Written by Nayan Mehrotra, LEC 2019
The journey of experiencing the library educators course was enriching and exciting on many levels. Before doing the course, I had a small open library which I was running out of my passion for library work. I did not know much of the practices and approaches which I got exposed to while doing the course. This course not only made me critically reflect on my practices but also helped me grow as library educator in many senses. This course was not about just doing reading in isolation and attending sessions, it was about connecting with self, connecting with readings and findings one’s own notion about library.
What I found most interesting about the course is the design of the contact periods. Each day used to be filled with small surprises, deep reflective moments, group discussions and quiet reading time. Small surprises came in the form of character alive, designing our own library cards, or surprise story performances by the Bookworm team. These small creative and human touch to sessions led me to think how the library space can be made alive and energetic. Discussions on readings helped me to broaden perspective while listening to responses of others. In addition, there were also practical elements to understand the functioning of library through games, like how to organize a collection in the library and how a community library functions. Quiet reading time allowed me explore the treasure of childrens literature which is thoughtfully curated by the team.
The journey did not pause with the end of each contact; the extended contact period which was virtual in the form of moodle helped me to not lose touch with the readings and discussions. The support and encouragement provided by the mentors at each stage was incredible. I haven’t experienced such intense support in any other course; descriptive feedback on assignment, discussion over group calls, and through mails made me understand the true notion of mentor. The assignments and readings in the course helped me understand myself better, question my own assumptions about children literature and notion of libraries. Through the project work, I could translate the theory into practice and build concrete the understanding of practices that I just glanced through at Bookworm.
I am really grateful and proud to be part of the library educators course and I highly recommend this course to everyone who is working in the library space. And a visit to Bookworm library in Goa, is a must! 