International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications
PO Box 516, Oxford OX1 1WG, UK
Tel: +44 1865 249909 Fax: +44 1865 251060
E-mail: [email protected]

• Books are being purchased from the core lists agreed earlier, from catalogues and from sources that have been identified as having suitable materials, in consultation with staff in the project libraries for core stock.
• Books for the Story Skirmish and Reading Enrichment Programme have been selected and ordered.

• There have been delays in ordering and processing books because Bibliographic Services have been made responsible for integrating all library systems in Johannesburg. To address this problem the Want to Read Administration Assistant is now placing the orders while the Project Assistants have been putting in several hours a week in the Acquisitions Department to help clear the backlog with the result that books are now getting through to the project libraries. The books that have been received have proved very popular and have disappeared off the shelves as fast as they are put there.

• Training for Project Assistants and Selected Librarians has covered interactive workshops on specific aspects of the programmes and sessions on Display Skills, School Projects from an educator’s point of view, Child development and Sharing books from outside experts.

• Staff shortages in the regions and the lack of a central structure have caused problems but these should soon be a thing of the past as new staff is being appointed in the regions and the centre structure has been approved and will be populated within the next two months.

• Programmes started in four of the libraries from the week of 9 April i.e. the beginning of the second term. Including regular and once off sessions there was a total of 17 246 child visits.
• 6093 children came for individual Storytelling and introduction to the library for pre-schoolers and Grades 1-3
• 1240 pre-schoolers and Grades 1-3 came for regular sessions once a week over six or seven weeks
• Reading Enrichment was attended by 633 Grades 4 and 5s regularly for seven weeks
• 108 children attended holiday programmes
• Schools were given the books for The Story Skirmish and the children started reading

• Activities at one library in Alexandra had to be swapped to another due to the unsuitability of the facility that was too small and overrun by students.
• As the activities only began in April, the Project Assistants are still getting the feel of the children’s reading and comprehension abilities. Reading levels proved to be much lower than anticipated and easier books have had to be selected for the "chain reading" and ‘recommended titles".
• Informal response from teachers is favourable. They have indicated a positive change in their learners’ attitude to the library and increasing confidence in reading and talking in a group.