BUILDING AN ECOSYSTEM FOR PROMOTING STUDENTS` INDEPENDENT READING SKILLS: THE POTENTIAL OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

Abstract

Nowadays, reading skills have become one of the key factors to promote students` media literacy. Motivating students to read is becoming increasingly important, because reading outcomes in our complex world include not only reader’s interest and entertainment, but opportunity to develop critical thinking, tolerance, leadership skills, etc. Scholars emphasize the importance of instructional support to motivate students to read and at the same time the necessity of independent reading skills and a unique and thoughtful readers` identity of each student. The development of students` reading habits and stimulating students' individual interest becomes important prerequisites for literacy. Nowadays school becomes a complex learning organisation, where independent reading moments should be promoted, providing students time to read and opportunity to choose self-selected texts or giving them the opportunity to read about topical issues that are important to them. Thus, school library has become not only a part of the school, but a part of an ecosystem for promoting students` independent reading skills, where the process of shaping young people's attitudes and behaviour occurs.
The aim of this publication is to summarise theoretical findings, updating research on aspects of promoting students' independent reading skills as well as to conduct empirical research on the choice of a reading-enhancing approach during the campaign “Reading against bullying at school”.