KOSEN 한인과학기술자네트워크

This is the second in a series of Book Trust Reports on key aspects of books and reading. The first report examined the provision for and the use of books in schools. This is concerned with pre-school children and the importance of good early experience with books. ◆ Bookstart has been warmly welcomed by professionals and by parents. It has promoted more awareness of books, more reading and more sharing of books with very young children in the wide range of families who received the pack. Significantly more babies had enrolled as library members as a result of the pack. Bookstart also promoted book purchase and book club membership. ◆ Funding should be sought to develop the potential of Bookstart in other geographical remember that funding includes such items as travel, distribution and administration costs, not merely the cost of packs. ◆ Future packs could be usefully supported by appropriate visual material, a purpose-made video and workshops with parents. ◆ In future packs more books appropriate for age and cultural backgruond of babies should be selected. ◆ The beneficial cooperation between Health and Library Services should be given local administrative support. ◆ Future Bookstart projects should be carefully monitored and evaluated. There is a need for a properly controlled study which examines the effect of Bookstart on children up to school entry and beyond.