Promoting reading 1
Foreword – by the Swedish Arts Council Today we h
ave excellent opportunities for promoting a reading culture. A lively debate about the importance of reading for people’s education and learning and their capacity to participate actively in society has been going on in the media for several years now. The remits of a number of government agencies have been expanded to include the promotion of reading, among them the Swedish National Agency for Education and the Swedish Arts Council. A new Library Act in Sweden clarifies the role of libraries in promoting the status of literature and interest in learning, information, education, and research as well as other cultural activities. Since the 1990s, the Swedish Arts Council has distributed funds to local and regional reading promotion projects. The work of the Council assumes literature to be an art form and reading to be an artistic experience and the road to learning and edification. Over the years, a string of successful projects have been conducted. But the challenges remain great. International tests still show a downward trend in reading comprehension among the young. The new national targets for literature and reading promotion also emphasise the right of all to have access to high-quality literature. This in itself gives pause for thought and reflection. What is the current state of knowledge in the field? What is our collective experience concerning how we can increase and diversify reading and improve access to literature for all children and adults? The Swedish Arts Council has commissioned researcher Jonas Andersson to review the current state of knowledge regarding reading promotion methods based on Swedish and international research. This review is addressed to all involved in reading promotion activities such as libraries, organisations, schools and preschools. With this review, the Swedish Arts Council aims to contribute deeper knowledge and better practices to the ongoing public debate on how the literate can become readers, and how we can open paths to literature for all those who have not yet learnt to read. Staffan Forssell, Director-General of the Swedish Arts Council 3