You are currently using guest access (Login)

You are here

 

Topic outline

 
'FE Wales - Get Reading' logo Small WAG logo

Reader Development Information Area

This information area contains:
  • Case studies on the programme of reader development activities that took place across a number of participating colleges in Wales 2008-9, and 2009-10;
  • Details of the CyMAL FE Sector Reader Development Grants;
  • General advice and guidance on reader development activities.
 
1

Case studies

This section contains case studies on various reader development activities that took place across a number of participating colleges in Wales during 2008 and 2009. They contain many ideas to try as well as advice on what did or didn't work. We will add any future case studies here too.
Show only topic 1
2

2010/11 CyMAL FE Sector Reader Development Grant

Following consultation with the FE sector a CyMAL grant application was submitted by RSC Wales. The grant was awarded on 28th June 2010.
Show only topic 2
3

2009/10 CyMAL FE Sector Reader Development Grant

Following consultation with the FE sector a CyMAL grant application was submitted by RSC Wales. The grant was awarded on 24th June 2009.
Show only topic 3
4

2008/09 CyMAL FE Sector Reader Development Grant

Following consultation with the FE sector a CyMAL grant application was submitted by RSC Wales. The grant funded many of the prizes given away during the activities described in the section above.

Following that a project group met on 16th July 08 and 8th Sept 08 to work on the details of the competition and how to spend the money we had been allocated. The minutes of the meetings are below, as well as subsequent emails which were sent on FE-LRC-WALES.
Show only topic 4
5

Reader Development Experiences from other Colleges


The following information was the result of a query to the COFHE Jiscmail list in July 2008. The replies covered starting up staff book clubs / reading groups, groups for ESOL and adult literacy students and working in partnership with public libraries.
Show only topic 5
6

Web 2.0 for Reader Development

This section highlights some of the ways in which (free) web 2.0 tools can be used to support reader development activities. Use of these will depend on the technical abilities of the reader group but they can be an excellent way to broaden discussion if meeting in person is not possible.

Coleg Llandrillo Cymru is currently running a project looking at the use of web 2.0 in FE learning resource services. There are links to their Wiki and blog below.

A comprehensive catalogue is Phil Bradley's "I Want To" website which covers a whole range of resources:
http://www.philb.com/iwantto.htm
Follow the link below to see how these can be particularly useful for reader development.
Show only topic 6
7

Useful Websites

The links below have been divided into:

Reader development advice - case studies and other resources to help with planning reader development activities such as working with particular groups of readers.

Book Clubs - specific resources useful for running book clubs.
(While on the subject of book clubs - there is an article on The Pen-y-Dreadfuls reading group set up by Merthyr Tydfil Library Service in The CyMAL Magazine (issue 7, p. 16). You can request a free DVD about the group, or Karl can lend you his copy.)

Online tools - some free websites that offer to help with reader development activities.

All the links are to our delicious website account....

Andrew Eynon's blog also has an excellent summary of Reader Development websites.
Show only topic 7
8

Things to try

Borrowing fiction from the nearest public library

If you want a wide range of fiction titles for your readers, but haven't got the budget to spend on new titles, then you could consider working with a public library. They may agree to supply a changing selection of fiction stock. They benefit by increased loans; the college gains access to a wider raneg of stock; and both libraries gain in terms of co-operation and networking. A number of libraries in Wales operate schemes like this. Two examples from FE:

"At Coleg Sir Gar a selection of teenage fiction and non-fiction books are borrowed from Carmarthen public library to lend in the College. The selection is changed every term. Similarly at Deeside College an informal arrangement has been made with Flintshire County Library Service whereby new English language and Welsh language fiction titles are collected and dropped off at the College."
Resource Delivery Piloting Options In Wales Between Welsh Libraries, Final Report

Also look at the 'Reader Development Experiences' resource in section 4, which has some references to involving public libraries in reader development activities (and many other ideas).

Tips on promoting competitions and projects

  • Talk to people who will advocate it for you e.g. pro-active students and lecturers.
  • Promote them during the induction period.
  • Talk to lecturers about building into coursework for new term.
  • Promote key selling points and keep repeating these messages e.g. (for a competition) your chance to win prize X and opportunity to have recognition and have work displayed.
Show only topic 8