What's Next Junior makes reading more fun for kids

What's Next Junior

"In 2020, the CQM organisation teamed up with Garage2020 to hold a hackathon," says Wieske. "The theme of the hackathon was promoting children's literacy skills, and it yielded a suggestion tool for young readers: an application designed to help them choose a book and encourage them to read. It just so happened that the Anton Expedition – our innovation team here at Eindhoven Public Library – had previously developed a similar tool called What's Next, which suggests books to adult readers. So, because there's a real need to get children reading more, we linked up with Garage2020 and CQM to create a new version of What's Next, aimed at primary school children. A number of other partners have since come onboard to help us develop What's Next Junior. The initiative now involves Garage2020, Eindhoven Public Library, CQM, Edux, Smart Start, Salto and Korein, amongst others. Multi-partner collaboration is proving very rewarding."

"What's Next Junior is intended to inspire children who like reading to read more books. And to help them discover books they haven't come across before. However, it's also aimed at children that don't read, or don't read much. Children, parents and teachers can scan a book cover or manually enter its title or author into the application. Smart algorithms will then suggest 5 other books, on the basis of data held by the Dutch National Library. Clicking on one of the 5 suggested books leads the user to 20 other suggestions. So it's easy for the user to find another suitable book."

First pilot organised with help from SIDN Fund

"SIDN Fund's advice, enthusiasm and financial support has been very important," says Wieske. "With the Fund's support, we've been able to develop a prototype of the suggestion tool and organise a first pilot. Having the backing of the Fund meant that we were able to start off as a real pioneering project. We tested the prototype with the help of 4 primary schools in Eindhoven. In the pilot, schoolchildren were able to try out What's Next Junior under the supervision of their teachers. The children and their parents were also given opportunity to use the tool at home. As part of the process, we asked children, parents and teachers for ideas on the app's appearance. And, together, we've come up with a colourful, accessible design."

Elise van Schaik, Project Coordinator at SIDN Fund: "SIDN Fund supports projects that make innovative use of the internet for the benefit of the community. Projects like What's Next Junior. The project is developing a tool that helps children to enjoy reading. It's important that reading is a pleasure, because it leads to better literacy and comprehension skills. Having those skills facilitates online and offline social participation. But youngsters who don't read a lot often have difficulty finding a book they'll enjoy. What's Next Junior addresses that problem by using smart algorithms to suggest another book like the one the user has just finished. So it helps make reading fun."

Refinement

"On the basis of the feedback from the first pilot, we're in the process of refining the tool. One point to come out of the evaluation was that parents and children think it's important that the tool can be used at home, because not everyone lives near a library. Our second pilot will therefore focus particularly on home use. The intention is that children should be able to enjoy a good book at home, improving their language and literacy skills in the process. However, the biggest refinement we're making to What's Next Junior is enabling the tool to make suggestions without the user having to scan the cover of a book they liked. Children will be able to get suggestions based on themes that appeal to them instead. They'll select the themes themselves by tapping icons in the tool. Before we go ahead with the second pilot, we're carefully assessing schools to find a number that are suitable for testing the upgraded prototype. The intention is to do all that before the end of the year. Then, in 2023, we'll start building the second prototype. Again, it'll be designed with input from the target audience. We'll show them a suggested design and invite them to let their inspiration loose and give us their ideas. That way, the final design will reflect the wishes of children, parents and teachers."

Ambitions and Dutch Design Week

"For Dutch Design Week, the last week of October, the current prototype of What's Next Junior is being displayed on a large screen at Eindhoven Library. Children and parents will also be able to try out the prototype in the library. We're hoping to get some useful feedback during the week, which will help to shape the next version. The aim is to have the second prototype ready by July 2023. We'll then decide whether it's ready for launch as a working product."

"Our ambition is to get What's Next Junior into all primary schools in Eindhoven. After that, we can think about extending the coverage further. Ultimately, of course, we'd like to roll it out nationally. It would be great to fully integrate it with school systems, and if What's Next Junior could be used in libraries, in schools and at home. That could make a big difference in terms of helping children to enjoy and pay attention to books again," says Wieske.

For more about What's Next Junior, mail Wieske at W.vanderVelden@bibliotheekeindhoven.nl or visit Eindhoven Library during Dutch Design Week 2022.