Time to turn over a new leaf as infants ‘swipe left’ on books

Closure of school libraries is having a negative impact on the reading habits of children, warn teachers

CHILDREN are “swiping” on books in an attempt to turn pages as if they were mobile phones or ipads, teachers have said.

This was a “disturbing” trend among children in reception and at nursery school, delegates at the National Union of Teachers (NUT) annual conference in Brighton were told yesterday.

During a debate about libraries, Jennifer Bhambri-lyte, a delegate from North Somerset, told of “happy childhood memories” of “running into a library, snuggling into a corner with a book, cuddling up to mum, turning the pages, gazing at the pictures”.

She told the conference: “Kindles and ipads are wonderful things, but many of my friends talked about the smell of a book, finding tickets and receipts that someone had left as a bookmark, echoes of all the people that had been there before.”

Ms Bhambri-lyte went on: “I’ve taught both nursery and reception and I personally still find it disturbing to see a child pick up a book and try to swipe left.” She said that books were now viewed as a luxury that many struggling families could not afford, and that libraries were there to act as a “pair of armbands”.

A previous report by the National Literacy Trust had advised parents to turn to ipads and Kindles to foster boys’ interest in reading, amid fears that large numbers of children were shunning books.

The trust’s research found that children aged three to five often read for longer and had a better grasp of vocabulary when accessing touchscreen technology. Tablet computers had a

‘Reading for pleasure is a skill for life and is shown to be a powerful springboard for children’s engagement’

particular impact on groups that were traditionally more resistant to reading – especially boys and infants from poorer families, the study added.

During the debate, NUT delegates raised concerns about a “shocking hammering” of professional library services in the past decade.

Proposing the motion, Jonathan Reddiford, from North Somerset, argued that the number of public libraries had fallen by almost 900 in the past 10 years, with more expected to close.

“That is a shocking, shocking hammering of vital public services for many people,” he said. At least 441 community libraries have closed in the past decade, with a further 149 under threat.

The drop in professional librarians has led to a 93 per cent increase in volunteers working in libraries, “resulting in an erosion of a long-standing knowledge and skill base which threatens the quality of the service they provide”, the motion said.

The NUT resolved to campaign for properly funded libraries which employ professional librarians.

Kevin Courtney, general secretary of the NUT, said: “Libraries are an essential part of school and community life. Tragically, the number of school libraries staffed by qualified librarians has declined rapidly.

“Reading for pleasure is a skill for life and is consistently shown to be one of the most powerful springboards for children’s engagement with learning, thinking and creating.”

A Department for Education spokesman said school heads were best placed to decide how to use funds for pupils’ needs, such as school libraries.

♦ Children are falling out of trees less, NHS Digital figures from last year revealed, suggesting they spend more time glued to technology instead of playing outdoors. The figures reported a 30 per cent drop in accidents. Sporting injuries also fell by 10 per cent.