Dissertation Information for Robert Edward WagenknechtNAME:
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SCHOOL: ADVISORS: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: MPACT Status: Fully Complete Title: Illiteracy and public library directors in the Southeastern United States : a survey of attitudes Abstract: The library press has long featured articles and news releases on illiteracy and the efforts of public libraries to combat it. At present the frequency of such articles is increasing. Recent efforts of the American Library Association, including the establishment of the Coalition for Literacy, and a new emphasis on literacy in the recently renewed and expanded Library Services and Construction Act may be cited as evidence of increasing interest. Nevertheless, it appears that many public libraries are not doing anything at all to combat illiteracy. It is the major premise of this study that the reason for this may lie in the attitudes of public library directors toward illiteracy. A thorough literature search was made of expressions of attitude toward illiteracy by both the public at large and public library directors in particular and from this a structured questionnaire was prepared. The questionnaire was mailed to all 110 public library directors in the southeastern United States who are in charge of libraries serving at least 100,000 people; ninety-seven questionnaires (88%) were returned. The purpose of the questionnaire was to determine to what degree the public library directors felt that the public library has a role to play in combating illiteracy. Respondents overwhelmingly felt that public libraries should develop collections of "high interest-low vocabulary" materials, should become involved in a supportive role with other providers of literacy services, and should train library staff to be alert to and understanding of the needs of the functionally illiterate. They felt very strongly that the alleged widespread lack of functional literacy is an important problem in our society today and that it is appropriate for public libraries to work towards increased literacy. They very strongly felt, too, that libraries should accomplish this by pro- viding space for one-on-one tutoring and/or group teaching and by developing information and referral and readers' advisory services geared to the functionally illiterate. Respondents strongly felt that teaching functionally illiterate adults to read is the responsibility of the public school system while a slim margin also felt that doing so is the responsibility of the public library. A comfortable majority favored the public library assuming a community leadership role in coordinating and promoting area literacy programs while by a slim margin the directors disagreed that public libraries should conduct full scale literacy programs themselves. Indicators were sought and found for a public library combating illiteracy. Groupings of attitudes were revealed and the effect of perceived approval by governing officials of a vigorous public library literacy program on directors' attitudes was examined. It was found that the provision of a full scale literacy program by the public library was a major underlying component of many of the attitudes ex- pressed. The single most important finding one can point to in the study is the overwhelming support among respondents for the public library providing literacy services. |
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