Reader Development in Practice: Bringing Literature to Readers

Citation

Freeman, M. (2009), "Reader Development in Practice: Bringing Literature to Readers", New Library World, Vol. 110 No. 7/8, pp. 392-393. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800910975232

Another well‐produced and timely contribution to the professional literature, centring on the always relevant and important areas of reader development. As the Introduction states “This is an essential guide by current practitioners for current practitioners and students” and it performs this task well. A wide range of practitioners give good, practical up‐to‐date advice and example within a five section internal structure; this layout makes for a readable and understandable work.

The crime novelist Ann Cleeves writes a very interesting chapter on the imaginative and creative spark and the writing process itself and this is helpful to readers, outlining and celebrating reading in all its aspects.

Among other areas dealt with are new ideas in reader development, funding initiatives such as The National Year of Reading, the North West Region's “Time to read” partnership which shows lucidly how libraries and librarians can cooperate effectively with each other and even produce a Best Practice Handbook for reader development workers.

“Inclusion” is always of concern and Linda Corrigan's chapter sets out clearly the social inclusion issues involved in reader development, together with examples of good practice and effective reader development schemes operating for such clienteles as the visually impaired and handicapped.

Planning a reading group gets sound and sensible coverage from Anne Sherman and ways of involving writers in such groups are outlined. “Works of the imagination” brings some interesting areas into focus and, inevitable, the Internet and hypertext pose some unusual problems and possibilities for reader development. “Futuristic fiction” as a discrete genre for young readers (didn't we used to call this Science Fiction and Fantasy when I was a lad?) lends itself to good targeted reader development for children and teenagers, and Graphic Novels are seen as good potential areas for effective reader development.

Other aspects, such as poetry reader development and future possibilities, such as electronic publishing, e‐book, the “long‐tail” phenomenon and the changing role of bookshops, are dealt with effectively.

All in all, an interesting and well‐organised book, with good chapter bibliographies ad a clear helpful Index. This book will be useful for LIS practitioners involved with – or thinking about embarking on – reader development in libraries. LIS students will find it of interest too.