Children´s Library Services (5cr)

Evaluation scale

1-5

Objective

After the course the student knows what the Finnish children's librarian does today and has done earlier. S/he can tell about the future and goals of children's library work. The student can choose suitable activities in children's department in the public library. (S)he can name the important organizations that co-operate with children´s library.

Content

The national and international goals and developing of children’s library services
The history of children's libraries
The collections and material types of children's department in the public library
Toddlers and children as customers
User generated library services for children and families with children
The activities of children's department: story hours, booktalk, reading diplomas, information skills instruction, media education
The co-operation between library, schools and day care centres
Developing services for children and families in public library

Location and time

The schedules for the scheduled online teaching can be found in the timetable at https://lukkarikone.seamk.fi/. Timetables are published for the next six weeks. The first six weeks of autumn are published by Midsummer and the first six weeks of spring by Christmas. Timetables may be subject to changes.

The students will get information about the study at week 41. The first online meeting is on Thursday 23.10. 18-20. The study will continue at spring season 2026.

Materials

The materials of the study will be found in Moodle.
Studying requires headphones and a webcam.

Teaching methods

The study is conducted online in the Moodle learning environment and it requires participation in scheduled online teaching. The study includes joint online meetings and those can include pair or group work. The study also includes independent work online. The recordings of the teaching sessions are available for later viewing in Moodle.

Student workload

Lectures and group work 25 h, independent study 110 h.

The workload of the study is designed so that one credit corresponds to an average of 27 hours of student work to achieve the learning objectives. The actual time required varies individually, e.g., due to prior knowledge.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student has completed all the course tasks but hasn't allways followed the timetables. The student can tell the most important tasks of the work of the children´s department in a public library. S/he can choose and propose the right materials for the children of different ages. The student can identify the important organizations of co-operation and s/he is able to tell what kind of co-operation is done. The student can name some methods to participate children and their parents in planning and implementing library services for them.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student has completed the course tasks according to the timetables and instructions. The student is able to analyse the tasks of children’s department in a public library. S/he can choose and propose in many ways the right materials for the children of different ages. The student can identify the important organizations of co-operation and s/he is able to tell what kind of co-operation is done. S/he is able to tell some new possibilities of co-operation. The student is able to compare methods to participate children and families in planning and implementing library services for them.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student has completed the course tasks according to the timetables and instructions. The student is able to tell a diversified analyse of the tasks and the future of children's department in a public library and also as a part of society. S/he can choose and propose in many ways the right materials for the children of different ages. The student can identify the important organizations of co-operation and s/he is able to tell what kind of co-operation is done. S/he can tell some new possibilities of co-operation. The student is able to develope new methods to participate children and families in planning and implementing library services for them.