mobile Library Service and also by a team of Children's services librarians based in Library HQ who travel across the County on a daily basis to all schools. Library services to schools are centred on the support and promotion of literacy, reading and learning. Interventions begin with Early Start programmes where parents and children with literacy issues (who have been identifyed by Home School Liasion teachers) work with library staff on Bed Time Reading programmes. This work continues across the education spectrum to support for 6th year post primary students with programmes which promote the learning and research resources to be found in branch libraries along with study skills and mental health support.

44% of the items borrowed in 2012 were from the children's collections. The overall total for junior and young adult stock purchased in 2012 was 39,822. 

Branch Library Services to Schools

Each branch library works closely with their local schools to offer a range of services. Each year over 1500 class visits take place to branch libraries from primary schools. Services on offer to local schools include: 

-          whole school registration

-          class room library loans

-          library visits and tours

-          curriculum support materials

-          learning support materials

-          TTRS – Touch Type Read Spell software for children with learning difficulties 

Librarians from branch libraries also visit local schools to instruct teachers and parents on the learning resources to be found from www.southdublinlibraries.ie where extensive homework support is available 24/7. 

Branch libraries design also specific programmes for secondary schools, including events aimed to support the curricula for junior and leaving certificate students. 

Mobile Library Services

Four mobile Libraries visit County primary schools each morning bringing books and in-school support for teachers and young readers. Crèches and pre-schools receive regular visits from our mobile libraries while reading and homework support is also provided at the four traveller sites.  

Children's Services Team School Programmes

The Children's Service librarians offer a wide range of information and resources to primary and post-primary schools in South Dublin. Currently, there are over 30,000 children attending 104 primary schools in the County. There are also 33 post-primary schools in the County with over 18,000 young adults in attendance. This team provides advice and support on all library, literacy and book related issues to teachers, parents and pupils and services provided include:

Bed-time Reading Clubs - This is an after or pre school activity which encourages parents to read with their young children and offers them an opportunity to spend one- to-one time with their child engaging in an activity that offers enormous benefits to both.  A collection of books is purchased and made available to the school. These are usually a mix of story, fact and rhyme books. The parents run the Club themselves and are encouraged to come with their child at least once a week, at an agreed time, from the collection.  Parents who act as librarians maintain the records and engage with the children when they return their books.  Parents are encouraged to read the book to their child at home and to spend time talking about the story and pictures. All parents are re-assured that this is not about teaching their child to read but rather about spending time with their child and enjoying books together.  The club runs for a definite period of time and feedback from parents, children and teachers is sought.  At present South Dublin Libraries are facilitating 15 Bed Time Reading Clubs.

Ready2Read  - the award winning literacy programme developed in-house is aimed at three and four year old pre school children and their parents. Since commencing in 2011 the programme has been delivered to over 700 children and parents and has been delivered in association with the County Childcare Committee. It outlines the six pre-literacy skills based on research by Dr. Grover Whitehurst and Dr. Christopher Lonigan (2001). It has been adapted to suit the Irish cultural and education system. Ready2Read is a course that not only helps parents to help their children; it also prepares children to do well in school.  Parents/ Guardians are children's first and most important teachers. However, some parents may feel unable to give their children those first critical literacy skills. Once a week, for five weeks, parents and their children attend Ready2Read workshop. One or two of the six pre-literacy skills will be highlighted at each workshop. Workshops involve 'modeling reading', nursery rhymes, songs, as well as practical tips. Handouts on each new skill learned are be given to parents at the end of the workshops. Parents will have a chance to practice the new skills learned with their children during the workshop.

CLOVER Project (Children Learn On Very Early Reading)

The Clover project was put in place following a need identified by the HSCL cluster in the Clondalkin area for a programme to address language deficiency among new junior infants in particular.  The Cluster group sought to put resources in place to empower parents to develop their children's language, reading and speaking skills.  The Clondalkin Partnership had adopted the issue of attitudes to books and language development as a broader child care issue in 1996.  The Partnership recognized the importance of positive early childhood experience and their implications on the future of the youth of the area.  There has been a library presence in the Clondalkin area for up to 100 years.  South Dublin Libraries operate a static service point in the village and our Mobile Library Service delivers a service to communities and schools in the outer Clondalkin area.  The library service has supported the Clover project since 1997 and continues to select and purchase the packs for the incoming junior infants.

The Children's Services team also offers a range of other services to schools and school going children including organising the following annual events:

Interagency co-operation initiative aimed at raising literacy standards for the students through the development of a literacy strategy including development of the school library with access to South Dublin Libraries online resources, support and advice on stock exploitation and reader development;

E-book Project – Partnership project with St Mark's SNS offering South Dublin Libraries e-book and audio-books lending services to 4th and 5th class students. Exploring the expansion of the initiative to other schools. 

Further services for children include: