Building a Successful Reading Culture through the School Library: A Case Study of a Singapore Secondary School

Abstract

Much research has documented the strong correlation between independent reading and academic achievement, and the school library can serve a crucial role in encouraging reading. Drawing from one case study out of a larger dataset of six schools, this paper details how one school transformed its school library and made it a central place for reading within the school. Data collected provided evidence of the kinds of strategies, programmes and design that works to encourage reading. Schoolwide reading surveys, interviews with principals, teachers and Library coordinators at each school and interviews with students gave an understanding of the culture of reading and library use within the school. Qualitative library observations, timed counts, narratives and time-lapse photographs of library space contribute to our understanding of how particular spaces within the library was used for reading or not. Factors for building a reading culture include: (1) Designing conducive spaces for reading, (2) Curating the selection for readers, (3) Creating programmes to excite readers, (4) Designing spaces for reading, and (5) Building an ecology for reading.