02 February 2023 Thursday
Children's Libraries Introducing the World of Books
The library is an institution where information, cultural and artistic works are presented in various ways. Children's libraries, which is one of the library types, is an institution that plays a decisive role in acquiring the basic life skills of the child, initiates the library culture, provides access to the right information, supports the reading culture, education, cultural development, positive personality traits development and socialization process (Yılmaz, 2019).
These libraries serve to provide resources and support to meet the educational, informational and developmental needs of children of all ages.
Children's libraries, which provide a public right to children, are also seen as an education provider. It provides services to infants, preschool and school children, children with special needs, parents and adults working in child-related areas. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions; It proposes meeting the information, culture and entertainment needs of children with services such as providing information and consultation services for children's libraries, lending various materials such as books and magazines, helping children in choosing these materials, planning creative programs and motivational activities such as reading stories. Since it is aimed to reach babies and children, services should also include situations such as games, entertainment, learning and access to technology.Thus, with activities such as reading clubs, teaching clubs, craft games, exploration workshops, creative drama, author visits and storytelling, music and theater, the child can find interesting environments where they can learn by playing. Especially for school-age children, play materials such as playbooks, picture books, cardboard books, music CDs and stuffed toys and puppets that can be used with books are available in the libraries and children can be taken together to preserve these materials.
Children's libraries, which offer rich stimulants, are effective in encouraging social interaction, gaining problem-solving skills and developing imagination, while providing a suitable environment for the acquisition of reading habits. In addition, it supports children's early literacy skills with written materials presented to children. Children's libraries also create an important opportunity to provide equality of opportunity. Since it offers free and sustainable opportunities to everyone without discrimination, it plays a role in improving the negative effects on the education and development of disadvantaged children.
Children, who can access services with the help of adults around them, can acquire lifelong learning skills by acquiring a library culture in their future life. Children who grow up with library culture play an important role in the development of a democratic society as individuals who are researcher, creative, aware of their responsibilities and have cultural values.
Lecturer Hatice ÜNLÜ BÖZKURT
Source: Yılmaz, B. (2019). Çocuk kütüphanesi hizmetleri kılavuzu. Hiper yayın
