LiS Showcase – this phrase popped into my head as we all sat down one day in March, planning for a ritualistic ending to the academic year of the Libraries in School ( LiS) program.
Early in August we had Gouthami an NGO Consultant join our team. It was a matter of weeks before Gouthami had sensed the potential and possibilities of the Bookworm Team. For me this was implicit in my faith but always with the caveat that I had to be there driving, pushing, urging also on occasion shouting, cajoling, listening . For the past six months I have been struggling with letting the team go forward and my taking a side step. Like a line dancer, I keep jumping into the fray and sometimes feel nudged out and more often leap out when I realise I am not being helpful – but such has been my steps this academic year. So the idea of showcase was simply phrasing my own internal dance of being a LiS team member or not.
For the first time in years, I stopped attending Bookworm LiS meetings and would overhear the raucous laughter and joy that emanated from the room when I was not present. It was both wonderful and deeply heart wrenching to see a group move forward and I am not at the nucleus. But this was important. I must step aside – much needs my attention and even more brings me joy, so I have to learn to share. It has not been easy. There is tension of my ego and my heart to belong and to allow others to grow that finds me swaying.
Before the year ended Gouthami pointed me in a direction of growth. She sensitively sat some of us down, sharing how we needed to give systematic attention to our program in terms of practical mapping of where we are going, how we will get there and when. At no point in this journey did Gouthami or any one on the LiS team need a why. Of this I am deeply proud. The culture within Bookworm is so deeply rooted in the knowledge that what we take to children in schools through the LiS program is inherently good and necessary. So I found myself gazing upon a Strategic Plan document – brilliant in its construction, thoughtful in its rendering and spot on in its budgeting. This is Gouthami’s handcrafted ‘next- level’ heart and mind work for Bookworm. I was ecstatic – like the retired teacher who learns that an old student won a big prize. I felt proud to be connected with this team and know that the work ahead had hope and a chance.
So, we are back at the rituals of our academic year end meeting. Many things had to be decided , all in a brief time with academic year end bells tolling. What should we do ? Do we do this privately on a school by school basis like we did in 2014, or do we cluster schools geographically like we did in 2016 or do we invite everyone together like we did in 2017 and on it went with the opinionated team shooting down ideas, some fresh team members trying to suggest other ideas that were shot down by the ‘seniors team members’ as tried, failed, tested etc etc. It sounds always chaotic to the unknowing observer/ listener. To me this is music. The team is fully engaged and the end of year program will be fully owned. We have done well again.
And so it emerged that a phrase like the LiS Showcase captured the attention of every one in the circle. My more determined visionary colleagues said it should not only be a sharing, we must drive home some truths, bust some deep rooted ideas about library work and such and another reminded us about schools that want to know more and we never get around to sharing.
So this was the brief ;
A central venue. An agenda of sharing and learning . A gathering of LiS schools and others.
We had around ten days to finalise this, because as happens in Bookworm’s life, episodes of other programs intrude on our time. So, once we had the LEC Contact 1 over, we regrouped for the Grande Finale. We were supported infinitely by Bookworm friends at the Goa State Central Library. Dr Carlos Fernandes the curator enabled us the space, Niju Mohan designed our invitations, the LiS team mailed, hand delivered, phoned, couriered , followed up and ensured final participation lists , Padmaja and Sarita of Goa State Central Library helped us with logistics and set up and before we knew it, we were greeting 57 teachers and heads of schools on Tuesday the 24th of April. We could host this event because of partners like the Cipla Foundation and the Alban Couto Library Program that enable us to reach out to schools that deserve library programs.
From using displays to introduce Bookworm the organisation to displays to introduce diversity in the collection, teachers engaged.
The team demonstrated songs, book talk activities, and things to think about . We initiated a dialogue on many of the aspects of tacit knowledge we have not examined about books. Do wordless books have a place in a collection ? Should difficult themes around death, disability, divorce be found in children’s books ? Should schools privilege reading ? Should library classes be quiet and more. It was a resoundingly good session of sharing and talking,
Shraddha a LiS team member writes, “ Though the teachers initially were hesitant to ask questions after the Book Talks, they opened up during the library discussion, and listening to their thoughts was an enriching experience for me, especially the one teacher’s response to wordless books and the role they can play for children with special needs.
I finally got to see the teachers from the schools I have not been to, and I felt we were all like a family. It was so nice to see a positive response from them.
The gathering was a success, and I am sure next year will be great in schools.”
The morning passed by quite happily like it does when you are in a shared context with friends. We have some feedback to process, some ways of working together as a team to strengthen even further but over all the LiS Showcase did Bookworm proud and the vision we hold ‘To inspire and develop a love for reading as a way of life, nurturing humane engagement in every girl and boy.’ .. was alive and filled with possibilities.
As Deepali writes,
“This Meet was priority number one for all including Flavia who attended it inspite of experiencing a monumental loss in her life. I also felt that you had great faith in all of us and therefore pushed us forth to take leadership in our own hands. And I would like to think that it was a success. “
and Flavia writes,
“I’ve also often felt that the current Team works well together – irrespective of any personal issues. At least I had a few days to come to grips with my loss – Deepali was present after having no rest the previous night.”
My inner dance is quieter these days, my hopes are higher than ever. I feel something good, something strong is emerging in library work in Goa and with schools and teachers on our side change is inevitable and reading joy beckons.
