 |
| This article first appeared
in the December 1999 issue of Literacy
Today (issue no. 21). |
Schools
and libraries read together
Lynne
Taylor, project manager, Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Shadowing Scheme
| Pupils
from different schools used the latest technology to give presentations
and talk about the shortlisted books. |
The shadowing scheme for the Carnegie
and Kate Greenaway Medals has again been a tremendous success with more
than 500 groups of students taking part, taking on the task of reading the
shortlisted books and deciding their own winners. The scheme encourages
children to read more widely and to think more deeply about the books they
have read. This year saw more public library services becoming involved,
either with schools, or through library-based reading groups, such as the
Clapham Teenage Reading Group who attended the awards ceremony.
The involvement of author and
reader-in-residence at Medway Libraries, Sandra Agard, gave extra impetus
to a shadowing project which worked well to bring public libraries and
schools closer together. Medway librarians were amazed that so many of
the secondary school pupils had read the whole shortlist in such a short
time and that they all had very definite opinions on the merits or otherwise
of the titles. The length or complexity of the books seemed to be no deterrent
and The Kin proved to be extremely popular, especially among the boys.
Medway public libraries have
kept up these links by supplying new titles to the schools on a regular
basis to help pupils feel more
involved in the process from the very beginning and provide useful feedback
for book selection.
Support from the Carnegie UK
Trust and the BT Reading Challenge meant that the Library Association
could link the shadowing scheme to the latest developments in information
and communication technology, with the creation of the shadowing website
and a showcase videoconferencing event. The pilot videoconference - made
possible by Questmark Europe who provided four locations with videoconferencing
facilities - lasted just over an hour. This enabled pupils from four different
schools to give presentations and talk about the books shortlisted for
the Carnegie Medal, as well as gaining insight into the judging process.
| The shortlists for the
Carnegie and Greenaway awards are released in May; winners are announced
in July. For more information visit www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk. |
Subscribe to Literacy Today
| |
80px.gif)
