Everybody's Reading Toolkit
WIGAN
Project 1 - Heroes and villains
Aims
The main aim of this was to introduce a group of young people living in a hostel environment to the possibilities that reading as a pass time has to offer. The aim was to introduce them to reading in a subtle way through other media such as film.
Where
The project took place in a number of venues.
- Leigh Library
- Railway Rd Hostel
- Wigan pier Museum
An introduction session was held in the hostel to get the yp's interested and involved. This was followed up by a session in the library. The second session was held at Wigan Pier Museum on a day when the building was closed to the public.
Target groups
The target group was young people aged between 16-25 who were living in temporary accommodation
What took place
An introduction session was held at the hostel, where the artist involved and myself meet the yp's and asked them to get involved. The young people where lured along with the promise of food during the first session and a free pint at the local pub during the second session.
The second session involved the young people watching a selection of short video clips. The videos chosen where videos such as Trainspotting. The Commitments, Clockwork Orange and The Witches. All the videos chosen were books that had been adapted to film. The artist and myself read small sections from the books that related to the sections of films that had been shown. The aim of this was to show the young people all the detail, emotion and comedy that had been lost when the book had been adapted. It was a way of showing the yp's that the book is better than the film and that both where available from the library. This technique was also a way of showing them the relevance of books in popular culture.
The second part was a little bit lighter, the young people had been asked to think about heroes and villains from books. We were to use costumes from Wigan Pier Theatre Group for the yp's to dress up in. The yp's spent time getting dressed up in costumes and posing as characters. The photographic artist photographed the young people in the costumes and we used sets from the museum as backdrops.
The young people were taken to a near by pub for a swift pint to thank them for their participation in the project.
The project was highlighted in local press and also on the community news on a local radio "WISH" fm
The photographs along with a selection of books relevant to the project were displayed in the library.
Tips, strengths and weaknesses
Tips
- Always included an introduction session where the young people can meet every one involved in the project. This will make them feel more comfortable with taking part.
- Use Youth Service workers during the sessions - a familiar face will give the young people confidence.
- Encourage the young people to take part by giving them something that you know that will like i.e. A pint and some beer!
- When working with people in temporary accommodation keep the project short, so as to keep interest. This also helps as the young people are often moving on all the time.
Training Template
Half day session
Working with this target group - a training session for library staff -useful to have a youth worker present who has experience of working with young people in hostel accommodation. Also useful to run a project like this jointly with the youth service.
You could widen this topic out to talking about any group aged 16-25 yrs that library staff may not have come across or worked with before.
- In pairs, discuss what was happening in your own life at aged 16-20 - some highs and low points and share these with your partner
- Can you remember any films or books that you read when you were that age? What has changed now?
- Ask the same pairs to discuss any perceptions or stereotypes they may have of a young person in a hostel
- Talk through these points as a main group, challenge any where necessary and think what support these young people might need in any session that is introducing books and reading. Discuss roles of library member of staff and youth worker. Bring in youth worker to talk about their own role.
- Hand out this project as an example of some project work and ask library staff whether it would transfer locally or need adapting. Suggest short pilot project if appropriate.
- Identify any possible target centres locally and ask staff if they would be interested to talk part and what their role would like to be
- Ask staff how they would feel about approaching this work at the end of the session
In terms of confidence and offer further training or support from a youth worker if needed.
Project 2 - Blind date With A Book
Aim
To Introduce young people aged 16-25 to a new reading experience.
Where
Leigh Library.
The promotion was run during the romantic month of February and was a novelty approach to "Reader Development". It took place two weeks leading up to Valentines Day.
Target Group
Young people aged 16-25yrs, however, it was probably more relevant to young women because more young women read romantic novels.
What took place
During the weeks leading up to the promotion a memo was sent out to all library staff asking for their recommended romantic reads; this was an effective way of involving staff from around the borough in the "Reading Lifelines" project and also getting quality suggestions from experts. We received lots of ideas and suggestions.
Next library staff gathered all the books that had been suggested. These books were then gift-wrapped in red and pink paper covered in hearts so that each book chosen was a surprise to its reader. This meant that the borrower would sometimes get a book that was different from one that they would usually pick for themselves. Although the promotion was aimed at 16-25's a selection of younger teens and adult books were also wrapped so as not to exclude any existing library members.
Sweets were donated from Haribo and Swizzles and these acted as an incentive for the young people to take out a book from the gift-wrapped range. Each young person taking out a book was also issued with a raffle ticket that was entered into a draw to win cinema tickets (donated by Warner Brother Cinemas Bolton).
Tips, strengths and weaknesses
Tips and notes for training session
- Use the library staff for book recommendations they are the experts!
- Do not exclude existing members, they can still take part in the promotion even if they do not get the goodies (sweets etc)
- Include a full range of romantic reads - contemporary, traditional, period, heterosexual and homosexual books for boys and girls men and women young and old.
- Mark the books on the front of the wrapping with a sticker with:
T for teen
YA for young adult
A for adult
YM for young men
AM for adult male
This will help the borrower to get the right level of novel for them whilst keeping the content a surprise.
- Mark the books on the reverse of the wrapping with a sticker showing the book's bar code no. so that the books can be issued with ease.
- Keep a list of all books and bar code nos. that have been wrapped up - this will aid library staff and customers alike when looking for any particular books
- Be bold and do not be afraid to ask companys for freebies
