Empty entertainment in the library, kind of goes against the depth of how I feel about library work. Make no mistake, I strongly support fun and games, thrive on laughter and merriment and camaraderie enjoy music, chatter and banter but think it best fits around a collection, or a book, or some other literary themed discussion. As ever my learning is pushed by forces that are beyond me.
It began in December when one of our Trustees Dr Lucio Fernandes made a small collection of some funds and announced that we need to have an event for the children in our community library in Chimbel. We needed to huddle to talk about it internally to see how this fits into our planning and program for the quarter. The MOP team is a very aware team. At least they are aware of my priorities and my boundaries and so it was easy to eliminate the idea of a vacuous get – together because we have seen how this does not bring back any value to the library.
Children in the community, come in large numbers to a party – an event – a movie and a celebration. They really do. We all find we have to hold our breath and squash ourselves into each other to make room on days like this. But the following library days and weeks the numbers remain small. The revellers do not make their way back and in some way, I have always felt events like this diminish the value of what we are trying to do.
With this background, we felt we had to think of an event that had both ‘entertainment’ as that was mandated and some educational value. Terence suggested a magician or someone who would explore science through demonstration so that wonder and excitement could be evoked. Both these reactions fit well within the scope of the library and so the quest began.
It took a lot of research on Terence’s part to finally find someone who was available, willing and knew his craft. A date was set and yet it seemed one – sided- just a show. The strength of sharing always emerges when you need it. In another group conversation, the team wondered if we can open up the library to parents as well on that day to view the artwork the children have been producing with our art teacher, Vaishnavi Sankhwalkar. This was a wonderful opportunity to organise the art into display pieces. To label them and to create a gallery. Invitations and conversations with the children lead to them wanting eagerly to be involved.
An entire session was dedicated to putting up the artwork, understanding about arrangements, compositions, titling and arrangement. It was a learning session alright. But it had fun and chatter and laughter.
With immense dedication and hard work from all the team members, the community library in Chimbel was organised and laid out. The day dawned and every one set off for the event. What a sight awaited us.
Children were present in droves, most of them active library members which was a great relief. They were dressed to the nines, almost unrecognisable. Flowing skirts, hair braided and embellished, makeup and smart belts on the boys. It was a party alright!
The showman for the event was a young magician called Nobel Mark who was absolutely wonderful with the children. He did not appear to mind the very, very cramped space that was left after the children crowded in. He made every effort to include them, learning their names, speaking in Hindi and cracking them up with hundreds of jokes and play on words. He showed them how to do a few tricks, discussed magic and other acts of human kindness and he had the children enthralled.
The room was alive with both light and delight and the artwork of the children over the past two months shone down on all of us reminding us that entertainment can be of many kinds and its alchemy can work like magic when you work together to make it happen. I am grateful for this evening of joy because the children were a-glow with the wonder and spell that comes from magic. The library is such a place and it is a privilege to work with a team who see that and make it happen.
