Chatterbooks: ‘Talking about the books you want to read’:
A new Orange Prize educational initiative in libraries, coordinated
by LaunchPad, the development agency for children’s library
services.
Look out for Chatterbooks, starting in libraries this autumn!
Orange and LaunchPad for Libraries, a perfect example of private
and public sector partnership, are working together to establish
a national network of children’s reading groups, run in public
libraries. Author Jacqueline Wilson is the project’s patron
and Baroness Blackstone, Minister for Arts and Libraries, is launching
Chatterbooks in September, at Kensington Library — at one
of the first meetings of one of the first groups.
The Chatterbooks groups are for 4-12 year olds and aim to inspire
young people to read adventurously, develop confidence in expressing
their opinions — and have a good time talking about books!
Through participation in the groups children will be encouraged
to enjoy reading for its own sake and to share their enthusiasm
and inspiration with other children, and with their parents and
carers. At the same time they will be getting to know more about
their local library and all it has to offer.
How does Chatterbooks work?
Through Chatterbooks libraries can set up new reading groups,
using the recruitment and support materials provided for the project
— and their own extensive community links.
The groups, normally of between 10-15 children, will meet in
their local library and will be given a range of fun and attractive
materials to get them going. These include a reading diary, ‘post-it’
review notes, a fortune teller book choice game, pencil, bookmark
and stickers — all in a bright Chatterbooks reading group
wallet to create a real sense of belonging to something special.
The exact format of the group will be agreed locally. The main
group activities will focus on reading and talking about books
but group meetings may also include a range of special events,
such as meeting authors and illustrators, and ICT based projects.
Care will be taken to involve parents and carers and to offer
ideas for stimulating and developing their children’s reading
confidence.
Which Libraries?
A range of libraries across the UK are getting involved in Chaterbooks
in the following ways:
Trailblazers…
Three trailblazer authorities, Manchester, Kensington and Chelsea,
and Plymouth, are setting the project off, running groups from
September 2001 onwards.
Intensive library authorities…
From January 2002 onwards fifty library authorities have committed
to developing two strands of work linked to the Orange Prize.
Teams supporting adult readers will be continuing their work around
the books selected for the Prize and a team working with children
will be running Chatterbooks groups for young people in at least
two libraries.
Available to trailblazers and to intensive library authorities
is a high level of training and support, including a good practice
handbook, special regional training days and on-going support
and contact with the project coordinators. There will also be
a monthly emailed newsletter to disseminate good practice and
Chatterbooks news across the Chatterbooks network.
Orange staffare keen to join in as volunteer helpers with the
Chatterbooks groups and are already being recruited in the trailblazer
areas of Manchester and Plymouth.
Other library authorities…
Every other library authority also has the opportunity to access
the support materials for Chatterbooks and for the Orange Prize
reader development activities.
For all libraries
Through Chatterbooks all libraries taking part will be able to
contribute to and benefit from:
- a national network of best practice in reader development
for young people
- up to date advocacy materials to promote library services,
generated from the achievements of Chatterbooks groups
- attractive, good quality publicity and promotion materials
and high profile local and national publicity
Chatterbooks also supports libraries in developing stock provision,
promotion, and engagement with readers. There is the opportunity
too to work with and learn from a private sector partner —
and for that partner to benefit from all that libraries have to
offer.
And the project will enable the achievement of local aims whilst
at the same time contributing to national targets and strategies,
including Best Value, Social Inclusion — and most of all
in encouraging and inspiring young people’s reading.
Tricia Kings LaunchPad Co-ordinator of the Chatterbox
Project
tk113@hotmail.com
More articles from News From The LA
Building for the Future
Bob McKee, Chief Exectutive, Library Association
Youth and Schools Libraries
2001 Onwards! Jonathan Douglas
Early Years Report
What is LaunchPad? Anne
Sarrang
LaunchPad: Carnival of Reading
Catherine Blanchard
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