children’s libraries – inspiring readers, connecting communities eurolis conference 2011 annie...
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Children’s Libraries – Inspiring Readers,
Connecting Communities
Eurolis Conference 2011
Annie Everall Consultant and Trainer,
Children’s Books, Libraries and Reading
What I’m going to cover
• Brief overview of current situation for children’s libraries in the UK
• Snapshot of a few initiatives that demonstrate what libraries are doing to engage children in reading– Derbyshire Big Book Bash– Northern Children’s Book Festival– Stories from the Web– UK Children’s Laureate– IFLA Sister Libraries– IFLA World Through Picture Books
Children’s Libraries: Influences and Impact
• New political landscape
• Large scale budget reductions
• Library closures
• Reduction in staffing
• Changes in education and for schools
• New models of delivery
Children’s Libraries: Challenge
• How do we save money/reduce budgets?
• What are the alternative options for delivery?
• How do we evidence our value?
• How do we make our voice heard?
• How do we make sure we deliver creative and quality services
Children’s Libraries: Challenge
• How do we meet the needs of children in our communities?
• Do we know what their needs are?
• How do we keep children reading & using libraries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_zzPBbXjWs
Children’s Libraries: Critical Success Factors
• Understand the game and play it• Be clear – what do you want to achieve• Engage with key stakeholders• Map your aims against key policies and
objectives• Create, nurture & sustain partnerships• Confidence and tenacity• Belief in the importance of what we do• Deliver on the promise / over deliver on the
promise
Janene Cox, Commissioner for Tourism and the Cultural County, Staffordshire County Council
Children’s Libraries: Critical Success Factors
• Evidence your impact and advocate your value
• Advocates and Influencers
• Children in our communities are relying on us
• Creativity in the face of difficulties
Derbyshire Big Book Bash for Children in Care
• Example of targeting a hard to reach audience – children in care
• One day annual
book festival held in County Hall in July for all ages and carers
Derbyshire Big Book Bash for Children in Care: Key Aims
• Enable children in care to experience a range of enjoyable & creative reading experiences and to meet and interact with writers
• Promote reading and encourage use of libraries
• Promote services available through Derbyshire County Council and support the Literacy Strategy for children in care
Derbyshire Big Book Bash for Children in Care
• Corporate planning group
• Consultation with young people re programme
• Authors & performers plus input from young people
• Displays and exhibitions
• Bookshop / Book Voucher
Derbyshire Big Book Bash for Children in Care
• Free goodie bag for all
• Link to Summer Reading Challenge
• Children in Care Achievement Awards
• Lyrics and Lines project
Derbyshire Big Book Bash for Children in Care
Derbyshire Big Book Bash for Children in Care - Impact
• 2011 – over 800 children, carers and volunteers attended
• 74% said the children had taken up the Summer Reading Challenge
• 75% visit the library more often
• 94% said the BBB has lead to them sharing books more and children showing more interest in books
Derbyshire Big Book Bash - Impact
““What a What a wonderful time wonderful time we all had. Well we all had. Well
organised, organised, entertainment entertainment
for all ages, the for all ages, the range of free range of free
books was books was fantastic and we fantastic and we
met some met some wonderful wonderful
authors. Thank authors. Thank you from all of you from all of
our family”our family”
The Page FamilyThe Page Family
“ “ I’d just like to I’d just like to say that the Big say that the Big Book Bash was a Book Bash was a brilliant idea….. I brilliant idea….. I
enjoyed going enjoyed going and I hope there and I hope there will be something will be something
like this again like this again next year at the next year at the
same place”same place”Fiona aged 14Fiona aged 14
Northern Children’s Book Festival
• Example of effective collaboration between 12 Local Authorities in the North East region of England
• Now in its 29th year - largest free children’s book event in Europe
• 2 week literary celebration in schools and libraries across the region
• Ends with Gala Day/ Weekend
Northern Children’s Book Festival
• Purpose– NCBF encourages children to enjoy
reading and develop an appreciation of high-quality literature
– Highlights library services across the region
• Aims to:– bring books to life– Promote reading as an enjoyable activity– Provide children with exciting
opportunities to meet and work with authors and illustrators
Northern Children’s Book Festival
• Aims to:– Introduce children to range of books
– create awareness of quality children’s books amongst parents and carers
– Give authors the chance to talk to their audience
– Encourage book borrowing / ownership
– Emphasise the value of books and libraries in children’s development
Northern Children’s Book Festival
• 2011 theme ‘Dream a Little Dream’
• Over 40 writers, poets & illustrators during the 2 weeks
• Gala Weekend – public event with 20 top authors bringing books to life through interactive sessions
• Hugely successful – in 2010 3,200 children attended the Gala Day alone
Children’s Laureate
• Example of national partnership initiative that is raising the profile of children’s books and libraries
• Managed by Booktrust
• Funded by Museums, Libraries & Archives Council and Arts Council England
• 2011 – 13 Laureateship sponsored by Waterstones
• Established in 1999 through the efforts of Michael Morpurgo and the late Ted Hughes
Children’s Laureate• Awarded every two years to an eminent
writer or illustrator of children's books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field.
• Current Laureate 2011 to 213 is Julia Donaldson
• Julia’s big themes: drama, music, stories for deaf children and LIBRARIES - all linked to the pleasure and richness to be gained from reading
• Has already been visiting libraries in Essex, Scotland, London, Cambridge and Norfolk
Julia Donaldson
“I’m determined to support libraries, perhaps by doing a John-o-Groats to Lands End libraries tour! I shall of course lend my voice to the campaign to halt the cuts and closures which I see as so damaging to our children and their future.”
Children’s Laureate• Eastern Daily Press
article after visit to Millennium Library, Norwich with pupils from St John’s Infant School
• Children from Writtle Infant School at Writtle Library, Essex
• “We had a great morning with Julia”
Children’s LaureateOrganised by Friends of Cottenham Library, Cambridgeshire, children are from Cottenham Primary School
“It was fantastic to see the children enjoy the event so much. They had a wonderful morning and were thrilled to meet Julia Donaldson who excited and enthused them about the prospect of access to books. We look forward to working with Cambridgeshire Library Services to help ensure that the 21st century model for libraries meets the needs of our communities. Lindsey Stewart- Miller, Chair of Friends of Cottenham Library (also provided photos)
This demonstrates how very important it is to encourage children to visit the library on a regular basis and to open up the world of books and all the fun filled book related activities we host in our libraries. Julia totally captivated me, the children and their teachers at both of the sessions held in the library. It was a wonderful experience for all. Anne Worthington, Children’s Librarian
Children’s Laureate
• Exciting opportunity for libraries to work in partnership with Children’s Laureate, Publishers, Booktrust as well as local schools and families
• Raising the profile of libraries and highlighting the importance of libraries for children and young people
• Demonstrating the impact libraries can have
Stories from the Web
Example of a national online reader development initiative for children aged 0 -14
Stories from the Web• Aims to encourage children to read,
write, interact and be creative
• Managed by Birmingham Libraries on behalf of participating authorities across the UK (subscription based)
• Develops readers and writers and fosters creativity by enabling CYP to engage creatively with books, authors, illustrators and each other in a safe online environment
Stories from the Web• 3 areas to the
site: 0-7, 7-11, 11+
• Gallery – for children’s work
• An area for staff
Stories from the Web
• Combines book extracts and author information with computer based activities
• Stories from the Web for Libraries
• Stories from the Web for Schools
• Stories from the Web for familieswww.storiesfromtheweb.org
www.storiesfromthewebschools.orgwww.storiesfromthewebfamilies.org
Stories from the Web
““I think it is I think it is a beautiful a beautiful website. I website. I
could live in could live in it I like it it I like it
that much”that much”
LauraLaura
“ “ I think if I had I think if I had the chance to tell the chance to tell the whole world the whole world
something, I something, I would tell them to would tell them to
go onto this go onto this website”website”
AbbeyAbbey
IFLA Sister Libraries Project• Encourages libraries to become ‘sisters’
with another to build international partnerships focusing on reading for children and young people
• Provides opportunities for exchange of information and experiences, joint programmes and activities , other partnerships
• Any library can participate - to register go
to: http://www.ifla.org/en/libraries-for-children-and-ya/projects
• Allocation of Godmother / Sister Library
Sister Libraries
Dr Djordje Natosevic
Indjija Serbia
George Baritiu Brasov Romania
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN2issnvHgYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN2issnvHgY
Sister Libraries• Became Sister Libraries in December 2010
• Project called ‘Let’s Dream Together’
• Made a short documentary film ‘Drawing a portrait’ – first contact between the children through images and messages
• Made friendship books and sent gifts to help get to know each other better
• Planning skype video conferenceshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3gxWgDPEOY&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZi-emAfHZo&feature=player_embedded
http://copiibrasov.wordpress.com/ifla-sister-libraries/
Sister Libraries
Friendship BooksBrasov & Indjija http://www.slide.com/r/oExFSly1oj9EoSg13LD5_pnQtfwWQqFt
http://www.slide.com/r/gEdoKikwpj_mdTjANIcGRPHJCkkMrBx0?map=2&cy=wp
IFLA Sister Libraries
Do think about your
library becoming a
Sister Library
IFLA World Through Picture Books – Aims of Project
• To develop an international booklist of ‘favourite’ picture books recommended and selected by librarians as a tool for understanding and celebrating the culture and publishing of participating countries
• To develop the list into an exhibition with supporting catalogue which can be exhibited at the IFLA conference in 2012, then circulate and an online version
• To build partnerships between libraries and librarians through picture books
IFLA World Through Picture Books – Aims of Project
• To support the Sister Libraries and the children in their communities by encouraging and enabling them to undertake activities around shared picture book experiences.
• To support collection development by encouraging countries to purchase and explore ‘favourite’ picture books from other countries
• 28 countries currently working on their list of 10 books against a set of defined criteria
Conclusion• Time of great change for libraries and
librarians
• Difficult times can make us feel that everything is ‘doom and gloom’
• We have to find ways of making those changes work for us and look for oportunities
• Even in the most difficult of times there are always shining beacons of light and innovation – today you are going to hear about some of them
Conclusion
• UK children’s author Anne Fine says ‘the more we read, the richer we become’
• Becoming readers enriches the lives of children and young people and for many children, libraries and librarians are the route by which they become readers.
• Want to end by sharing a poem by Richard Peck called ‘Why I Read’
I read because one life isn’t enough, and in the pages a book I can be anybody;
I read because the words that build the story become mine, to build my life;
I read not for happy endings but for new beginnings, I’m just beginning myself and I wouldn’t mind a map;
I read because I have friends who don’t, and young though they are, they are beginning to run out of material;
I read because every journey begins at the library, and it’s time for me to start packing;
I read because one of these days I may want to leave this town, and I’m going to go everywhere and meet everybody,
And I want to be READY
Conclusion
‘Belief in the importance of what you do’ - now more than ever we need to have that belief and be advocates for that belief, because the children in our communities need librarians to be their champions and libraries to be inspiration points for their reading journeys so that they are ‘ready’ when they need to be.
We can’t let them down
ContactsFor more information contact:
• Derbyshire Big Book Bash – [email protected]
• Northern Children’s Book Festival – [email protected]
• Stories from the Web – [email protected]
• Children’s Laureate – [email protected]
• IFLA Sister Libraries – [email protected]
• IFLA World through Picture Books – [email protected]
The Photographs used as a background inthese slides were produced by NLarge, a group of young photographers from Bristol.
They were commissioned by ASCEL in September 2005 to take a series of photographs of children & young people using public libraries in ways that would challenge stereotypes about libraries and the services they provide.
These photographs are taken from the resulting ‘Libraries through the Lens’ CD
Contact Details:
Annie Everall OBEConsultant and TrainerChildren’s Books, Libraries and Reading
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)7889 274637