Latest news with #reading
Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Times
Finland proposes a very novel idea — invest in the public library
In the €100 million Oodi library, which looms over central Helsinki like a cruise ship from the future, robots called Tatu, Patu and Veera trundle back and forth between the shelves and the reading rooms. Against this backdrop, foreign visitors might be surprised to see how many children and teenagers are engaged in an almost unsettlingly archaic activity: reading and borrowing books. In the age of TikTok, Netflix and Candy Crush, it is not just Finland's public libraries that are booming, but also demand for their physical paperbacks and hardbacks. Last year the average Finn visited them nine times and borrowed 15 books, resulting in the highest lending figures for 20 years. The appetite for children's and young adults' literature has risen to a record for the third year in a row, with a total of 38 million loans in 2024. That works out at about 40 books or other pieces of material, such as audiobooks, for each person under the age of 18. In Helsinki, the capital, which has a population of about 690,000, there were 9.2 million library visits and 5.7 million loans. Even by the standards of a country that is often ranked as the most literate on the planet, the numbers are remarkable. In Britain, the total number of loans has fallen to less than half of what it was at the turn of the millennium, despite a tentative recovery in the wake of the pandemic, and about 40 libraries a year are closing. Visits to German public libraries are still about a fifth lower than they were before the advent of Covid-19 and about one in five of them has shut down over the past decade. The most obvious explanation for the phenomenon is that Finland values its libraries and invests accordingly. The state spends about €60 per capita on the public library system each year, approximately four times as much as the UK and six times as much as Germany. • Encyclopaedia Britannica is back and 'it's better than ChatGPT' Where other countries rely on corporate skyscrapers or shopping centres for their visions of architectural modernity, Finland often looks to its libraries, such as Oodi and Vallila in Helsinki, the main Metso library in Tampere, or the revered 20th-century designer Alvar Aalto's projects in Rovaniemi and Seinajoki. They have traditionally served as engines of social mobility and integration. Erkki Sevanen, professor of literature at the University of Eastern Finland, grew up in a working-class family in Eura, a thinly populated district of villages 110 miles to the northwest of Helsinki. 'My parents and relatives did not used to read books, but there was a fine and well-equipped public library in our home village,' he said. 'It opened a whole world of classical literature and philosophy for me in the 1960s and 1970s.' Sevanen said the public libraries were a significant part of the reason he had ultimately pursued a university career, and that today they perform a similar function for immigrants to Finland. 'I am very grateful to this system,' he said. 'It was part of what made my social rise from the working class to academic circles possible.' The roots of this culture predate Finland's independence in 1918. Like large parts of Scandinavia and continental northern Europe, it was profoundly influenced by Lutheran Protestantism and its insistence that each individual should engage with the texts of scripture for themselves. 'The ability to read was a requirement for everyone who wanted to get married. To demonstrate their reading skills, people were tested at church gatherings,' said Ulla Richardson, professor of technology-enhanced language learning at the University of Jyvaskyla. The movement gathered steam in the 19th century, when Finland was a semi-autonomous duchy in the Russian empire and the new public libraries were focal points for an emerging sense of national identity. They remain important hubs for Finnish society, providing a space in which people can be alone and together at the same time. 'Many Finns tend to consider libraries almost as sanctuaries,' Richardson said. Alongside computers and internet access, they offer board games, video games, musical instruments, sewing machines, seasonal theatre passes and even sports equipment in some cases. These services are particularly valued by families with straitened financial means, who might not otherwise be able to afford school textbooks or other media. 'The libraries are spaces that children and teens can access freely, especially if they don't have other places to go,' said Richardson. 'These days we also have self-service libraries open when there are no personnel working.'
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Graham Norton: ‘The Bell Jar changed how I felt about books'
My earliest reading memoryI started reading because I was wildly jealous of my sister Paula, who is four years older than me. I must have been six or seven when I managed to read The Mountain of Adventure by Enid Blyton. I know she is no longer in fashion but I still remember the thrill of the world she created and the excitement of the plot. My favourite book growing upI adored the Flambards series by KM Peyton, probably because it felt slightly adult and a little bit sexy, but my absolute favourites were Grimble and Grimble at Christmas by Clement Freud. They were anarchic and knowing, in a way I hadn't encountered before but more than anything else they were very funny. It also introduced me to the inspired illustrations of Quentin Blake. The book that changed me as a teenagerWhen I was around 15 or 16 we had a supply teacher and he brought with him plastic bags of novels and just threw them out to us sitting at our desks. I randomly caught The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath which really did change how I felt about books. It was funny, sophisticated and raw in a way I didn't know novels could be. But more than that, as people say now, I felt seen. Esther Greenwood contained so many emotions and qualities that I recognised. I'm also happy to say that the supply teacher Niall is a good friend to this day! The writer who changed my mindWhen I was about 19 I remember reading the very start of Daniel Martin by John Fowles. He describes a German plane crashing into the British country side and it was so perfectly written that I resolved to never write books. What was the point? They would never be as good as these few pages. I took me more than 30 years to get over that feeling. The book that made me want to be a writerPrior to my John Fowles experience I had wanted to write and was scribbling down short stories, but I have no recollection of a moment or novelist that lit the spark. I think it was more the joy I found in telling tales and setting the scene. Everything I was reading just taught me that there was a way to do that and a world I could be a part of. The book or author I came back toI think I was exposed to Charles Dickens too early and found him very dark and dense. It was only many years later, when I had to read Oliver Twist for work, that I realised how incredibly engaging and entertaining his books are. There is a passage towards the end of A Tale of Two Cities where Carton roams the streets of Paris contemplating his death, which is as beautiful and profound as anything I've ever read. The book I reread I very rarely reread anything but if I do it is probably during the summer in Ireland and it would tend to be a classic, like Jane Austen's Mansfield Park or Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. There is such pleasure in finding out how much you've changed as different characters and plot points speak to you differently. Interesting how much we all bring a point of view to every novel we read. The book I could never read againI can't imagine I will ever go back to the Just William series by Richmal Crompton. I loved them as a preteen but I fear I might find them a little less charming now. The book I discovered later in lifeThe novels of Elizabeth Taylor were a fairly recent discovery for me. Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont is a stunning book. Wry, funny and heartbreaking, but never cruel. Maybe you have to be a little older to really enjoy it? I was also recommended the works of the late Octavia Butler recently. I rarely read sci-fi, but Kindred is the most visceral novel about the horrors of slavery that I've read. The book I am currently readingI've just finished Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. A sprawling saga about a damaged family which I really enjoyed. My comfort readAgatha Christie, what else? Grisly murders and neat solutions. A balm for any troubled soul. Frankie by Graham Norton is published in paperback by Coronet. To support the Guardian, order your copy at Delivery charges may apply.
The Herald
a day ago
- General
- The Herald
‘Focus on foundational learning or fail another generation'
A growing number of children across SA are struggling with reading and comprehension — a crisis that literacy organisations say stems from a lack of foundational learning in the early years. Two literacy-focused nonprofits whose representatives spoke to Sowetan have stepped in to address the crisis, reaching more than 500 classrooms in Gauteng and other parts of the country where pupils are in urgent need of support. Read to Rise executive director Taryn Lock said its work at primary schools, particularly in Soweto, had highlighted significant reading challenges. 'Children aren't excited about reading. They don't own books at home and there's a lack of good, affordable and relatable books. 'Most of the schools we work in don't have libraries or any structured reading programmes,' Lock said. Read to Rise operates in schools such as Sedibathuto, Khuthala, Diodi, Lekang, Vukani, Moriting, Hlabangane, Makhoane, Nka-thuto, Rebone and Livhuwani. Since 2016, it has run more than 1,015 class programmes and distributed at least 57,000 new storybooks to children in Soweto. 'We focus on schools in high-need areas, and 70% of teachers have reported a significant increase in learners' interest in reading after our visits,' Lock said.
Washington Post
a day ago
- General
- Washington Post
An explosive problem
By selecting "Start reading," you agree to The Washington Post's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Summer Slump? Not with Lovevery's Reading Skill Set. Here's My Honest Review
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here. You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Read the original article on Purewow. As a mom of two, the most helpful thing I learned about reading is that it is a slow burn, and every kid goes at their own pace. In my experience, the schools do the hard work via daily practice, but of course, our children are a sum of their parts. For example, in the case of my now 7-year-old son, he was exposed to syllables and consonants at a younger age via speech therapy, which helped; I also found him to have the biggest breakthroughs in terms of sounding things out when it was a book he cared about and felt invested in. (The Elephant & Piggie series was a gateway for us.) Still, confidence is critical when it comes to reading skills and, last year, he struggled to feel at ease when paired with a reading partner who he deemed 'better' than he was. (He especially felt sheepish when sounding out a tough word while reading aloud.) Enter Lovevery's Reading Skill Set, a play-based collection of games and books—with input from literacy and early childhood education experts—which is designed to make reading fun and tactile. More importantly, it offers a variety of ways to engage, so that it meets your kid where they are in their ability. (More on that below.) I'm thrilled to report that I've had quite a bit of time with the skill set—I've been testing it since it debuted at the end of last year with the help of my then-6-year-old and have had quite a bit of time to read the books, play the games and experience the ins and outs of the three-part set. To give a bit more background about my son's experience with reading: Like I said, the subject matter counts. There needs to be an immediate hook that invites kids to engage. What's helpful with Lovevery is the familiarity: The Reading Skill Set has the same look and feel as the brand's signature (and beloved) play kits, but most importantly for parents, it comes with the same clear and constructive Montessori-based instructions for how to maximize the use of it. That's what most stood out to me in the many months since I started using the kits—how much the Reading Skill Set takes the pressure off when it comes to helping kids build their strength and ability with a skill that is so closely monitored and discussed. More than anything, it's designed to be fun and effective, the ultimate education goal. Rachel Bowie The Reading Skill Set is broken out into three different sets: Part 1 focuses on Sounds to Reading; Part 2 on Word to Books; and Part 3 is centered on Advanced Rules to Chapter Books. Before you invest, it's crucial that you note your child's ability and truly take stock of where they're at and the kit they're most ready for. (For example, as my son enters second grade, he's definitely more in the part three zone than part one, which is Lovevery's assessment, but also my own.) That said, there is wiggle room here. In my experience with the sets, my son has relished each one—part one and part two included—even as he gains proficiency. Here's why: As he builds upon his skills, each set gives him the chance to practice what he's learned. So, yes, he's comfortable with syllables and vowels, but he continually reaches for the syllable race game and the follow the sound maze in part one. The Crossword puzzle builder in part two is another favorite, but also still a challenge. And part three includes a treasure trove of books—all designed to build on what he's learned—that he loves to read and re-read again as his skills grow. The point is this: Yes, you want to tailor the set you select to your child's ability, but it's worth recognizing that the sets are appealing even when the knowledge they're imparting has been grasped. Alexia Dellner As I mentioned, there are three different sets to choose from, each costing $160 in price. Part one is aimed at helping your child develop pre-k and kindergarten skills and comes with nine skill-based games and seven books. The focus with this set is on isolating sounds, learning letter sounds and first spelling and reading. Part two targets kindergarten and first grade skills and comes with seven skill-based games and activities, plus 13 books, all aimed at teaching basic blending, comprehensive blending and storytelling. (The way this aligned and augmented what my child was learning in the classroom was impressive.) Part three—designed for first and second graders—includes four skill-based games, plus a whopping 27 books. The skills that are put into practice here are learning vowel rules, learning about prefixes and suffixes and reading chapter books. Also included with each set: Lovevery's signature play guides, plus access to the brand's online portal, which has even more offerings for parents eager to help guide their kids with increased support. Lovevery There was a moment when I tested Lovevery's Play Kits many years ago where I discovered the Turtle Hatch game and it unlocked something inside me as a parent—a chance to witness my child's rapidly developing skills, but also a true moment of joy as we played one of our first games with real rules together. It's something I'll always remember. The reading kits provide the same type of experience between parent and child. I'll admit that when they first arrived, I grimaced a bit—only because I couldn't help but remember my own experience with reading kits as a kid. (A neighbor of ours was launching a business and we were volunteer testers, but it was primarily flashcard-based.) But then my son reached for the Syllable Race Game in the first set. The rules make it so you have to break words into syllables in order to know the number of spaces you get to go as you race your dog around the track. (There's a wood-on-wood tapping sound, too, which helps to reinforce the beat—and the skill.) We were having fun playing and counting out syllables to words like 'elephant' when he drew what's called a 'See & Say' card, which required him to look around the room and count the syllables of an object of his own choosing. 'Ankylosaurus,' he said referencing his favorite dinosaur stuffie. 'That's five, mom!' he said, thrilled he found a way to sail speedily around the board—then win. It was hilarious, but also fun. The mastery of syllables, a skillset he was subliminally picking up? That was the icing on the cake. The same applies to sets two and three, which were more age-appropriate for his current reading level. The R-Vowel Frog Hop (from set 3) was another kid-pleaser. The goal is to build a path of lily pads to beat your opponent to the other side while learning how vowel sounds change when followed by the letter 'r.' I was stunned to see how quickly my son became proficient, besting me in terms of quickness as he nailed more complex vowels. (These are just two of games we had positive experiences with—pretty much everything that comes included is a stand-out and something you'll keep in regular rotation as kids build on their skills.) It's true: The Lovevery Reading Skill Set isn't cheap, but for parents looking to extend their child's literacy skills at home, the quality and comprehensiveness of these kits is unmatched. Back to my experience with my own son—it's a cliché, but the best way in is to make learning fun. These kits are designed to do just that, but with a load of science and Montessori-backed wisdom behind them. TBH, they remind me of the play kits, which provide developmentally backed toys that take the pressure off playtime while helping parents feel more confident in their approach. Replace that same idea with literacy as the main goal and that's what you get with the reading skill set. $160 at Lovevery 50 Kindergarten Books to Help Foster a Love of Reading
