Topic: My Choice - Lynley Dodd - A Retrospective (and the value of our State Library Service)

Activity: Observe and document a program delivered for children or young adults at a local library, reflect on the experience.

On the 29th of March I attended the Lynley Dodd – A Retrospective exhibition launch at the State Library of South Australia (SLSA). This was a free event hosted by the SLSA and included a free Hairy Maclary family fun day for the public. I attended, along with my children, the invitation only exhibition opening, which was open to all South Australian public library staff and their families. The launch was attended by approximately 100 adults and children with the SLSA director, Alan Smith welcoming Dame Lynley Dodd to Adelaide. This was followed by Dame Lynley speaking about the exhibition and about the successful Hairy Maclary book series, one which I have personally always loved and shared with my children from birth. The opening also included a performance by children’s entertainer Peter Coombe, who sang one song, with the audience joining in, after which we were invited to view the exhibition itself. 

 Source: http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au

What did you learn?

From attending this launch, I was able to assess how the State Library of South Australia presents authors, how they launch exhibitions and run sessions. This was the first time in the five years I have lived in South Australia that the SLSA has run such a large scale program for children and families. Judging by the unanticipated numbers that attended the event, there is a great demand for literary-based events such as this for families of young children.

The event also gave me the opportunity to watch a storytime session run by The Little Big Book Club team. The Little Big Book Club provide training across the state in early childhood literacy and the presentation of preschool sessions, therefore it was of great value to observe their methods of presenting. I noted during their session that they kept their composure and presented well considering they were performing to a very large and excitable group in a very cramped and difficult space. They presented a mixture of nursery rhymes, songs and read several of Lynley Dodd’s picture books.

The Hairy Maclary Fun Day should be touted as a huge success. I suspect the SLSA did not anticipate the volume of families that would attend the fun day, therefore the setup and amount of entertainment appeared to be insufficient. When we emerged from the Mortlock Wing which is on the second floor, it was to a view of hundreds of families waiting to enter the library.

Before the crowds really arrived! Source: www.slsa.sa.gov.au

How was the activity relevant to your professional practice as a librarian for children or young adults?

Attending this kind of large scale event allowed me the opportunity to consider how the public view events that are held by libraries and the value that is placed on literary events and programs aimed at children and their families. This event, if anything, should have proven to library staff in Adelaide just how many residents value picture books, children’s authors and entertainment that is suitable for families of young children. As this is the same audience that the programs I prepare are aimed, it was valuable to assess this from the perspective of the audience, rather than the presenter, although we would never run any session with quite this volume of attendees!

Were there any gaps in your knowledge revealed? 

This event caused me to reconsider how I think about the role of the State Library of South Australia in promoting and providing literacy experiences for the public. The vast promotional capabilities and the location of the library within the city centre means the State Library is the library for all residents, not just a local government area, as with public libraries. This equitable access means that events such as this, rather than being a rarity, should be a regular occurrence with the capabilities to bring similar exhibitions or tours to the capital city.  After reviewing the State Library of South Australia’s Strategic Plan 2014-2017, I noted that one of the five priorities for this period is “Engaging with children and their families as the next generation of users so that they know about their history and place in the world” (p.2).  I believe that as this is a focus area for the development of the service, they have made a good start in changing how the service is viewed by the public.

My children with Dame Lynley Dodd.

References

State Library of South Australia. (n.d.) Strategic Plan 2014-2017. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/State_Library_of_SA_Strategic_Plan_2014-2017_-_Low_Resolution.pdf