This document summarizes a study visit focused on how school and town libraries can promote reading skills, literacy, and the acquisition of key competences. The visit will involve learning about approaches that improve reading skills, promote different literacy skills, and develop the pleasure of reading for students of all abilities. Participants will visit libraries and observe activities to learn about policies and examples of good practice. The goal is to share resources and tools to enrich library staff performance in promoting literacy.

1. Increasing literacy and numeracy levels
School libraries for increasing reading skills and literacy
Group No:63 Category of themes:
Promote acquisition of key competences throughout the education
and training system.
Type of visit:
General education WHY?
10/10/2011-14/10/2011 School and town libraries both have a key role in promoting reading
and literacy. A library is a universal and multicultural space where
students with special needs can also access the world of fantasy and
Mindelo and Vila do Conde, Portugal
knowledge through reading.
The host institutions are schools belonging to a network of school
Working language: libraries (Ministry of Education) and whose librarians believe that
English sharing practices and tools can improve their mission.
Number of places:
15 WHAT?
Minimum required: Participants will learn about:
• aproaches that: improve pupils’/students’ and children with special
6
needs reading skills; promote different literacy skills (musical, visual,
etc); develop the pleasure of reading (activities and tools) in
Keywords: kindergarten, primary and secondary schools;
cultural awareness and expression • library financial policies and marketing and sponsorship of school
learning to learn libraries;
special needs • examples of good practice presented by study visit participants.
HOW?
Participants will:
• visit school and public libraries;
• observe activities of libraries' users;
• learn about school library policies in participants' countries.
WHOM?
• Directors of education and vocational training institutions, centres or
providers,
• directors of guidance centres,
• head teachers, teacher trainers,
• heads of departments,
• human resource managers,
• pedagogical or guidance advisers,
• representatives of local, regional and national authorities.
Organiser(s): Short description in the host country's language:
GUEDES Rosa
Agrupamento de Escolas do Mindelo Esta visita visa a partilha de boas práticas, recursos e instrumentos
Rua da Fonte com o objectivo de enriquecer o desempenho dos professores

2. Mindelo, 4485-489 bibliotecários através do conhecimento do funcionamento e
Tel. 00351 252 67 00 21 dinamização das bibliotecas europeias sobretudo no âmbito da
Email: rosagedes@gmail.com promoção da leitura e das literacias. Visa ainda a comparação dos
Website: http://escola-mindelo.pt/ sistemas de auto-avaliação das BE existentes na EU.
FERNANDES Maria WEB-addresses related to the theme
Agrupamento de Escolas Afonso Betote http://escola-mindelo.pt/
Alameda Afonso Betote http://www.freijoao.com/manutencao.php
Vila Do Conde, 4480-794
Tel. 00351 252 64 09 70
Fax 00351 252 62 73 80
Email: mariadfernandes@gmail.com
Website: www.freijoao.com