The Swedish Arts Council has granted Bokstart Gotland 400,000 kronor for a development project to find out what families think about the Gotland initiatives within Bokstart. Since 2018, Bokstart Gotland has worked to inspire new parents to read aloud to their babies through home visits, where a worker distributes book gifts and shows how to read to the very youngest. Over a thousand families have participated so far.
A 2021 research report from Uppsala University shows that the home visits contributed to changed reading habits among many parents. The project now wants to find out how families experience the working method, including why some say yes or no to the offer and how they experience the home visits. The evaluation, named 'Familjerna visar vägen' (The Families Show the Way), applied for development funds from the Arts Council, and the application was granted, with work to find families for the survey now begun.
It is important for us to hear the families' voices about our work. Then we can develop and improve the method based on their viewpoints - not just based on what we ourselves think.
Emelie Lundström, Coordinator for Bokstart Gotland, said, 'It is important for us to hear the families' voices about our work. ' Cecilia Björkander, Unit Manager for Library Development Gotland, added, 'The hardest part is reaching those who have said no to Bokstart Gotland. At the same time, their voices are particularly important.
The hardest part is reaching those who have said no to Bokstart Gotland. At the same time, their voices are particularly important. We want the offer of home visits to feel relevant and appealing to all new parents.