The purpose in generating print culture items is that they are read. This
chapter discusses the development of attitudes to reading and literacy in
New Zealand, opening with a survey of literacy programmes and resources
within the formal education system from the 19th century through to the
present day. This is complemented by the following section 'Creating an
interest in print culture' which reviews ways in which a range of
organisations, including the book trade itself, works towards increasing the
general level of interest in reading.
'Recognition and rewards
of success' identifies incentives for writers and the trade through literary
prizes and awards, and also looks at the development of literary criticism
and reviewing of New Zealand creative literature in English. A slightly
different approach is taken in 'Changing trends and special needs' which
surveys a broad spectrum of 'different' publications from comics to artists'
books, and from talking books to luxury editions and CD-ROM products.
The final section of this
chapter covers the major New Zealand access tools, which fill multiple roles
in the print culture context. Bibliographies, indexes and general reference
works are not only a publishing category of their own (and one worthy of
detailed study), but they also provide a necessary infrastructure through
which access is gained to print culture records and publishing history. They
are valuable resources for researchers, who are readers of a special sort.