Written by Sowmya Ravindranath, Library Educator, Valley school, Bangalore
“A course in Goa?! What fun!”, said a friend.
I would’ve certainly said the same thing if someone told me they were off to Goa for a course contact-week. That’s the thing about Goa.
Then again, that’s also the thing about the course. LEC makes you question what you think you know. For me, now, Goa is more than just about beaches, fun and fenny!
LEC is not a course one signs up for and completes. It is an invitation to think, do and be better. It is the beginning of a purposeful quest, of a library life. In the span of 7 months of the course,my standing and understanding of the Library has undergone a tumble-wash cycle – flipped, turned, spun and out with a freshness I didn’t know about.
Red Letter Days
If I had to describe the Contact days, I’d say – the days are long and the week is short!
I distinctly remember the feeling – end of day 1 of contact 1. We had finished 10 + hours of sessions, on a hot Goan-summer day. But the long, intense and reflective day had only left me with more energy and sleepless – awaiting the next day to begin. And that’s the magic of LEC!
Each day there were revelations, challenges, fun activities and an unfolding of bonds that I deeply cherish today.Going into this course with 25 people who are on a similar journey as me, is a comforting feeling. LEC has given me access to a community of fierce and committed individuals who are truly inspiring.
The Home team
What stood out, right from Day 1, was the incredible amount of thought that goes into planning sessions and activities. When you have a powerhouse of a Mentor-Facilitator team like Sujata, Usha, Jane and Theju, you cannot, but be stirred by their wit and wisdom. Their sessions have deepened my understanding of the self and how that can play a huge part in one’s immersion in library work.
Bookworm has the warmest library team I have ever met.Whether it was their meticulous planning, ever-ready spirit or just their delightful presence, observing the way they work became a big part of my learning experience.Team BW is a testimony to the fact that libraries are shared spaces – of responsibility and joy. They make me believe in the magic that can happen when people come together.
Book love
The part of the contact days I awaited the most was the Reading hour. Oh the joy of going through the superlative collection at Bookworm! It won’t be an exaggeration (but perhaps a bit corny) to say we spent the hottest time of the day with the coolest in town!And what made it even more enjoyable was how this was a shared experience. We read together, exchanged thoughts and ideas about books we read. If somebody had spotted and read a wonderful book, then that became part of our post-session conversations. What I am left with today is an amazing TBR list, that only keeps growing.
Libraries are for everyone
When I started working in the library space two years ago, my primary objective was to create a warm and vibrant library.But as the course unravelled I have come to realize that what may be warm and welcoming to one child may be hostile and intimidating to another. This epiphany has given rise to have a deeper look at the varied needs and kinds of library users.
The most memorable activity for me was going out to a café and reading a story to complete strangers. This not only pushed me out of my comfort zone, but also helped see the universal relevance of books and stories, in an immediate and non-theoretical way.
It is rather unfortunate when libraries are thought of as kingdoms of solitude and quietude, and the librarian’s role diminished to that of a noise-controller and child/ people minder.
Libraries are about people. They are about head, heart and stomach – thinking, feeling and pursuing. How wonderful it is when a library is alive – humming with eagerness, with purposeful chatter and deep discussions, companionship and elected solitude, each having their moment and reverberating with a sense of community.
Coursing through
LEC has nudged me to think a little more, to step out of the periphery, to identify the core, to traverse the depths, to allow a transcendental learning. It has been the single-most impactful journey I have ever undertaken.
I can’t quite do justice to pen down the incredible LEC experience. It is more than the thought-provoking sessions, group discussions, reading, assignments, field project and fun activities. It is a powerful concoction of all the thoughts, ideas and memories.
The warmest memories are those I share with the lovely Bookworm team, the incredible team of facilitators, my amazing fellow LEC participants – the library family! And it’s this community that makes all the difference.