Babies, Books and 'Impact': Problems and possibilities in the evaluation of a Bookstart project

Abstract

This paper draws on an evaluative research project undertaken for North Tyneside Children and Young People's Library Service. 'Babies Need Books' was set up in response to the Birmingham Bookstart pilot (Wade & Moore, 1993). The Early Childhood Research Group at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne re-analysed the data collected by questionnaire, tracked library use by project families and conducted a series of telephone interviews to clarify key issues. The problems of evaluation will be discussed in relation to findings from a follow-up project which explores the transfer of literacy from home to school.