PPLI Annual Report 2020 - Flipbook - Page 56
Public libraries and parents
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Public libraries are spaces particularly beneficial to pre-school and primary school children, visiting
libraries with their parents/guardians/minders. As parents are a key target for the active use of public
libraries, Languages Connect produced awareness-raising material aimed at bi/multi-lingual families to
encourage the use of public libraries as a great local source of home language books for all ages.
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Public libraries must have demand for foreign language books in order to acquire more of them.
Languages Connect has collaborated with the Mother Tongues organisation to disseminate awarenessraising material to bring more home language books into public libraries.
Impact
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School Library Home Languages scheme
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Very positive reactions to the new resources in both primary and post-primary schools.
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Outcomes include students accessing the acquired home language materials, enhanced school libraries,
students whose families speak different languages feeling more included, students in the school having
learnt about other languages and cultures, and an increased awareness of foreign languages.
“Students are always proud of their language books and take pride that we have taken the time to include their
own language especially for reading for pleasure in the school and at home.” Co Longford
“Comic books were well received and appreciated... Students have shown fantastic enthusiasm towards the new
resources available to them.” Co Meath
“Positive feedback from pupils and parents in terms of seeing books in their language and positive feedback from
Irish children in seeing books in another language.” Co Sligo
“Students are delighted with books.” Co Tipperary
“Parents were happy to see the foreign language books being brought home, great to see the students taking
initiative for their learning.” Co Dublin
JCSP Digital Library
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Initial borrowing statistics have shown a strong
borrowing rate already with foreign language books
out on loan continuously.
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Access to foreign language books benefits students
in terms of literacy, developing a love of reading,
supporting language studies and strengthening
the heritage identities of students.
“[We are] impressed and
surprised at the borrowing levels with over 450 checkouts in
November and over 300 in
December.”
JCSP Digital Library
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