Feature The Big Read


local long-stay hospitals, old people’s homes, and a shel- ter for the homeless. Our interest in working with the homeless—or, as was firmly pointed out on our first visit, “those experienc- ing temporary homelessness”—was particularly strong. Having heard that one of the many challenges faced by the homeless is boredom (there is a lot of time to fill), how to include them in book-sharing was already the basis of a regular “first-week challenge” for students on our MA Publishing course. We approached local homeless char- it Joel Communit Services (JCS), which provides shel- ter for the homeless. Manager Dan Wheeler was imme- diately enthusiastic about the prospect of sharing books with his communit.


Special editions We went to work, talking to the project’s residents about what kind of books they liked. A few weeks later, we returned to hand out free copies of Haig’s novel for the residents. The response was enthusiastic. Books are seen as disposable by some and are taken for granted. But within a group of people who have few belongings, there was an immense pleasure in being given some- thing that was truly theirs. They liked the fact that it was a special edition, that it came from the local universit— and that it did not have to be handed back. We returned three months later with Haig. The resi- dents had an informal opportunit to ask questions about both the book and how he came to write it. It was a moving encounter, and clear that sharing the book had made a strong impression on both author and residents. The longer-term impact of working with JCS has been significant. It is launching its own book club, which King- ston Universit will help to gain access to books. JCS is using reading within its wider portfolio of techniques for promoting residents’ time-management, particularly for those who do not work. (Shockingly, around 25% of JCS residents have employment, but cannot find anywhere to live local to their place of work due to high accommo- dation costs.)


Wheeler admits that the shelter is “a captive audi- ence, with plent of time” but rather than just handing out the books, he actively promotes shared reading. He has discussed with them how Haig’s book’s wider themes—friendship, love and resilience—relate to


Pictured are a curated selection of titles handed out as part of the Kingston University Big Read above and the selection committee right in charge of choosing books to include; among them was a special edition of Matt Haig’s The Humans, pictured below with the Big Read branding


the characteristics needed in societ. Back at the universit, we consistently found there was strong support for how our book was being shared within the wider communit, and particularly for work- ing with homeless people. Wendy Morris, a Kingston Universit Big Read library champion, said: “The library staff were surprised that so many of the residents were keen to engage with a shared reading project and that a


Books are seen as disposable by some and taken for granted. But within a group of people who have few belongings, there was an immense pleasure in being given something that was truly theirs. They liked the fact that it was a special edition, that it came from the local university—and that it did not have to be handed back


high percentage were in work. Two members of library staff volunteered to help with the group at the homeless centre and, as a result of hearing about the initiative, one ended up helping full-time for a fortnight at a homeless hostel over Christmas and New Year.” Another colleague requested books to share with a similar centre in Wimbledon and Kingston Universit is now also working with an organisation that supports refugees. Sharing what we have learned has had a profound effect on our communit, personalising under- standing of homelessness, who is involved, and what it means on a daily basis. Then there’s the simple affirma- tive value of receiving a free book. ×


32


16:00


Dr Alison Baverstock hosts How Can Pre-arrival Shared Reading Build a University Community? at the fair today, at 16.00 in the Dark Room


14th March 2017


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48