Libraries, Literacy, and African American Youth: Research and Practice

by Sandra Hughes-Hassell (Editor), Pauletta Brown Bracy (Editor), Casey H. Rawson (Editor)

Overview

This important book is a call to action for the library community to address the literacy and life outcome gaps impacting African American youth. It provides strategies that enable school and public librarians to transform their services, programs, and collections to be more responsive to the literacy strengths, experiences, and needs of African American youth.

According to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NEAP), only 18 percent of African American fourth graders and 17 percent of African American eighth graders performed at or above proficiency in reading in 2013. This book draws on research from various academic fields to explore the issues surrounding African American literacy and to aid in developing culturally responsive school and library programs with the goal of helping to close the achievement gap and improve the quality of life for African American youth.

The book merges the work of its three authors along with the findings of other researchers and practitioners, highlighting exemplary programs, such as the award-winning Pearl Bailey Library Program, the Maker Jawn initiative at the Free Library of Philadelphia, and the Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocate writing institute in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, among others. Readers will understand how these culturally responsive programs put theory and research-based best practices into local action and see how to adapt them to meet the needs of their communities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798216111139
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	10/31/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	7 - 17 Years

About the Author

Sandra Hughes-Hassell, PhD, is professor at the School of Information&Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Pauletta Brown Bracy, PhD, is director of the Office of University Accreditation and professor of library science at North Carolina Central University.

Casey H. Rawson is doctoral candidate and teaching assistant at the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xi

Part I Focus on Research

1 Literacy Education for African American Youth: A Social Justice Issue for Librarians Sandra Hughes-Hassell Casey H. Rawson 3

2 Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and the Black Cultural Ethos Pauletta Brown Bracy Sandra Hughes-Hassell Casey H. Rawson 31

3 Ethnic and Racial Development in African American Youth Pauletta Brown Bracy Sandra Hughes-Hassell Casey H. Rawson 49

4 Cultivating Voice and Agency Sandra Hughes-Hassell 67

5 Stories Matter Sandra Hughes-Hassell Casey H. Rawson Julie Stivers 85

6 Characteristics of Effective Library Services for African American Youth Casey H. Rawson Sandra Hughes-Hassell 103

Part II Focus on Practice

7 Black Storytime: Empowering Children, Growing Communities Kirby McCurtis 121

8 Writing and Reading That Reflects the Lives of Our Students Teresa Bunner 135

9 Let the Sun Shine: "Maker Jawn" at the Free Library of Philadelphia Theresa Ramos 147

10 African American Teens as Community Change Agents: Unlocking Potential with Pearl Bailey Library Youth Programs Demetria Tucker Sonya L. Scott 159

11 Outreach and Community Partnerships at Stanford L. Warren Library Sarah Alverson Heather Cunningham 171

12 Changing the Library and School to Meet the Needs of African American Students Anna Teeple 183

13 We Finally Have a Point Now Faith Burns Julie Stivers 195

14 Implementing I-LEARN with K-2 Students: The Story of a Successful Research Partnership Delia Neuman Allen Grant Vera Lee Mary Jean Tecce DeCarlo 205

References 223

About the Editors and Contributors 239

Index 245