How was the activity relevant to your professional development?
Children’s
Book week 2013 ran 17 – 23 August. However my preparations started months
before. The focus is to celebrate the Young People’s Book Awards. Notable books written and illustrated by
Australians are selected in a range of categories. The identification of
quality literature in a formal award process allows children’s librarians to
become the bridge linking children to age appropriate literature (Williams,
2007).
The
theme for 2013 was ‘Read across the Universe’.
Themes highlight the importance of reading and give an angle from which
to approach the events. The Book Council
is an important partner to Public Libraries and creating events that unite the
passions of both institutions is an opportunity to deliver “motivating
activities and reading promotion, offer creative programming and storytelling
and cooperative with and support community organisation and institutions”
(IFLA, 2012, p 9).
We
had to make our Book Week program suitable for a range of audiences.. This
meant adapting content for the target groups. We scheduled performances for the Home School
Family network, and Storyworx (our young intellectually disabled group). With
the primary schools visits, Preschool visits and Story Corner audiences we
managed to connect with many of the target groups suggested in the IFLA
guidelines.
What did you learn?
We
attended the Pre-Book-Week Extravaganza held at the State Library NSW June 2013,
presented by the NSW Young People in Libraries Working Group. The workshop was
an opportunity to share ideas. We
decided to use some Early Childhood
books that lent themselves well to performance.
The
three books we chose were ‘The Terrible Suitcase’ by Emma Allen, ‘It’s a
Miracool’ by Christine Harris and ‘Peggy’ by Anna Walker. We wrote a script
from each and linked the scripts with dialog.
We
spent time sewing costumes and collecting props. We rehearsed for 5 weeks. 2012 was the first
time we had worked together. This year things were meant to go more smoothly.
However 2014 proved crazier.
‘Peggy’,
saw me dressed up as a brave little chicken that goes on an unexpected
adventure and finds a new world, but then gets lost. This story was very funny acted out but much
of the comedy we had to add into the performance. The theme is conquering our
fears, finding new friends and being resilient.
I
narrated ‘It’s a Miracool’, and Michelle transformed into Audrey Barlow who
looses her first tooth and worries that the tooth fairy will not find her out
in the outback on the rural homestead where
she lives. Audrey is resourceful though and the tooth fairy does find her and
leave her a beautiful emu egg in her billy-can.
‘The
Terrible Suitcase’ was our favourite story about the little girl who gets a red
suitcase for school instead of the rocket backpack she asked for. We turned
this story into a monologue. The dreaded suitcase becomes celebrated for its
uniqueness and made special by the children and their imaginations.
Were any gaps in your knowledge revealed?
“Did
the audience seem to enjoy it? Did they laugh in the appropriate places? Were
they watching and listening with concentration? Did the audience compliment you
after the program?” (Cerny, Markey & Williams, 2006, p 56). Asking these
questions in evaluating the program the answers were a big yes. The audiences
had been the right size, the feedback was positive, the Preschools pre -booked
for next year, the Primary school students still recognise me as “the chicken
from the play”. Teachers from the schools complimented the appropriateness of
the content. We felt that we had successfully promoted the books, the collection,
Kogarah Library and the Book Awards.
However
2012 we performed two books. 2013 we attempted three. It was a challenge to
coordinate. We just managed to achieve everything with extra hours being granted.
According to SMART objectives, we need to ensure 2014 is achievable in terms of skills, funds and time (Rankin & Brock, 2009, p 147). For 2014 I will take a more structured approach to planning, designing the events such as ‘visioning’ and ‘goal setting’ (Sullivan, 2005, p 189).
How might those gaps be filled?
According to SMART objectives, we need to ensure 2014 is achievable in terms of skills, funds and time (Rankin & Brock, 2009, p 147). For 2014 I will take a more structured approach to planning, designing the events such as ‘visioning’ and ‘goal setting’ (Sullivan, 2005, p 189).
The
winner was ‘The Terrible Suitcase’, so we were so glad we had chosen it to
perform. Two honour books were selected ‘With Nan’ and ‘Too Many Elephants in
this House’ which was subsequently chosen to be the NSS feature book for May
2014.
The
CBCA Book awards are an excellent motivation to put young people at the
forefront of library planning. They
serve a recreational and educational function, bring communities together and encourage
networking. It also brings reading and books to life in a dynamic, colourful
and inspiring ways for children.
References
Cerney,
R., Markey, P., & Williams, A. (2006). Outstanding Library Service to
Children: Putting the core competencies to work. Retrieved
from Ebook Library.
IFLA
Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section Guidelines for
Children’s Library Services Viewed January 18th http://www.ifla.org/files/libraries-for-children-and-ya/publications/guidelines-for-childrens-libraries-services-en.pdf
Rankin,
Carolynn & Avril Brock (2009). Delivering the best start: A guide to early
years libraries. London: Facet.
Sullivan,
M. (2005). Fundamentals of children’s
services. Chicago: American Library Association.
Williams, A. (2007). Storytime Model for Large Groups: Implications for early Literacy. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Services to Children. 5(2), 27-29.
Williams, A. (2007). Storytime Model for Large Groups: Implications for early Literacy. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Services to Children. 5(2), 27-29.
I bought the Peggy book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sounds like you program was quite enthralling. Wish I could have been there!
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful book to own. I will invite you this year. Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed with your use of photography and pictures to present your posts on the blog. It makes it extremely engaging to read. Your writing style in your blog makes reading your professional activities so easy to read. I was captivated by your recent post. I am not currently working in an information sector at present so your experiences with developing a young people’s book week activity was valued for my own professional development.
ReplyDeleteThis activity highlighted the importance of strategic planning and marketing to diverse groups in the community especially minority groups with special needs. I also was not aware of the involvement of the State Library NSW and the chance to be involved with pre-book week.
Out of curiosity do you have to complete documentation after each activity to evaluate if the activity was successful or not? For example do you have to set new objectives or goals for the next book week this year? I recently did my professional experience with one library and each event had to be formally documented after each activity and further discussed with senior management so this would be interesting to know and how different libraries have different library structures.
I also wanted to note the photos for this post validate your enthusiasm and passion for your profession. Thanks for sharing your professional experiences. I can now understand how guidelines from IFLA can assist library staff to promote reading and more suitable ways to influence children to read.
Thanks for your comments Liam. You have hit the nail on the head with your question about evaluation. This subject has been a great eye opener for me in the sense that I have had probably had too much freedom in my role. Luckily every event has been pulled off well but I am left to do my own thing essentially, just recording stats, writing up reports afterwards, but senior management have been very supportive. I managed to win an award from Council my first year in the role and last year the children's and youth team (3 of us) won another award at council for team work. So we must be doing a lot right. But it is evident that I could have more formal approach to planning and evaluating programs and events.This is the reason I came to do my Masters to make sure I have not developed bad habits in my professional practices. I will certainly creating formal evaluations for my own archives to improve on this years Book Week.
DeleteI have also enjoyed reading your posts which have provided a practical perspective in what is involved in planning an event in a library which serves a diverse group in the community.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I work in the information industry my clients' needs are completely different. I also loved seeing the photos you posted, which completed the overall picture . Your posts were able to provide such a wonderful insight into what has to be planned in order for an event such as this to be successful.
You and your team definitely deserved your awards - well done!