Using Libraries To Support National Literacy Efforts

Abstract

A network of libraries exists in almost every country: there are around 320,000 public libraries worldwide, of which about 230,000 are in developing and transitioning countries. In addition, there are more than a million school, community, research, university, national and special libraries (IFLA, 2016). Although literacy is at the core of most library activities, too often local, regional and national literacy goals and efforts are not systematically connected to libraries. As a result, these efforts fail to benefit from working closely with institutions that often have the long-standing trust of communities and already provide useful literacy services to children, youth and adults.