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Reading and libraries in contemporary Dublin. Aims and objectives. To explore ...whether reading is a popular leisure activity in Dublin ...what‘s special about Dublin‘s public libraries
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Aims and objectives • To explore • ...whether reading is a popular leisure activity in Dublin • ...what‘s special about Dublin‘s public libraries • ...whether the designation as a UNESCO city of literature has had an impact on the reading habits of the general public
Table of contents • Dublin - a city of literature • Our visit to the Ilac Central Library • Facts and figures about Dublin‘s public libraries • A librarian‘s view • Library services in the Ilac centre • Vox pop - Dublin‘s readers • statistical overview • Conclusion/reflections
our visit to the library facts and figures • The library aims to inform, enrich, empower, include and extend individual life chances. Therefore they provide equal and accessible services, information, ideas resources and programmes that everybody can benefit from. • Did you know? • libraries are free of charge in Ireland • Dublin has 41 service points with 2.4 million visitors and 147, 281 library members • E. Blyton, R. Dahl and A. Christy are still on the top 100 most borrowed authors in 2010 • the average visit lasts 17 minutes (adult library) • the borrowing books section was the most popular service in 2010 • the highest rate of users in in the age-group 25-44 • female library users show a greater tendency to visit library exhibitions whereas male users would more likely borrow talking books or DVDs • the top 3 foreign language issues in 2009 were Polish (1028), Russian (347) and Chinese (346)
our visit to the librarya librarian‘s view Interview with Aisling Murray and colleague of Ilac Library Centre: • Television, film and literature complement each other • Music and film DVD´s are very popular • Music downloads from Internet have caused a decrease in usage of music library • Audiobooks are popular, but e-books will be the challenge of the future • Book clubs (a.o. audio-, detective books) are supported by the library • Young adults are a difficult target group
our visit to the librarya librarian‘s view Some more statements from the interview: • one effect of the recession was that readers have come back in public libraries and buy fewer books • the interest in career literature (writing CVs, etc.) saw an increasing demand due to the recession; there was no other obvious increase/decrease of interest in any particular genre • a very successful promotional activity is the One City One Book initiative(Dubliners all read the same book during April every year - the chosen book in 2011 was Ghost Light by J. O‘Connor)
our visit to the librarylibrary services inthe Ilac Library • Aims & missions: • 1. Promoting literature and reading: • home delivery service • prison library service • reading groups & creative writing groups • 2. devoted to life-long learning: • foreign language learning (with or without final exams) • conversation exchange groups (foreign languages) • 3. information and enterprise: • Business information service: • aimed at “learner entrepreneurs” • providing vital information on Irish companies, market opportunities, legislation, business magazines, databases
our visit to the librarylibrary services inthe Ilac Library • Aims & missions: • 4. (inter) cultural activities • Organizing exhibitions • inviting authors • setting up a comprehensive summer programme both for adults and children • 5. heritage • There is a close cooperation with Dublin City Library and Archive: • National Heritage Week (20th to 28th August) • Genealogy: i.e. assisting people to research on their family origins
Vox pop - Dublin‘s readersstatistical overviewstat • Interview Operators: • Ana, Axel, Marie-Louise, Mechthild, Mica • 15 Dubliners – interviewed in the street Subjects’ Personal Identification Data: • AGE • GENDER • OCCUPATION
Sample - 15 Dubliner 15 - 70 yrs. - PERSONAL DATA AGE: - between 15 – 30: 5 subjects - between 31 – 60: 3 subjects - over 60: 7 subjects GENDER: - males: 9 subjects - females: 6 subjects OCCUPATIONS: - 4 students, 2 teachers, 1 priest, 2 drivers, 5 retired persons, 1 unknown occupation
QUESTIONNAIRE ON READING Questions: 1. What is your reading preference ? (paper books/E-books) 2. Are you a library member? (yes/no) 3. How many books a year do you read? (number) 4. How important is reading to you on a scale of 1 to 10? (number) 5. Do you know that Dublin was designated the City of Literature in July 2010 as one of four cities in the world? (yes/no) 6. Has this increased the interest in reading of the general public? (yes/no) 7. Has this increased your interest in reading? (yes/no) 8. Who is your favourite author or what is your favourite book?
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS 1. Reading preference? - paper books: 13 subjects - E-books: 2 subjects 2. Library members?10 subjects (67 % of the sample) 3. Number of books read a year? - less than 10 books: 7 subjects -between 10 and 20 books: 3 subjects -more than 20 books: 5 subjects 4. The importance of reading -maximum (10 points): 5 subjects -high (8 – 9 points): 6 subjects -average (under 8 points): 4 subjects (arithmetic mean per sample was 8.2 points)
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS (continued) 5. Knowing about Dublin as the City of Literature in 2010? - yes: 11 subjects - no: 4 subjects 6. Has this increased reading in general public? - yes: 3 subjects - no: 7 subjects - no answer: 5 subjects 7. Has this increased personal interest in reading? - yes: 3 subjects - no: 7 subjects - no answer: 5 subjects
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS (continued) 8. Favourite author or favourite book: - James Patterson - Neil Gaiman(English author) - J.K. Rowling (“Harry Potter”) - Saul Bellow - Franz Kafka - James Joyce (“ Dubliners”) - John Updike - Hildebrandt - W. Urbrock - G.G. Marquez (“One Hundred Years of Solitude”) - Irvine Welsh - Iain Banks (“The Wasp Factory”) - Anthony Burgess Harper Lee (“To Kill A Mocking Bird”) History books, factual books
conclusion - reflectionsff • Dubliners are really into reading • Dublin’s libraries are lively, popular and help to promote culture and reading • Dublin’s designation as a UNESCO city of literature has made its people more conscious of the importance of literature • To put it into Anne Enright’s words:“In other towns clever people go out and make money. In Dublin, clever people go home and write their books.”