Graduate Research Papers

Availability

Open Access Graduate Research Paper

Keywords

Children--Books and reading--Iowa; Reading promotion--Iowa;

Abstract

This qualitative case study reports the influence of the Teacher Librarian on students’ book selection strategies in a well-resourced, genrefied, and professionally-staffed school library. This study consisted of 57 seventh grade students from a large suburban middle school in Iowa. During regularly scheduled library visits, students were presented with three book promotion strategies: book talks, book displays, and student-produced visual book suggestions called shelf-talkers. Three themes emerged over the six weeks of the study in response to the research questions. Theme 1 is Ask a Friend: Over Half of Students Are Influenced by Social Interaction to Share and Seek Feedback about Books Among Peers. Theme 2 is It’s a Good Starting Place: Over Half of Students Feel Drawn to Their Favorite Genre When Browsing, and Theme 3 is Putting It All Together: Teacher Librarian Book Promotion Efforts Are What Make Social Browsing and Genre Browsing Successful. The preferred method for selecting books for 56% of the students was browsing and conferring with a friend or classmate. Browsing in one’s favorite section of the genrefied library was preferred by 65% of the students. Of the teacher initiated book promotion strategies, shelf-talkers were most preferred by students, with 50% of students responding positively, further supporting the students’ desire for social interaction, even through peer recommendations, when selecting books for pleasure reading.

Year of Submission

2022

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Department

Division of School Library Studies

First Advisor

Karla Krueger

Date Original

8-2022

Object Description

1 PDF file (32 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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