An exploratory investigation into the status of reading promotion projects in South Africa

Abstract

This dissertation reports on an exploratory study investigating the landscape of reading promotion projects in South Africa. The study identifies, categorises and describes reading promotion projects. Reading promotion projects are important in that they promote access to reading and improve reading comprehension. The literature review deals with reading, reading promotion and the approaches to reading promotion used by reading promotion projects worldwide. These projects use different methods in the promotion of reading. The two main approaches to reading promotion identified are the reader-centred and book-centred. Methods used to promote reading include mobile libraries, reading campaigns and reading clubs. This study discusses reading promotion projects in South Africa using the content analysis method. Documents concerning reading promotion projects in the country were identified and analysed, using content analysis.The findings indicate that reading promotion projects exist in South Africa. Seventy seven reading promotion projects were identified and analysed. Findings reveal that most projects were managed by local or international non-governmental organisations. The beneficiaries are mostly school going children. These projects use a variety of methods to promote reading with the most common methods being mobile libraries and book donations. The study concludes that the picture of reading promotion in South Africa is bleak. There is little government support, haphazard funding, projects are unevenly distributed, and there is no research in the field. Unless there is support for reading promotion from the highest level of government in South Africa, reading promotion will remain bleak. Copyright