Abstracts
Abstract
The digital revolution has transformed reading promotion in a world where technology competes with traditional entertainment, posing challenges for libraries, especially in engaging audiences. Adapting actively is crucial to making reading appealing. The rise of book influencers and reading promoters on social media is pivotal for reading education, offering libraries opportunities to diversify programs. Using the "walkthrough" method on four platforms, our research identified 60 Hungarian book influencers and reading promoters. Structured interviews with 23 influencers aimed to unveil their activities, motivations, and the aspirations and reading experiences behind their content. The study contributes to literary and cultural mediation, exploring the intersection between libraries and literacy promoters. It addresses how literacy promoters can enhance reading promotion in the community, emphasizing their role in generating interest in books and literature. Findings suggest that social media and influencers complement libraries' literacy strategies, benefiting both libraries and readers. Collaborating with influencers can foster a reading culture aligned with the digital era's demands. Encouraging influencers to collaborate could also educate their followers, transforming them into library users.
Keywords:
- library,
- social media,
- reading promotion,
- influencer,
- book influencer
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Appendices
Biographical notes
Dóra Szabó is a PhD student in the Doctoral Program on Educational and Cultural Sciences at the University of Debrecen (Hungary). She graduated in 2020 as a Teacher of German language and culture and a Teacher of Library and Information Science. During her university years, she began discovering the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), digital competence, and digital literacy of futureteachers based on online information, as well as fake news. Her research field focuses on future teachers and their digital attitudes and digital education skills. The main question is what kind of impact fake news and influencers have on education.
Erzsébet Dani is a Habilitated Associate Professor at the University of Debrecen (Hungary). She is the Head of the Department of Library and Information Science and the Director of the Bács-Kiskun County Library. Her research topics are reading research/digital reading narratives, dissemination of scientific results, cultural identity, and institutional history in the Carpathian Basin.
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