Everybody's Reading Toolkit
TAMESIDE
Project 1 - love Vs Hate - Poetry Competition
Where
The competition was promoted via Hyde Shopping Centre, College and the local papers.
It lasted for three weeks.
Target Group
Bangladeshi People aged 16-25.
What took place
Creative writing exercise to promote the Library to young people. To also promote the new project via the shopping centre
Tips, strengths and weaknesses
Tips
- When you judge the poetry competition try to have key members of your local authority to judge the e.g. Mayor or local councillor this will give you a publicity angle when announcing the winner.
- A good relationship with the Shopping Centre Management is a good idea as you will have a good place to market the Library in forthcoming events and it also means you will have a captive audience.
Weaknesses
I actually wanted to have a presentation for the winner at a poetry reading event but due to lack of time I didn't hold it. The winning poem is below.
Snapshot
I dreamed I saw you standing in a pacific sunset.
You were alone on the golden sand
Basking in the serene tranquillity of the beach.
The rays of a dying sun glowed around you, an aurora.
You looked like a Botticelli angel,
Standing there, ankle-deep in the ocean.
Sandals in one hand, dress hem in the other.
It was damp and clung to your curves with salt spray.
As the rays of the carnelian ruby enveloped you
They created a silken halo.
The breeze gently ruffled your hair
So that long golden tendrils caressed your cheeks,
And copper highlights shimmered.
The waves lapped around your smooth tanned skin,
Foaming slowly, flowing smoothly.
Your hair-dancing with the wind- played about your face.
And whispered sweet nothings into your ears.
Your wistful eyes were staring out over the horizon
searching, needing hoping, wanting;
for a single glimpse of a half forgotten dream that haunts you.
The sinking of the sun mirrored your heart
as the moon rose to bathe you in subtle silver shadows
still you waited as crystal tears shimmered.
I wanted to call to you but I was afraid.
I was afraid of ruining the scene, destroying the beauty.
And then I awoke feeling empty and lost,
my cheeks still damp from crystal tears.
Training Template
- It is useful to consider promoting reading and creative writing together and encouraging local writers to have a relationship with your library as they are useful community contacts for events and are also readers themselves
- You could use a competition like the one above to launch a readers and writers' notice board in the library that could include:
Details of writing competitions and publishing opportunities
Any creative writing courses and groups on offer in the area
Books of the month
Books suggested by local writers and readers
Details of any reading groups
A selection of relevant publications and magazines - Encourage a small staff team to pilot the idea and look after its progress. It will probably need kick starting and some staff support before local people could take it on and look after it for you
Project 2 - Site Night
Aim
To encourage the use of ICT with the target age group.
Where
I held this event at the Library because prior to this event I held events outside the Library this event was to encourage people in. I wanted to show them that their perception of Libraries was outdated.
Target Group
The target group was Bangladeshi young people aged 16-25.
What took place
I produced posters and distributed them around the town e.g. school, college and youth group.produced a list of sites, which may interest them and displayed a range stock from Library. A local restaurant sponsored the event by providing food. The young people were free to look at the books, use the Internet, eat or listen to music.
Tips, strengths and weaknesses
Tips
- Food is very important this will bring in the numbers then you have a captive audience that you can dazzle with information.
- Select the a different range of stock, never assume a young person wont be in to "that sort book".
- Talk to them - the art of conversation is great because it allows people to discuss ideas and interest.
Strengths
- IT is popular you don't have to sell it to young people it sells itself. You have to portray it in a new exciting way.
- We had 40 Bangladeshi people attend the event and got fantastic press coverage.
Weaknesses
Try and do the event when the Library is closed because the music was LOUD.
Training Template
For events planning see Rochdale project 2
Librarians in the North West have pioneered partnership working to encourage new readers into libraries. Time To Read is a partnership of librarians engaged in reader development activity in public library authorities in the North West Region. All 23 public library authorities in the region currently support Time To Read.