Babies, books and 'impact': problems and possibilities in the evaluation of a Bookstart project

This paper draws on an evaluative research project undertaken for North Tyn eside 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 pr oject families and conducted a series of telephone interviews to clarify ke y issues. The problems of evaluation will be discussed in relation to findi ngs from a follow-up project which explores the transfer of literacy from h ome to school.