Boys Literacy

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Boys and Literacy

• ____ Public Librarys Boys Reading Programs for
  20__

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Target Demographic for the Boys Literacy Programs

• boys fourth-grade through sixth
• Boys consistently score lower than girls on
  reading tests.

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National Center For Education Statistics average
reading scale score of 4th-graders by sex
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National Center For Education Statistics average
scale scores of fourth-grade students in reading
literacy , by sex and country 2006
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Maintaining Interest

• Studies show boys lose interest in reading in the
  late elementary and early junior years (Palmer p.
  79)
• Boys have different interests than girls (Maughan
  p. 41, Sullivan p.23)

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The Programs

1. Boys Only Book Discussion
2. Local Athlete Visits
3. Halloween Reading Program

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Boys Only Book Discussion

• Open to boys and parent/guardian
• Bi-weekly midweek
• Controversy with segregating boys from girls
• Riskiest of programs

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Local Athlete Visits

• This program will require establishing
  relationships with local sports teams
• In the beginning, or prior to, of the particular
  sport season an athlete or group of athletes will
  visit the library to give a presentation on the
  sport and the team
• May bring in people who may not otherwise visit
  the library and provide the team with an
  opportunity to advertise in the community

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Halloween Reading Program

• Will Begin mid to late September
• Will function similarly to the Summer Reading
  Program
• Will not be marketed as boys only but will have
  a reading list with material that panders to
  their interest such as authors R.L. Stein,
  Johnathon Rand, etc.

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What Needs To Be DoneBook Discussion Group

• Prepare book discussion kits of 10 books and
  discussion guide
• Schedule area to meet on Tuesday or Wednesday of
  every other week
• Select Staff member to lead discussions (Your
  chance to volunteer!)

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What Needs To Be DoneLocal Athlete Visit

• Contact local minor league baseball team
• Contact local minor league hockey team
• Contact local stadium football team
• Prepare displays to correspond with the visits

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What Needs To Be Done Halloween Reading Program

• Ensure main library and all branches have all
  Halloween type titles in the system by early
  September. Leave time for processing.
• Find sponsors for prizes
• Prepare Handouts
• Look into contacting Johnathan Rand he may be
  available for a visit

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Stand by for volunteer opportunities

• Volunteers are needed. Now is your chance!
• If we dont get enough volunteers, staff will be
  assigned
• Please watch your mailboxes for more information
  in the weeks ahead

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Works Cited

• Maughan, S. (2001). You go, guys. Publishers
  Weekly, 248(19), 41-2. Retrieved from Library Lit
  Inf Full Text database
• National Center for Education Statistics. (2009)
  Average reading scale score of 4th-, 8th-, and
  12th-graders, by sex and race/ethnicity Selected
  years, 1992 through 2009 retrieved from
  http//nces.ed.gov/FastFacts/display.asp?id147
• National Center for Education Statistics. (2006).
  Average scale scores of fourth-grade students in
  reading literacy, by country 2006 retrieved from
  http//nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009039_2.pdf
• Palmer, T. (2008). Reading the Game Using Sport
  to Encourage Boys and Men to Read More.
  Australasian Public Libraries and Information
  Services, 21(2), 78-83. Retrieved from Library
  Lit Inf Full Text database
• Sullivan, M. (2003). Connecting boys with books
  What libraries can do. Chicago American Library
  Association.