InclusivityThis month we’re looking into the Inclusivity category. The article we selected investigates how Canadian public libraries share early literacy information on their public websites with a specific look at how different community groups are invited to participate.
Article
Prendergast, Tess. “Growing Readers: A Critical Analysis of Early Literacy Content for Parents on Canadian Public Library Websites.” Journal of Library Administration. 2013, Volume 35, p234 -254. Download article here.
Discussion Group Meeting
Sunday, March 31st from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The Vancouver group will be meeting at the Athlete’s Village Housing Co-op Common Room located at 151 W 1st Ave. Please email us for more details.
Discussion Questions
Here are some suggested discussion questions to think about when reading through the pieces.
Critical Appraisal:
- What were the key objectives of the article? Are the objectives relevant to libraries?
- What conclusions did the authors come to and were they just?
- What were the strengths/weaknesses of the piece? (I.e. Was there bias? Did they use credible sources? Were their data gathering methods sound?)
Current Practice:
- Critique the early literacy messages on your library’s public website.
- What phrases or key words are you using to be inclusive to all of your community members?
- Is there anything you would change about your library’s public website after reading this article?
Can’t Make It To the Meeting?
There’s lots of ways to get involved! Participate online: share your thoughts on social media using the hashtag #lscjournalclub. Find a local group or try hosting a journal club meeting in your local community. Let us know about it so we can spread the word. If you set up a local group, test your presentation skills by leading the discussion.
Leave a comment here with any questions or your thoughts about the articles.
