Programming for Boys: Closing the (Gender) Gap with Michael Sullivan

(from presentation at MHLS Workshop, May 2006)

Ø      Main message: “We must recognize the things that make boys different if we are going to make them lifelong readers and library users.”

Ø      Outstanding speaker with many great ideas for attracting boys to libraries and reading BUT-- we must lighten up on the rules a bit and also be willing to program “out of the box” to keep them coming back. Ex.: Even with young boys, if you are doing a coloring project, put some paper up on the wall and let them color standing up and moving around. They don’t *operate* well if made to sit for long periods.

Ø      Choosing books for boys: A) Lower reading levels are better. B) Highlight fantasy, humor, action. C) Don’t just have the books for boys; promote them on displays. Studies show that improving reading is more based on hours spent reading than the level of book read.

Ø      Boys and Programming: A) Use active learning B) Break down stories to their component parts. They like to know how things *work*.

C) Use competition to gain respect for mental activities (contests, games, etc.)

Ø      Alarming statistics (which libraries can combat if we understand boys):

o       Average boy is 1 ½ years behind girls in reading and gap widens as they get older.

o       Girls read 4.5 hours/week, boys 2.3 hours.

o       One-half of boys in high school identify themselves as non-readers.

o       In high school, 60% of A’s go to girls, 70% of D’s & F’s go to boys, 80% of high school dropouts are male, 85% of special ed students are male, boys have 4 times more learning disabilities, and 95% of ADD students are males. Clearly we are not addressing their needs. He says library preschool story hours are perfect environment for boys whereas they get to school and reading becomes a *subject* with many restrictions.

We also have Michael’s book, Connecting boys with books: What libraries can do in the MHLS Professional Collection. Order using the online ILL form.