Everybody's Reading Toolkit
ROCHDALE
Project 1 - Reading Group
Aim
To promote reading within the target age group, i.e. 16-25 year olds.
Where
The beauty of the reading group is that it formed itself. Even before Tahira was appointed as Outreach Worker, young people were asking about "Everybody's Reading" and about forming a reading group. The group started meeting on Saturdays in March and is still meeting now (October 2001)
Target Group
Although the project was specifically targeted to the Wardleworth area in the beginning, this group represents a wide range of young people in the 16-25 year target group.
What took place
The reading group is quite informal, and although it is supported by Tahira, the beauty of it is that when the project finally comes to an end, the groups should be able to carry on i.e. it will be self supporting. The group discusses what they are reading at the time and recommendations can be taken up by the rest of the group.
Tips, strengths and weaknesses
Tips
- We were lucky here in that the group wanted to form itself, so we knew the demand was there.
- If anyone was wanting to try a reading group, my tip would be test the water by advertising the possibility of a group and see what the response is. If there is little or no enthusiasm - don't try and force it.
- Strengths
- The strength of the group is that it carries itself by its own enthusiasm
Weaknesses
- One weakness is that we haven't needed to have a poster campaign to advertise its existence and in that way it could be seen as a very closed group.
- We can alter that by ensuring we publicise its existence before the project ends to encourage any new members who might be out there.
Training Template - half day session
- Introduce idea of a young person's reading group and why it could be a good idea
- Group exercise - talking about books - hand out copies of books suitable to 16-25 age range and ask staff to comment in groups of three - 1st impressions, blurb and who might like it. Feedback to main group.
- Talk through this idea for a reading group and ask staff in pairs to discuss what might be appropriate in their area
- Talk through a simple planning process of how to get a group going -
aims, who with, where, when and how and then suggest a plan for a first session- e.g. introductions, food and music available, when library is closed, selection of books and magazines, ask group what they want and do a few simple reader development exercises like the one suggested in this training template. Others could include asking people what books they read when they were younger, asking them to pick a book for their worst enemy, or read out problem pages from magazines and make up solutions. For an older age range allow more free time and consult about reading tastes and possible new stock.
Project 2 - Community Forum Open Day
Aims
Linking with the SRB funded group for revitalising inner Rochdale.
The joint aims were:
for the SRB team to meet the local community
create a voice for Community Groups and local people for the library service to advertise its presence to the community.
Where
Mainly in the Wheatsheaf Library meeting room - the central library for Rochdale - (although the event grew to such a size we opened out the room into the main body of the library). On Saturday 27th October 2001.
Target Group
SRB funding for inner Rochdale includes Wardleworth. So this fitted our target group. The SRB project is not specifically for 16-25 year olds, but many of those attending fell into this category. A mainly Asian population.
What took place
'SRB plans on their own are fairly dry. So the SRB team came up with a range of activities to encourage families to come along. There was henna/body painting, hair braiding, face painting, balloons and food and refreshments available. Skylight Circus, a local group supported by the SRB team, were performing in the shopping centre and encouraging people to see what was on in the library. The local press were encouraged to attend as a local cycling club had built a tandem for an able bodied cyclist to accompany a disabled cyclist and our local MP, Lorna Fitzsimmons attended to officially open the event. To accompany this were many displays about plans for the local area with representatives from local groups and the council. The idea being that while the children were entertained the adults could find out about the plans for revitalising their area and voice their opinion. The idea was incredibly successful, with a footfall count of 1,541 people attending the library during the time the event was running (11-3).' Ray Stearn
Tips, strengths and weaknesses
Tips
- Find out what SRB plans are operating in your area and contact them.
- We have the draw of a reasonably sized meeting room to offer free of charge to local community groups.
- Make sure the organisers do not overfill the available space (we only just managed to fit a quart into a pint pot!).
- Also with so many people attending the event in the library, it's important to make sure not too many feathers are ruffled, so make sure litter is cleared up, "no go areas" for food and drink in parts of the library are established if necessary and that adequate space is available to fit everyone and everything in. We were lucky here in that the SRB team were very supportive and offered help in clearing up after the event. I'm going to suggest an informal "contract" to give to organisers of future events along the lines of "You're getting the venue free of charge so for your part can you ensure the room is left clean and tidy, people respect other people using the library, etc.
Strengths
The great strength was that the SRB team organised AND PAID FOR the whole event. This doesn't mean that library staff haven't a lot of work to do on the day to ensure the event runs smoothly, but it does make for an easier time leading up to the day.
Weaknesses
The greatest weakness was its own success. With hindsight there were too many attractions for the space available.
As stated, we had 1,541 people through the library but one weakness of this was that we didn't exploit the library except through hosting the event.
If we had enough staff available, it would have been good to have had a stall ourselves to promote the library actively. Ray Stearn
Training Template
Reader Development Event Planning - half - full day session for library staff
- Introduction - ask in pairs for staff to discuss events they have enjoyed attending in their leisure time and why they have been successful
- Feed in any main points to a discussion about events you wish to hold
- Talk through with staff a simple planning process - who, what, where, why and when and how to evaluate the events. Talk through any publicity and press ideas.
- Look at how to include a reader development focus - i.e. involving borrowers, promoting stock, launching a new section of the library, getting authors to talk about their own reading habits.
- Ask staff to plan an event together that is relevant to their location in small groups and feed this back to the main group
