Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Narrator: The library has always been a place of learning and enjoyment for children and
Dublin City Public Libraries are committed to enhancing this relationship. A new initiative
called the Learning Zone has been set up in selected libraries across Dublin. This opens
up the library as a space for children to come together after school to do their homework.
Alastair Smeaton: Well I think it's fair to say that libraries have always been learning zones
but what we're doing here now is attempting to refocus on that idea particularly with
school-going children in mind and to create a space, a supportive space for them in which
they can do their homework, complete their projects and learn.
What we have in the learning zones is actually based on some research that we have recently
completed which indicates the need for first of all a space, a suitable space, a welcoming
space for children and in particular for homework support materials, appropriate books, software,
we're providing access to, strictly controlled access to the Internet for children, a range
of merchandise including pencils, rulers, rubbers and notepads that the children are
welcome to take away and use as they wish.
The research has indicated that information on homework topics is certainly required.
There is also an indication that the kids would like to see material on hobbies and
that kind of thing. So we're not looking at a very strict definition of education here
but really learning in the broadest sense and providing relevant material to support that
Narrator: Encouraging children to do their homework and providing children with assistance
when they are struggling with a particular subject is what the Learning Zone is all about.
Supporting children's education from an early age will give them a solid foundation on which
to build their future
Alastair: The Learning Centres are focused I suppose on a particular age group, really
older primary school children who we feel would most benefit from the kind of material
and the space that we are making available. But really as I've said before libraries are
for children in general so all are welcome!
We feel Learning Zones are important because there is clearly a need to provide this kind
of welcoming space for children. Not every child for example has in their home the kind
of support that they need in terms of completing their homework and their education. So we
feel that we're providing a facility here that will fill that particular gap.
Narrator: We spoke to children at the Learning Zone to find out what they like to do there
and they think other school children should get involved.
When you come in you can go on the computer and you get a notepad and you can
write what you want and you can draw pictures and then people ask you to do your homework
and they sit there and help you do it.
I did my homework, I drew a picture and coloured it and I got on the computer
and I read a book.
A couple of minutes ago I went on the computer and then over on the table over
there I went and I drawed pictures.
For the first few minutes I wrote a poem and then I went on the computer and
then I done my homework.
Yeah I think it's a really good...'cos if you come here, if you get stuck someone
can always come and help you.
Yeah I would advise boys and girls to come here and do their homework.
Alastair: The future roll out of the Learning Zones: we plan to have 9 of our libraries
fully equipped by the end of this year and we'll be looking to progress further in 2008.
We feel that the kind of support that the learning zones are offering to children is
really important, really in terms of equality of opportunity for children as I've said before,
not every child has the kind of encouragement and support in their home that they need to
progress with their education and for that reason I think that the Learning Zones will
certainly be very important.
Looking back again at the tradition of children in libraries, we have always provided support.
Librarians have always been willing to deal with children when they ask questions, and
I think children are well used at this stage to looking to libraries and library staff
for the kind of help that they need.
If anyone is interested in finding out more about Learning Zones and certainly the first
port of call should be in your own local library just to see what's coming up but do check
out City Council website, Libraries under the Living section and you'll find out all
the information you'll need as to where the Learning Zones are located.
Narrator: If you would like further information on finding a Learning Zone in your area log
on to www.dublincity.ie