The sight of children in a French primary school in London eagerly reading and discussing books in German, Greek and Swedish is inspiring. The video European Picture Book Collection demonstrates some of the possibilities of an exciting project which brings together stories in all the languages of the European Union in one educational pack. The video gives a taste of many of the ways in which teachers can work with children exploring the relations between visual, linguistic and literary codes. The most powerful message is that books from a specific culture can effectively foster universal understanding. European Picture Book Collection is available at pound;xx from National Centre for Research in Children’s Literature, University of Surrey Roehampton, Digby Stuart College, Roehampton Lane, London SW15 5PH. Tel: 020 8392 3008. Fax: 020 8392 3819 email: ncrcl@roehampton.ac.uk. See www.ncrcl.ac.ukepbc for teaching ideas, and to order the European titles covered by the project.
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The dreary demands of performance management have invaded the sanctum of the school library, and the School Library Association has made a brave response. Measuring Success is a sensible 30-page booklet that supplies librarians with all the quantitative and qualitative measures they will need to demonstrate that they have an effective impact on learning. Shelf Life, Shelf Matters offers useful advice on stock-taking, weeding out and disposing of redundant items and security for what remains. Even the dismal jargon of performance indicators can’t eradicate the excitement that attends children’s choice of books to read.
Measuring Success and Shelf Life, Shelf Matters both cost pound;5 (pound;4 to SLA members) from the School Library Association, Unit 2, Lotmead Business Village, Lotmead Farm, Wanborough, Swindon SN4 0UY Tel: 01793 791787 Fax: 01793 791786 email: info@SLA.org.uk. Website: www.SLA.org.uk Tom Deveson
