The Role of Children's Libraries in Acquiring Reading Culture: The Case of Bağcılar Şehit Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz Public and Children's Library

Abstract

In this study, the role of children's libraries in gaining reading culture was evaluated. The studies in Information and Document Management in the Martyr Savcı Mehmet Selim Kiraz Public and Children's Library, which serves under the Bağcılar Municipality, were evaluated. The research subject is the studies conducted to gain Reading Culture in this library. The research includes the activities and results in the pilot library between May 2021 and May 2023. Observation and analytical methods were used in the study. Türkiye is in last place in terms of 2023 world book reading rates. The topic chosen to create social awareness in the face of the alarming picture based on UNESCO data is of great importance. Libraries are essential institutions that provide equal service to all segments of society without discrimination and ensure cultural heritage transfer. Families, schools, non-governmental organizations, and libraries have significant duties to gain a reading culture. In the first place, families should introduce their children to Children's Libraries from a young age. The culture of reading is the transformation of the knowledge, skills, and experiences that people acquire through reading, starting from childhood, into social life skills. Time, persistence, and volunteerism are essential. The generation that does not read, cannot understand what they read, does not think, does not question, cannot reason, does not respect different ideas, and does not produce has become the most critical problem of the whole society, not the family in a narrow framework. It is a social problem that should be emphasized that the children and young people, who ensure the continuity of society and whom we will entrust our future, express themselves in 20-30 words and cannot put their thoughts in writing. Without wasting time, joint projects and collaborations should be carried out with the cooperation of family - school - library - non-governmental organizations. This issue should be adopted as state policy. Local governments have understood the importance of the issue. At the Martyr Savcı Mehmet Selim Kiraz Public and Children's Library serving under the Bağcılar Municipality, pioneering and innovative studies are carried out by analyzing the needs of our user profile well. In our statement, our studies, aims, and achievements are supported and discussed under the main headings. The most important result of the research has been determined that libraries are no longer just places where books are exchanged. At the end of the organized activities, a satisfaction analysis was made by meeting with the citizens one-on-one. Other results: Since we did not have a children's library before, only activities related to certain days and weeks were organized. With the opening of our children's library, between May 2021 and May 2023, 84 events were held at the Martyr Savcı Mehmet Selim Kiraz Children's Library, and 2153 people attended the events. A significant increase was observed in the number of library members. As a result of the activities we organized in the children's library, 1354 people became members of the children's library. The principle of Lifelong Learning has been implemented. It has contributed to the psychological and social development of children. After the management of the social media account was given to the library coordinator, the libraries became visible with the shares (65 shares) on social media. The Martyr Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz Public and Children's Library has achieved positive results in supporting reading culture with its services and ensuring the continuity of its services.