reading and reader development the pleasure of reading

• Main Author: Elkin, Judith (Author)
• Other Authors: Train, Briony, Denham, Debbie
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: London Facet 2003
• Subjects: Libraries and readers; Readers' advisory services
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.

 Reader development focuses on readers rather than reading skills. The purposes of reader development are to enhance the reading experience, to make it a more pleasurable and creative act for the reader; to increase people's confidence in their reading; and to make reading a more communal activity by bringing readers together to share their experiences. The focus of reader development is pleasure reading, which the authors interpret as reading fiction. They observe that public libraries were not at the forefront of this movement, but librarians are responding by changing library culture to focus on readers rather than books. The ways in which librarians responded and additional responses they could undertake are described within the context of the broader social movements in the United Kingdom to promote reader development. Three themes dominate the chapters. First, the authors tirelessly celebrate reading. Reading is good. Reading will make one happy. Reading elevates. The second theme is opportunism. If society is paying attention to reading, librarians should get on board and seize the opportunity to build their status and to secure the place of libraries as critically important institutions. The third theme is social inclusiveness. Librarians should always keep in mind the political dimensions of public library service and assure that all sectors of the populations share in the benefits of library service. Readers in search of guidance concerning what librarians should do will find plenty of that here.