8 | FOREVER Keele
RESEARCH TO BE PROUD OF
School library books don ’ t re fl ect UK diversity
A new study has been published which has found that children ’ s library books do not accurately represent the diversity of the UK population .
The study , which was coauthored by Keele PhD researcher Susie Johns , along with researchers at the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University , surveyed school librarians from across the country , with 92 % saying they felt the current diversity of their library is unsatisfactory . Additionally , almost two thirds of the libraries studied ( 65 %) featured BAME main characters in less than 15 % of the books they stocked .
There is an established correlation between reading and academic development , with reading being one of the most effective and efficient ways to promote the acquisition of vocabulary , critical thinking and comprehension . Children are more likely to develop a love of reading when they are able to identify with the characters and situations found in books – therefore , realistic depictions of cultural ideologies are important for children from all ethnic backgrounds .