Back to Books and Beyond

Avery famous children’s author, Eric Carle, passed away last month, leaving behind a lifetime’s worth of creating incredible children’s books, the memory of which will be preserved forever in our homes, bookshop and library shelves. His most famous book – The Very Hungry Caterpillar - is a great analogy to use when thinking about the last year in the library. The Caterpillar metamorphoses through various stages to miraculously come out completely different, but even more beautiful than before. It could be said that everyone, including the library, has undergone its own transformation in the past year.

The abrupt end to face-to-face learning in term three of last year prompted a complete re-think of our library service and provision. Overnight we became tech wizards, Zooming and Teaming, Seesawing and Clipping. We recorded books online (abled by the softening of literary copyrights for children’s books) and linked the children to online book recommendations and resources. And here shines out the first of many silver linings. Across the world, publishers and authors came out in their droves to provide free online book resources, readings and activities. There was a camaraderie

Tracy Ammoury and Rachel Hunton | DESS Librarians

in the literary world that had never been seen before. Publishers and authors’ websites sprung up, bursting with book activities and extracts. Twitter was alive with the buzz of new resources and book readings by so many amazing children’s authors. The book world pulled together, supporting and helping our children who were suddenly found themselves locked in their ‘home schools’. Reflecting the mood of this time, authors turned their pens to writing about what children were feeling and experiencing.

Lockdown prompted a realisation and recognition of the importance of books and reading in children’s lives. The role of reading goes far beyond AR quizzes and schemes – it is a safe haven, a quiet corner for the mind, and a much-needed relief from blinding screen times. Whether it be the last book at bedtime, something to do together or a bit of special, quiet, alone time, reading can provide comfort and security in an otherwise confusing and scary world. Books leave wide open spaces for our imaginations to fill. Perhaps we also reached for something familiar and comforting during these times, a return to the past, before technology and highspeed reels and trends.

“The role of reading [...] is a safe haven, a quiet corner for the mind, and a much-needed relief from blinding screen times.

our Amazon Warehouse stage, delivering bespoke boxes of books to each class, which the children selected from a questionnaire or via our online reservation system. We fondly, (or not so fondly) remember the library with sanitised boxes up to the ceiling, quarantine zones marked out in tape on the floor and lists upon lists of books.

Back to school in September and back in the library, we were unable to open fully to the children. We passed through what we call Into term two and a slight shift allowed us to introduce tiny bubbles of Year 5 and 6 children into the library, with a ‘no touch’ policy. The children adapted to selecting their books with the shadow of us librarians with them at all times. We also launched our Littlest Libraries scheme – setting up baby libraries in Years 2, 3 and 4. Children’s bubbles remained intact again with the ‘don’t touch the books policy’ and it was a giant step forward to begin to have face time with the classes. And here lies another silver lining. With these new situations began a flurry of ‘booky’ conversations with the children; healthy conflabs about likes and dislikes, discussions about new books and old, with us making book suggestions and recommending the next read, the restrictions of the situation actually opened the door wider for us to promote reading for all.

We are still a long way from the library we knew before, our themed book days of igloos and flashlights, cozy blankets, twinkling stars and London landmarks. But we are lurching in the right direction. We continue to promote reading and nurture a life-long love for books.

In the outside world, the literary train is gaining momentum; for the first time in ten years, on both sides of the Atlantic, book sales are up, with children’s books leading the way. In England, Cressida Cowell (author of How to Train a Dragon and The Wizards of Once series), is pioneering a Libraries Change Lives project, lobbying the government to give an extra 100 million pounds to education, to ensure that there are gold standard libraries in every school. Books have reached a new high. This is more than a silver lining; this is a glittering lining!

And so, we librarians and children continue to adapt and change every day, rather like expert caterpillars, aiming to become the next better version of ourselves.

As Eric Carle said, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar story is about hope. You, like the little caterpillar, will grow up, unfold your wings and fly off to the future.”