Free Book, More Reading? Assessing the Impact of a Free Book Collaboration

Authors

  • Brian Peters
  • Marissa Martinez
  • Susan Spicer

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5860/cal.17.1.35

Abstract

A growing body of research points to the positive impact parents can have on their children when they read to them on a regular basis. This includes improved future academic performance as well as the promotion of important social and emotional development skills.

The Salt Lake County (UT) Library wanted to better understand the impact a free book program can have on reading frequency. Staff at the county library’s Byington Reading Room put together a thirteen-question survey in both English and Spanish for parents of children receiving a free book. The survey was distributed over a four-week period in the winter of 2018, and 183 surveys were completed by parents visiting the reading room.

Author Biographies

Brian Peters

Brian Peters is a Youth Services Librarian at the Salt Lake County Library’s Byington Reading Room. He is also an adjunct professor at Weber State University.

Marissa Martinez

Marissa Martinez works for the Salt Lake County Library at the South Main Clinic Library.

Susan Spicer

Susan Spicer is the Early Learning Program Manager for Salt Lake County Library and serves on the Association for Library Service to Children’s Early Learning Programming Committee.

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Published

2019-03-14

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2019): Spring

Section

Features

License

In the event that an author's work is accepted for publication in CAL, the author is required to sign a copyright agreement with ALA/ALSC. For more information and/or to download the copyright forms, visit the ALA Publishing Web site.

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Sharon Korbeck Verbeten
CAL editor
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De Pere, WI 54115
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