Conference Views
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Issue 29 Autumn 2000 Conference Views >>>>>>>>>> Back to first Conference Item |
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A joint conference for the new millennium organised by Library Association Youth Libraries Group and School Libraries Group and the School Libraries Association.
Conference 2000 - the conference to end all conferences, or at least the second Millennium! Never before had so many Children's Librarians (schools and public), authors, publishers and exhibitors been seen in one place, having so much fun!
I haven't attempted to sum up the Conference for you, I couldn't do it justice, but instead I have put together this small collection of "snapshots" - written and pictorial - which I hope you will enjoy; along with Aidan Chambers' Carnegie Medal acceptance speech, the best, I feel, since Philip Pullman's in 1996, and the winners of the Keith Barker Awards, an evening which celebrated both the man and the glorious array of literature written for children in past hundred years!
The Conference - A Personal Perspective
I arrived in London on Thursday 6th July 2000, 12.15pm at Camden Town having negotiated the underground, bags and all. When accosted by a female who offers me a free 6 week makeover, I wondered how awful I must have looked. Checked into Ifor Evans (the accommodation from Hell) and hopped onto special bus to Imperial College. Chatted to Marian representing Somerset who was really from South West Ireland - I was on my way.
At registration I was given a special yellow badge for committee members and told 'yellow badge holders know everything' - time to get worried, me thinks!
The opening speeches from the three committee chairs summarised their expectations and the major themes of the Conference. Expectations of celebrations at the Carnegie/Greenaway and Keith Barker awards, expectations of partnerships of authorities, professional associations, publishers, suppliers and speakers, and expectations of sharing ideas and experiences. Major themes of 'reaching the audience', 'current management issues and trends', 'celebrating the past present and future of children's books', 'changing face of childhood' and 'children's books, libraries and education in a global world'.
Speakers included:
Children's Laureate, Quentin Blake, who told us of an exhibition which will appear in the National Gallery of work by children's illustrators formed into alphabetical 'author' order with treasures from the permanent collection. Such is his influence as laureate that he has been also asked to illustrate the gallery walls as 'there has never been an exhibition like it in the National Gallery'. So it will be possible to have Michael Foreman next to Goya - bizarre but excellent idea.
Vivien Griffiths, Assistant Director, Libraries and Learning, Birmingham spoke about libraries as a force for change, using a series of quotes as guidelines for the talk. "This library has something offensive for everyone. If you are not offended by something we own, please complain". Dorothy Broderick, Children's Librarian, ALA.
Aidan Chambers (who was also the Carnegie Medal winner) gave a brilliant after dinner talk the first evening about creating readers in the 21st century. Apparently in early history slaves/servants read to the masters who were unable to read for themselves. If only they had realised the potential power of their skills. Aidan also stirred up the politicians with his Carnegie acceptance speech calling to see politicians "reading diaries" and asking that they undertake PRATS (as opposed to SATS): Politicians Reading Attainment Tests.
Seminars I attended included 'Illustrators in Conversation' with Anthony Browne, Korky Paul and Nick Butterworth (who incidentally looks as friendly as his famous 'Percy the Park keeper') and 'Poetry Power' with John '10 dancing dinosaurs' Foster.
Jonathan Douglas, Professional Advisor Youth and Libraries for the LA provided us with a mad-cap quiz, during which he ran around behaving like a total lunatic. When complimented by our Swedish delegates, Jonathan replied that it was a new government initiative called 'Camping it up'. Needless to say they were completely taken in and noted it down.
Author Gillian Cross summed up the conference with 4 Cs. Before you stop reading - not the Best Value 4 Cs. Crowing, Context, Creativity and CHILDREN.
I minded some very interesting speakers and authors, helped to stuff 750 people into a 730-seater space in 5 minutes as the BBC wanted to film the Carnegie ceremony, and was on mobile phone duty on the lookout for Floella Benjamin with our professional leader, Bob McKee (namedropping!) at the other end and I also wore a very silly hat to collect money for the Keith Barker Millennium Children's Book Awards. Who says working at a conference is boring.
The 4 days were jam packed with activities and any free time was spent eating, drinking and talking, leaving everyone pleasantly exhausted.
I didn't drink, didn't stay up until 2 am and didn't miss all the early bird sessions. Is this statement true or false? If you know me then you know the answer already.
Conference organisers from all three groups are to be commended for their phenomenally hard work, which was certainly not in vain to the vast number of delegates attending. Karen Usher, Conference Manager, deserves a huge rest, which I am sure she won't get.
The conference for 2001 is Loughborough in September. When it comes around please apply for a place - it will be lovely to see you there. If you work with children, then this is definitely for you. The networking available to you here is second to none, with publishers, authors, and experienced professionals throwing themselves and their ideas in your direction.
Angela StobbartAs the delegates started to arrive I thought - there's an awful lot of people, we'll never get our lunch in an hour. But amazingly we did - and have our coffee and tea in the allotted time. And that seemed to set the tone for the conference - despite the huge numbers of delegates and speakers it seemed to go without any obvious hitches.
It's difficult to pinpoint highlights because there were so many. Watching Quentin Blake drawing on an OHP, listening to Aiden Chambers and Robert Cormier speak so passionately and Paul Geraghty's quick bedtime story delivered with such wit and skill.
Wendy Cooling's "Great Reads of the Twentieth Century" demonstrated huge gaps in my book knowledge while inspiring me to rush off and read.
To include the announcements of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards as part of the conference was an added bonus and as the hall filled up, the tension and excitement was tangible. The roar of approval at the announcements was wonderful and it was great to be part of it.
The Keith Barker Millenium Children's Book Awards showed yet more gaps in my book knowledge, and the Poetry and Storytelling session on Friday evening was stupendous - the image of hundreds of librarians singing "Big red bus" will stay with me for a long time! Both the Storytelling and the Book Quiz should become permanent features of future conferences!
I particularly enjoyed the seminars I attended and wished there had been time for more. The discussion that followed the stock selection and supply seminar was very interesting not least because it was emphasized that the only way to know your stock is to read! - a conclusion which seemed to surprise some. The seminar on traditional tales was inspiring and has led me to read several fairytale reworkings. At the moment I'm reading Beauty by Robin McKinley, which is wonderful.
Listening to authors and illustraors has to be one of my favourite things and the two Michaels were so good I could have listened all morning. And Gillian Cross's final paper - how did she manage to sum up the whole Conference?
Liz Weighell - Divisional Children's Librarian, HampshireIn hindsight, and had staffing commitments allowed, I would have liked to have been present on the Friday, as I am the atmosphere must have been amazing and I would have had the chance to interact with the authors and illustrators who had been shortlisted for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals. However, Saturday was a beneficial experience, as I find meeting other librarians and discussing issues raised both therapeutic and helpful. Often, it is at these gatherings, that I obtain the one brain wave which I'm sure will generate interest in Public Libraries and stop the declining children's issues!
Most importantly however, the Conference reminded me of the importance of keeping my reading current, not allowing myself to become stagnated and single minded. That I must be realistic but also someone children can relate to - not that 'old dragon' that hides behind shelves ready to pounce on poor unsuspecting children who are only being children!
Sarah Hearne - Children's Librarian, Andover, HampshireWendy Cooling positively leaping about on stage, while telling us about Andrew Lang's Fairy tales, etc.
Aiden Chambers' mock serious suggestions about Ofread - what DO politicians read? Apart from their own spin in the press.
Robert Cormier - who was considerably older than I'd imagined - reminding us "people never read so critically as when they are adolescent" so "let's stretch their minds".
On Saturday afternoon I was delighted to find myself minding Anthony Browne, Willie Bullock, Nick Butterworth, Korky Paul and Jane Ray for the second session of the "Illustrators in Conversation" workshop. Initially I thought that "rounding" them up was going caused me the biggest headache, but in the end it was persuading them to stop nattering and follow me to the allotted room that was the hardest task!!
However, once I had achieved this, my problems were over and I just had to sit back and enjoy a lovely relaxed session in which I learnt much about my favourite illustrators. Terence Blacker was the perfect Chair, asking intelligent and stimulating questions. He really made us feel as though we were part of the a conversation, not just attending a question and answer session.
Terence's questions:
How have you ended up illustrating for Children?
Although most of the panel had studied Art or Design at college, they had all come to children's illustration by convoluted routes. Some of their initial career choices had been in the world of design: both Jane and Anthony had got their "breaks" through designing greetings cards, however, Anthony, had also worked in advertising as had Nick and Korky.
Are Children a catalyst for your work?
Interestingly, no one felt that children were a catalyst for their work, though they did admit that having their own children had enhanced their work. As Nick commented, they put him back in touch with real children.
Now you are successfully writing for children, would you do something else - would you move on?
The responses to this question were interesting if only for the different interpretations of what was meant by "moving on". Jane and Anthony saw it as illustrating for adults, something Anthony felt he couldn't do "[it had] not got the joy." Whereas Korky felt it meant moving in to the world of fine art, which he was equally sure he did not want to do, but for a very thought provoking reason: "In fine art world there is no need to draw, its about many other things that are amazing. There is no place for people who love drawing."
What makes a good text for illustration?
The whole panel felt a good text for illustration was one that left space for the illustrator, both in terms of physical space and room for interpretation.
Terence then invited questions from the audience:
Is there any conflict with authors about your illustrations for their work?
They were all very polite about the authors they had worked with. Willy and Nick commented that publishers are more likely to cause them problems, but Nick qualified this by saying it only happened in his early career, and had been mainly due to his lack of confidence in his own ability. Both Jane and Korky quoted Chris Riddell's statement, made during the Conference, that he "did not feel he could impose on what illustrators do." Korky especially liked the idea that Chris would rather be surprised by the illustrator's interpretation.
Have problems in the book trade made publishers more difficult to deal with?
They felt the book trade was now less intimate than when the illustrator worked solely with their editor. Anthony commented that some publishers seem to "forget they are publishing books, [they] refer to them as "the product". And Jane added that she felt they "often work from the Counter Pack backwards!!!!"
Do you feel threatened by e-publishing? Nick summed up the answer to this very succinctly when he said "it will only be a threat if it does what a book does better."
Is International Publishing a negative force?
Anthony felt that US publishing power was a negative force, and Willy supported this view as he had had one of his books rejected by a US publisher because he had put in two dots for a dog's bottom! Interestingly, though, Nick's experience demonstrated that the American public does not always share this sensitivity. One publisher was not going to publish one of Nick's board books because it had a polar bear character called "Whitie" in it, however, he held out and there were no problems from US. The US, though, is not the only culprit; 8-10 years ago Jane had problems in, of all places, Holland where objections were made to the black angels in her "Christmas Story".
Both Anthony and Korky felt many publishers had little suspension of disbelief, Korky told us of one publisher who had queried a view of a house where you could see all the way through it, they said it was not feasible!
And the final question:
Is there an author you particularly wanted to illustrate for?
There were several serious answers to this, but Korky stole the show when he immediately responded: "J.K. Rowling"!!!!
A major highlight of the conference was the announcement of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals for 1999. The occasion was amazing and took place in front of an audience of over 700 people, mostly delegates but with some special guests. There was an air of tension as people were carefully packed in to a hall just big enough to accommodate them. Anticipation and speculation abounded with so very few of those numbers being party to the secret of the winning books.
With everyone seated Library Association Chief Executive, Bob McKee, praised LA members for their professionalism and their skills in raising awareness of the outstanding writers and illustrators around today.
Youth Libraries Group Chair, Annie Everall, spoke of a year of change for Carnegie and Greenaway selection committee as Margaret Bell steps down as Carnegie/Kate Greenaway Co-ordinator - to be replaced by Teresa Scragg. However, she felt there was no other change, as children still need access to the best books and Children's Librarians still had a key role in getting the right book at the right time to their audience. Annie reminded us of the criteria for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, stressing the role they played in promoting excellence in literature and illustration for young people. The Carnegie winner will be awarded where an entire work provides pleasure and leaves the reader with a deeper satisfaction - the 'tingle and linger factor'. The Kate Greenaway Award is given to an illustrated book, which inspires and excites young readers.
She was also pleased to announce that this year (2000), 750 shadow groups consisting of young people, had been reading, reviewing, discussing and dramatising the considered works.
And the winners:
| Kate Greenaway Winner | Helen Oxenbury for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland described as "for the new millennium, captures dreamlike qualities, and brings the story to life again" |
| Kate Greenaway Highly Commended | Lauren Child for Clarice Bean that's me Chris Riddell for Castle Diary described as "artwork authentic and well researched". Helen is to donate her winning fee of £5,000 to help the cause of Launch Pad. |
| Carnegie Winner | Aidan Chambers for Postcards from No Man's Land described by the judges as "simply marvellous book". |
| Carnegie Highly Commended | David Almond for Kit's Wilderness described as "complex strands satisfyingly interwoven - outstanding". Jacqueline Wilson for Illustrated Man described as "a powerful read, stays in mind after the end". |
In his stirring acceptance speech, Aidan advocated the need for the continuation of a free public library service. He said that readers make readers and conversely non-readers make non-readers, so ultimately people of influence need to promote reading and help make readers. He called for administration duties to be taken away from educators to let them do their job more effectively. Aidan also asked that politicians be made accountable by being the subject of an OFSPREAD (politicians reading) and by taking PRATS (Politicians Reading Attainment Tests). The Reading Diaries of the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Education, Chief Inspector of Schools and leading members of the opposition should be made available for public scrutiny.
The awards were presented by, special guest, Floella Benjamin, who passionately communicated her love of children and her concern for their well-being. She spoke of children's love of words and pictures, and of having something fire their imaginations. Floella felt that librarianship needed to reflect the multi-cultural society in which we live, as children need to feel they belong. And that, in order to make them feel they were being given a chance, books need to be available which mirror their lives. This gave us all a lot of food for thought.
The whole ceremony was thought provoking for those present and hopefully will also have an effect on those hearing reports second hand.
So it is farewell to Margaret, who is obviously going to be greatly missed, and good luck to Teresa.
Angela StobbartIt was exciting to be listening to the rare privilege of Robert Cormier, live in England, at the Under the Covers Conference. The passion he feels for the fair treatment of young people shone through, as he spoke of his many years of writing for an adolescent audience. He believes that kids have fewer options than adults and are often treated differently in similar situations, such as attending hospital. Robert spoke of young people being allowed to make more decisions for themselves and take responsibility for events in their lives. His work is written with the adolescent reader in mind and is meant to open up and stretch their thoughts. Robert admits that he was influenced by the works of W. Somerset Maughan, Tom Wolfe and Ernest Hemingway. Following the success of Chocolate War, he was unsure of where to go next in writing terms and finally came up with I am the cheese, which broke many literary rules. Robert wants his writing to portray the real world and he understands the fact that kids want to belong and not be excluded from their peers. He is aware that adolescents read more critically because of studying texts in schools and is always pleased to receive feedback from his audience. Communicating with kids helps to sustain his ability to write what they want to read. As well as being a pleasure just to listen to Robert Cormier and his enthusiasm for writing, this session was also extremely thought provoking.
Angela Stobbart
National Youth Libraries Group Conference Secretary for 2001
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