The library

The library

Introduction
	People who are learning to read need access to a variety of reading materials to encourage them to develop their reading skills. One way to provide reading materials is through a community library.

Description
	A library is a collection of reading materials made available for people to read or borrow.

Features

Materials
	A community library should have materials that are relevant to community needs and interests. Library reading materials may include:
	Articles Audio and video cassettes Local language books Magazines Maps National language books Newspapers Posters Reference books

Responsible person
	A library should have a responsible person available. It could be
	a librarian a teacher a literacy or library promoter a traveling book salesperson, or anyone willing and able to help.
	The responsible person would have the following duties:
	To acquire new materials To keep materials in good repair To keep materials current To keep records as necessary To loan materials To promote reading and use of the library To train readers how to use the library.

Location
	The location of a library might be
	in an entire building devoted to library functions in a room full of books and other reading materials on a table or shelf Illustration in a portable box or suitcase, or Illustration in a "bookmobile" that transports reading materials to different villages on a certain day of the week or month.

See also
	See the following online articles for more information:
	Reading clubs, reading circles (study circles), and libraries The rural library system in Cajamarca A book is to read and to share

Sources
	Bernd 1989 Brown, G. 1983 Coombs 1989 Kondo and Walter 1990 Marmor, E. 1989 Wiebe 1983

Context for this page:

Structure module: library
In overview module: Glossary (Literacy): L
In modular book: Glossary of literacy terms
In document collection: Reference materials
In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 2 July 1998

© 1999 SIL International