Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers
In June 2024, the National Library published 'Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers Summary of Findings 2019–2024', available here. Excerpts follow:
Pūtoi Rito at a glancePūtoi Rito Communities of Readers is a community partnership initiative led by National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa which provides children and young people in communities across New Zealand with opportunities and support to develop a love of reading. This initiative was developed in response to the declining literacy rates in New Zealand, growing research into the benefits of reading for pleasure, and the disparity of access to support for reading.
This report shares the context for Pūtoi Rito and the findings that emerged from the initiative’s first five years.
Research shows that:
Having the skill to read is much more powerful when it’s paired with the motivation to read.
There is a positive correlation between reading for pleasure and improvements in literacy, as well as development of vocabulary, knowledge, sense of belonging, imagination and wellbeing.
There are enabling conditions and strategies that work to encourage young people to read. Without these, many young people are less likely to develop a love of reading.
New Zealand has:
Literacy challenges and declining engagement with reading.
A lack of equal opportunities to develop a love of reading.
A unique cultural and national context that needs to be considered when responding to challenges and opportunities.
Pūtoi Rito demonstrated that:
Given the right conditions and opportunities, all young people can enjoy reading and gain the benefits of reading for pleasure — across different settings, diversity and cultural factors, ages and abilities.
Building a culture of reading works best when it is a collaborative effort between schools, libraries, families and communities and makes the most of the national and local resources and connections available.
More Information:
Posted: Monday 15 July 2024