Projeto - Vamos dar Vida aos Livros - Lúcia Morgado - 2012.pdf

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ABSTRACT
This study, carried out in the domain of a Masters programme in Information
Management and School Libraries has given us a better knowledge about reading
problems putting into perspective the determinant role of the School Library for the
motivation and promotion of reading habits.
A revision of the literature shows us that reading plays a key role in the
development of young people and consequently in the progress of a country.
Bibliography and experience also reveal that despite the improvements which have
occurred in these past few years, the levels in national reading assessments are not yet
satisfactory. Therefore, it is urgent to change some attitudes and practices in order to
invert this reality. The main difficulty and simultaneously the great challenge, is to get
students to enjoy reading and also to do it systematically throughout their schooling
time and their life.
So we have implemented the project “Let us give life to BOOKS!” which
consisted of organizing a set of systematic activities about books and reading, during
the school year of 2011/2012. The main objective was to contribute to the increase in
the levels of reading within a specific community, showing that the role of the school
library is determinant in creating the pleasure of reading and consequently in changing
some reading habits; we intended too to develop the cooperation between teachers,
family and the school library.
We have applied an investigation/action methodology, with a comparative
aspect. We used mixed instruments which allowed us to verify several changes in
attitudes and habits, as far as reading is concerned, mainly in one of the classes. We also
observed a greater involvement on the part of the actors in the educational process,
especially families, who recognized the importance of the project.
It was a project which had its’ impact on the educational community, who
recognized the role of the SL in the motivation and promotion of students’ reading
skills, thus allowing them to become more competent, autonomous and interventive as
well as more prepared for the challenges which, the so called society of information and
knowledge demand.
Keywords: School library; Reading Promotion; Motivation; Family.