The final chapter of this book is about creating a reading environment that recognises and builds opportunities around visuals. Whether in libraries, schools or even in the home, building attractive and engaging environments where children feel excited to explore and discover helps to make reading irresistible.

With careful planning visual literacy can influence stock, services, staff and space. Throughout the course of the book we’ve explored the ways in which visual literacy can be used as a tool for promoting reading and devel oping readers. This chapter seeks to raise understanding and awareness among librarians and education practitioners of how visual literacy can be used in the library and other settings, taking into account book stock, displays and the learning environment. The chapter is divided into two parts, beginning with an overview of some of the areas of library and reading provision in which visual literacy can be applied, followed by a number of case studies to give practical guidance and inspiration for projects and activities.

Stock

Awareness of stock is the foundation for carefully curating a collection. Selection and promotion of stock is a valuable way to keep children interested and engaged in collections. Awards can provide a useful framework for promoting and recommending titles and referring back to those we explored in Chapter 6 may be useful.

As the majority of public libraries in the United Kingdom have moved from approval collections to supplier selections – a system where libraries liaise with suppliers in creating specification sheets for individual libraries, including community profiles – this has meant retaining stock knowledge and awareness of new and key titles has become more challenging for staff.

With libraries facing an increasing lack of stock knowledge, there is a valuable role for book reviews and listings in helping librarians to develop their collections. Joy Court (2019), reviews editor of the School Library Association journal, The School Librarian, talks about her approach to curating this valuable resource.