Everybody's Reading Toolkit
HALTON
Project 1- Halton Youth Website -
Aims
To bring together information and leisure web sites for young people, and to allow the various organisations that serve this group in the Halton area to house their details on one site.
The idea being that young people are reading and developing skills while using the internet, and are more likely to look at a site specific to the local area.
Where
Targeted generally at young people in Halton.
Target group
Young people aged 16-25 in Halton
What took place
Through surveying young people across Halton it was found that many did not class themselves as readers but were regular users of the Internet and read newspapers and magazines. A number of meetings had already been held with a group who had expressed an interest in the project, and taking this information into account, it was decided that a website would be the best way to reach the target group.
The group had originally hoped to have a role in the creation of the 'Everybody's Reading' site. When it was decided to produce this professionally, they were still keen on making their own site for young people in Halton.
A second group of young people from Halton College then became involved as part of their work experience, and in partnership with the original group they planned, designed and built the HaltonYouth website. I acted as a co-ordinator by gathering local organisations' information, gained extra finances from the library, arranged meetings and set deadlines. Both groups were very proud of their achievement and had a greater awareness of the role libraries could play in their lives. A number of them are now regular users of the library I.T. suites and are very comfortable in a library environment.
Tips, Strengths and weaknesses
- Have a clear idea of what you want the website to do. Set deadlines, and agree on who will maintain the site (find out who knows what they're doing and ask them).
- Encourage the young people to use come up with a variety of ideas. Don't presume that what you think will look good to young people, will match their tastes. I was expecting Day-Glo, but their choice was quite low-key and 'grown-up'.
- Also it is essential to know something about creating sites or have someone you are working to act as support and sounding board.
Strengths
- We now have a good site to promote, and have created positive links with other local organisations dealing with young people.
- The young people involved enjoyed their experiences and have something very good to show for it.
Weaknesses
- On the down side, bringing two groups together did not really work, and the original group lost interest once they had to work with others.
- It would have been nicer to have the site come about more 'organically' so that there would be a greater sense of ownership.
Training Template
Half day session for interested staff
- Introduction - in pairs, ask staff about their own personal experience of web sites - what works and what doesn't - useful to do in a room where you have access to PCs and people can illustrate their ideas
- Look at some web sites aimed at young people and ask staff for comments
- In groups of three, ask staff to plan on a flip chart the following starting points- Aims of project, which groups could we get involved? What could the content be? Do we need extra professional support - (designers, technical etc) if so, where from? Timescale? Budget? Space to run project and access to computers?
- Ask each group to feedback ideas to main group and suggest follow up meeting to work out final plan.
Project 2 - External deposit Collections
Aims
To introduce a variety of modern fiction and non-fiction books to young people in a location convenient to them.
Where
Widnes Sixth Form College - the YMCA and the Belvedere Project Runcorn which are residential units.
Widnes and Runcorn Synergy - drop-in health and information centres.
The Young Peoples' Project in Murdishaw - a drop-in youth centre.
Target group
Young people who use any of the above services.
What took place
It became clear from the survey that young people would be more likely to read if a good selection of books were place at locations considered more convenient, and young person friendly, than the library. The result of this was the setting up of External Collections at six locations across Halton. Meetings were held with the groups involved, so that we could find out what they would like to read. This has engendered a greater sense of ownership of the collection, and indeed two young people at the Belvedere Project were enthusiastic to act as librarians! There is great scope for developing links with young people through these collections, and we have already furthered these links by holding two of our events at External Collection sites. Also, by placing popular books within easy reach of young people there is far more likelihood of them trying out something new and hopefully catching the reading bug.
Tips, Strengths and weaknesses
Tips
- Be very clear about how you expect the collections to be maintained, and the role of the external site within that.
- Keep up contact with a member of staff at the external site and encourage feedback.
- Buy / use a lot of non-fiction and graphic novels, I haven't bought nearly enough.
- Supply dumpbins to store the collections.
Strengths
- It is an excellent way of getting books under the noses of young people without making them feel pressurised.
- It overcomes barriers to reading caused by distance from the library.
- It creates goodwill with the organisations involved.
Weaknesses
- Stock losses are a possible problem, although only to be expected.
- It is difficult to find the right mix of books for collections that will be looked at by people with varying reading abilities.
- On-site staff support of the collections cannot be guaranteed, and therefore the collection my not be promoted as much as one would like.
Training Template
See Bolton project on same theme
