This text is part of the special booklet Beyond a Statistic
Beyond the simple loan of books, the library plays an important role in the literacy of the population. Whether you are a child, an adult, newcomer or marginalized person, it is a living environment and an open door to learn, develop and better integrate into society.
Along with culture and education, literacy is one of its key missions, according to the UNESCO Manifesto on the public library, drafted in Paris in 1994. It mentions, among other things, that “the public library is a local gateway to knowledge” whose “services are accessible to all, without distinction of age, race, sex, religion, nationality, language or social status”.
Last May, the Ministry of Culture and Communications announced an investment of $280,000 to deploy a library promotion strategy, in partnership with the Association of Public Libraries of Quebec (ABPQ). The idea is to encourage people to discover or rediscover their local library. A contest, Win to discover your library!, will be launched during the next year.
Literacy at any age
“Libraries work in partnership with community groups and adult literacy organizations. We will offer readings adapted to the levels as well as writing workshops. It is a source of great pride for someone who has always considered themselves incapable of reading and writing, to be able to write a short story after having taken part in a workshop”, explains Eve Lagacé, general manager of the ‘ABPQ, which brings together the autonomous public libraries of municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants, which serve more than 80% of the population of Quebec.
For families, the popular story hours are still presented to children in most libraries in Quebec, but by giving tools to the parents who accompany them so that they can reproduce these reading pleasures at home. The Montreal Success Network reports that 21% of Quebec parents of children under 16 have low literacy skills. “The important thing is that the parent feels competent and able to accompany their child to read at home. Many studies show the benefits of this parent-child interaction for learning to read,” emphasizes Eve Lagacé.
From zero to five years old, a first positive contact with books is decisive for the future. “With regard to early childhood, the data show that a two and a half year old child who is used to leafing through books by himself will be more motivated at school, he will have better reading principles at eight years old, and at fifteen, his academic results will be better,” says Ingrid Lecours, librarian at the Center de services scolaire de Laval.
“For preschoolers, the public library then plays an important role, especially for those whose parents have low levels of literacy themselves. Once the child goes to school, the school library takes over. It must be understood that school libraries form the largest network of libraries in Quebec. And 100% of our potential users frequent them. All students in Quebec go to the library at least once a week and they have access to books they like. A positive relationship to reading is important. Reading for pleasure three hours a week increases motivation and academic performance. Students who read for pleasure have a better success rate,” adds Ingrid Lecours.
For newcomers, many libraries have book clubs and other activities for French learners. This is the case, among others, of Planète livres, a reading and writing workshop for adults in francization, at the Brossard library.
“The library is positioned as an important welcoming place that presents Quebec culture through its collections and activities,” says Eve Lagacé. It’s a great way to welcome our new arrivals, and it can even go as far as tasting dishes. This is an opportunity for very beautiful sharing. »
other literacies
Updated last July, the UNESCO Manifesto, in its new version, further highlights the educational mission of libraries and underlines the importance of digital literacy.
“We are talking here about the role of the public library in the development of citizens’ digital skills, a little-known but important role. There are still people, like seniors and some of the newcomers, who don’t know how to use a computer well, and they often turn to the library for support in that regard. It’s something that our teams do on a daily basis,” says Eve Lagacé.
Beyond basic and digital literacy, other types of literacies are addressed at the library, such as health literacy and financial literacy, through the documentation offered to users as well as workshops.
For marginalized people, the public library often becomes a haven where they can rest and spend time without being asked questions. “In a city, the library remains one of the last places, where no matter our age or socioeconomic status, you can enter for free and just sit and think, without any expectations. »