Abstract

This study purposed to evaluate a youth reading promotion program that is designed and operated by the National Library for Children & Young Adults. The study specifically assessed the '1318 Bookworm Program' by conducting an in-depth survey and a focus group interview for school librarians who had participated in the program between 2007 and 2010. According to the study findings, the program participants were highly satisfied with the program outcomes. The librarians believed that the program brought positive effects on the cognitive, emotional, and social developments of the participated teens. Among the 1318 program operation process, namely designing, planning, and implementation, both planning and implementation processes were the determining factors for the outcome satisfaction. Finally, study participants expressed the needs for increasing the number of the certified professional school librarians active in the field, expanded organization structure, and further research on youth reading promotion programs in order to facilitate the program support and to enhance its efficiency. They also suggested diversified program contents development and the dissemination of manuals for youth reading promotion programs.