COMMUNAL READING AS A WAY TO FOSTER A READING CULTURE

The One Book One Library Project at the University of Johannesburg

Overview

Books can be dangerous.  The best ones should be labeled "This could change your life."  ~Helen Exley

Reading and literacy in South Africa

Reading culture in South Africa The One Book communal reading

movement The One Book One Library project

at the University of Johannesburg History of UJ Student profile Results of the project

Literacy and reading in South Africa

Reading maketh a

full man.-Essays (1625) by Francis Bacon

Adult literacy rate = 88% Grade 4 and 5 learners last in

PIRLS study Impact of multilingualism Not enough attention to reading

for enjoyment in schools The DoE National Reading

Strategy Includes encouraging reading for

enjoyment

Reading culture in South Africa

Take up and read, take up and read!.

- Confessions (397) by Saint Augustine

Outcomes of survey of reading habits of adult South Africans (South African Book Development Council, 2007) Prefer to read newspapers and

magazines Read for knowledge, not leisure

Majority of the South African population are infrequent readers

Impact of owning books

When I get a little money, I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.- Desiderius Erasmus

Evans et al: Family scholarly culture and educational success: books and schooling in 27 nations (including South Africa)

More than 500 books in the home gives a child a big advantage

Mean number of leisure books in South African households = 8

Median = 32 More than half of South Africa’s

households have no books

Role of libraries

The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read.- Abraham Lincoln

Access to books through libraries Only 8% of schools have a functional

library Community (public) libraries trying to

bridge the gap Academic libraries focus on curriculum

related reading Reading circles study groups and

book clubs Jozi Book Fair

http://www.jozibookfair.org.za/

The One Book communal reading movement

Initiated by Nancy Pearl, executive director of the Washington Center for the Book, Seattle Public Library, 1998

Read the same book at the same time

Activities related to theme Involve author ALA Manual http://www.ala.org/publicprograms

The One Book One Library Project at University of Johannesburg

It is wonderful that even today, with all the competition of radio, television, films and records, the book has kept its precious character. A book is somehow precious.- John Steinbeck

“A final challenge: How do we get students to read books and not merely surf the internet? How do we get them to read wider than prescribed books? There is a world out there waiting to be discovered”.

One Book One Library to promote reading for pleasure and involve all campus libraries

UJ is a Comprehensive University

… an institution that bring diverse kinds of learning programmes , from vocational to professional and general formative, under one roof.

Gibbon, 2004:42

Born out of the merger of three very different institutions

One of six ‘comprehensive’ universities in South Africa

50% of all students are first generation at university

Low level of reading and writing skills

Do not buy textbooks, let alone books for recreational reading

How to…

I cannot live without books

- Thomas Jefferson

Used ALA Manual “Planning your Community Wide Read” http://www.ala.org/publicprograms

Committee with campus library reps

Nominated titles – involved Department of English

Committee did final selection

Selection criteria

A little learning, indeed, may be a dangerous thing, but the want of learning is a calamity to any people.

- Frederick Douglass

Good literature and easy to read (language should be understandable for wide audience)

Have a strong message South African author Theme should be of interest

to a diverse audience Fiction or non-fiction

And we read…

2009 – Three-letter Plague by Jonny SteinbergA groundbreaking work of reportage about pride and shame, sex and death, Three-letter Plague sheds new light on the place the African AIDS pandemic has come to occupy

2010 – Black Diamond by Zakes MdaThe concept of achieving black diamond status is well known in post apartheid South Africa and in this satirical work the author tackles this and every other conceivable South African stereotype, skillfully (and with the lightest touch) turning them upside down and exposing their ironies.

Both award winning South African authors

Reading process

Jonny Steinberg

Zakes Mda

Two to three months reading period Book displays in campus libraries Reading guides Arrange for interaction with author

Steinberg - Blog with the author Mda - Facebook group (83 members) and visit to lead

discussion groups. http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=117806414916578#!/group.php?gid=117806414916578&v=wall

Discussion groups in all campus libraries

Invite people who have read the book by sms/email

The Facebook Group

Sorry for the belated thank you to all at UJ who made my visit such a resounding success. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed interacting with your brilliant students, and everyone else. Zakes Mda 22 Sept 2010

Participation

Number of copies- 177 Reading period – 2

months Number or readers- 442 Discussion groups – 88

Book intimidating – 326 pages

HIV/AIDS= emotional topic

Author could not visit

Number of copies -211 Reading period – 3

months Number of readers – 932 Discussion groups – 278

Book inviting - 207 pages

Topic more light hearted

Visit from immensely popular author

2009 Three-letter Plague 2010 Black Diamond

As it happened…

2009

2010

Wow,wow is all i can say.it was a great honour meeting him guys what a down to earth person. Pinky Sithole on the Facebook Group

Budget

This will never be a civilized country until we expend more money for books than we do for chewing gum.  ~Elbert Hubbard

Can get started on small budget R40 000 – R60 000

Buying copies of the selected title the greatest cost Sell copies of selected books afterwards

Marketing costs Author visit

Partners important. Faculty of Humanities helped finance the Mda visit

UJ will be seeking donors for 2011 We will design a logo for the project

Is it worth it?

It has increased my knowledge tremendously. I can never have the same attitude I used to have on HIV. Incredible (Female, undergraduate student, 2009).

It cleared up some stereotypes that I had about South African culture. This is a truly South African story (Female undergraduate student, 2010)

Get to know students better

Makes library visible Staff enjoy the project It does impact on readers

but it is a long term project