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Let’s Read A Collaborative Initiative in Waterloo Region. Laura Dick, Literacy Librarian Kitchener Public Library Karen Murray-Hopf, Children’s Services/Designer Cambridge Libraries & Galleries. Agenda. Welcome The Idea The Plan What makes it Different? Questions. The Idea.
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Let’s ReadA Collaborative Initiative in Waterloo Region Laura Dick, Literacy Librarian Kitchener Public Library Karen Murray-Hopf, Children’s Services/Designer Cambridge Libraries & Galleries
Agenda • Welcome • The Idea • The Plan • What makes it Different? • Questions
The Plan: The Details • Developing partnerships and figuring out how to collaborate • 4 library systems • 1 adult literacy organization • Alignment of missions, visions and goals
The Plan: Mission Statement • To build a community of readers by encouraging the families of Waterloo Region to experience the joy of reading the same book. Goals • to encourage families* to read together • to inspire a love of reading and to generate conversation about books • to promote the use of public libraries • to support and promote Canadian children’s literature • to build community across Waterloo Region amongst readers, and to strengthen the relationship of the public libraries • to offer a diverse range of programs to support and promote the annual book selection *We intend “families” to be completely inclusive, regardless of age, relationship, or literacy level
The Plan: Funding • Seed money in 2007 from The Cowan Foundation • Additional donations from The Cowan Foundation in 2008-2010 • Support through The Waterloo Region Record Community Partnerships Program • In-kind support from partner organizations
The Plan: Book Selection Criteria for book selection: • Grade 3/4 reading level • Canadian author • Needs to be in print • Available in soft cover • No self-published titles • Not a Forest of Reading winner for past two years • Mutually appealing to boys and girls • Appealing to both children and adults • Has a "wow" factor • If the title chosen is in a series, it must be able to stand alone as well • Consider special needs (e.g. books on CD for hearing impaired, Braille copies)
The Plan: Selection Process Process: • Members each pitch three or four titles to the committee 2) Committee votes on a short-list of three titles 3) Each member reads the short-list titles 4) Committee votes for the winner
The Plan: The Press • One committee member is the primary media contact • Support from The Waterloo Region Record Newspaper • Let's Read title and families are featured in articles • Let's Read committee purchases some ads and receives others in-kind
The Plan: Publicity • Paid and donated ads and articles in region-wide and rural newspapers and in Community Activity Guide • Take advantage of in-house designers/marketing/promotions • Appearances on local daytime TV • Posters for community and schools • Public service announcements • Website and print promotion through all members • Blog
www.letsreadwaterlooregion.blogspot.com • How do we get a screen shot of the blog in here Karen????
The Song “You & Me, Let’s Read!” I heard about a book – the other day And they had that book at my – library So I checked it out and I took it home And now I’m reading with my – family! CHORUS: So come on – let’s read You & me – let’s read, So grab a chair and sit down It’s the best deal in town Now everybody’s readin’ with their – family! So get your brother or your sis – your Mom or your Dad Your Grandma or your grandpa or your old dog Fred Read that book out loud – and have some fun But don’t stop readin’ til that book is done! CHORUS:
The Plan: Events • September: Word on the Street Festival an outdoor all ages event in September to showcase the initiative and launch the book choice
What makes Let’s Read different? • Focus on the entire family, regardless of literacy level • In Waterloo Region which comprises the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and the surrounding rural area, 24 % do not have the necessary literacy skills to function in every day society • Partnership works because everyone focuses on a program for the betterment of families
What makes it different? • Book chosen is geared so that families can read it together • In some cases, it may be the child reading to the adult • It’s an intergenerational experience
The Adult Literacy Piece • Year 1 – informed adult literacy agencies of the event and some low literate families came to some of the events, bringing the book • Year 2 – book was more relevant for modern day families – had an author visit one of the LBS classrooms • Year 3 – planning another event to bring adults to libraries and libraries to adults
Questions? • Laura.Dick@kpl.org • kmurray-hopf@cambridgelibraries.ca