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THIS WEEK SHORTLISTED


Eltham Library Eltham, London


‘‘T


he Enchanted Story Garden has brought magic to Eltham Library,” says Rebecca Gediking, national chil-


250


Average footfall per day since the Story Garden opened in December


£125k SHORTLISTED


Arden Academy Knowle, Solihull


Arts Council Grant given to Eltham Library to create its Story Garden


dren’s library specialist for Greenwich Leisure Limited, which runs the service. The library was awarded £125,121 from Arts Council England to create literary play space The Story Garden. Inspired by the work of local Eltham author E Nesbit, the garden’s illustra- tions were designed by author and illustrator Graham Carter who is returning in September for the launch of his new book Otto Blotter Bird Spotter (Andersen Press). It was opened by the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in December 2018, and since then has received, on average, 250 visits a day. “We have formed closer partnerships with schools and our local children’s centres to put on events, and have developed excellent relationships with publishers and local independent bookshops to deliver events and promote new books,” says Gediking. “The


The Lead Story Library of the Year


day we opened the garden and removed the fencing was a great day for all. For months before, lots of children would sit cross-legged outside, trying to peek underneath and see what was happening; seeing their faces when we opened was really lovely. ” Eltham Library is staffed by a professional


team who are “incredibly passionate about their work and the local communit”, says Gediking. In January 2019, they won Greenwich Leisure Limited Best Library Award. Last year, Eltham Library held more than 20 author events and 80 performances, and worked with a number of organisations including local schools, nurseries, children’s centres, scout groups and local charities to


W


hen librarian Emma O’Brien joined Solihull’s Arden Academy library


in January 2018, it had been unmanned for a period of time and was a tired and unused space. “The walls were bare, save a few marketing posters, and apart from a few steadfast students finding a place to study, the library was empty of students and books were left on the shelves,” she says. So, with the collaboration of an “incredibly supportive” line manager and the English depart- ment, O’Brien transformed the library into one with a “positive and welcoming atmosphere that promotes reading and learning”. As well as encouraging


students to shadow the Carnegie/ Kate Greenaway shortlists and the Federation of Children’s Book Groups’ Children’s Book Awards, O’Brien created a Library


08 12th July 2019 4,036


Loans to pupils in 2018— an increase of more than 300% year on year (from 1,335)


Ambassador programme. In this role, students work on displays to promote books, help on open evenings and are “generally posi- tive beacons for reading wherever possible.” Alongside this, a core group of Library Ambassadors ran a whole-school survey to decide on books to purchase for the school, and was then given a budget to buy them. This was helpful in making the library stock more contemporary and relevant for the library users themselves, and in actively inviting students who would not normally visit the


deliver a year-long programme of events. Alongside its regular programming, Eltham Library and its team has embraced technol- ogy to deliver LEGO robotics, silent yoga and augmented realit events. Performance at Eltham Library has continued to improve year on year. In the 2017/18 Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy Public Library Statistics, Greenwich was the first in the country in visits per 1,000 population. Eltham Library was a big contributor to those “outstanding” statistics, says Gediking, adding: “We are very proud of the work we have achieved at Eltham Library through innovation, collaboration, professionalism and enthusiasm.”


library to participate in selecting titles. O’Brien’s work increased book loans in her first year more than threefold: from 1,335 in 2017 to 4,036 in 2018. O’Brien says: “The students


have been a great source of moti- vation for me, and giving them a voice and opinion on the library has really helped shape it.” O’Brien interviewed the Arden Student LGBT group about the library, which led to them producing a Pride display and a school-wide competition on the theme of Pride. “The school library simply could


not be the heart of the school, if it were not for the collaborative efforts of everyone,” O’Brien adds. “Never before have I worked in an environment which has had such support behind it. I am immensely proud of the library and all we have achieved, and excited to see what we go on to do next.”








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