Bookstart Around the World 1
Bookstart Around the World knowledge, but there i
s nothing indicating that bookgifting programmes for young children are poor investments in terms of financial resources. 4.4.2 Collaboration and circumstances In most cases, Bookstart is based on a collaboration between child healthcare services, libraries and preschools. It is therefore of interest to know more about how this collaboration works and what challenges there are in this area. This is also linked to the circumstances that are needed in order to be able to implement a bookgifting programme. There have been relatively few studies and reports in this overview that consider this in depth. A general reflection, therefore, is that research is quite limited regarding collaboration within bookgifting programmes. Compared, for example, with early, coordinated efforts for children and adolescents or in general regarding organising healthcare interventions, the focus on collaboration itself is somewhat less transparent. However, collaboration is often highlighted as a very central element of bookgifting programmes. There are a few interesting aspects and insights that should be addressed with regards to collaboration and circumstances for promoting reading at an early age. Although this overview is not able to cover an indepth description of the general research in collaboration that exists, there are some theoretical aspects of the subject that should be highlighted. However, the most central aspect that can be featured is the structural situation that is often described as important in order for collaboration to be lasting and sustainable. This can be described in various ways, such as by using the socalled collaboration ladder that can be found in the Bokstart evaluation (the Swedish Arts Council, 2020). 4. Synergy Acts as a composite entity 3. Cooperation Shared work is carried out in a focused task 1. Structure Availability of venue for conversation and discussion 2. Common understanding Understanding for each others’ activities and professions and the existence of a common goal Source: SOU 2018:11, p. 6, modified by Governo Another way is found in Ögland›s taxonomies of the collaboration and cooperation between public libraries and other parties, such as child healthcare services (Ögland, 2013). Ögland gives seven levels that describe different degrees of collaboration, which can serve as a guide for how an organisation can consider its collaborative work as a strategic matter. Whilst collaboration is often a prerequisite for Bookstart programmes, it can also be timeconsuming and difficult. However, one reference point highlighted in SOU 2010:95 that deals with the work schools carry out on behalf of disadvantaged children (Annex 4) can be raised here. It is there described that: ‘Long-term and structurally organised collaboration that is person independent is built both topdown in the organisation and bottom-up.’ (Danermark et al., 2010, translation ours). Collaboration is an issue for both the management and political levels, as well as for employees within the organisations that are expected to collaborate operationally. Something often raised in the context of 31/52