Written by R. Devabalan, LEC 2020
Having spent almost a quarter-century in development work, I had the privilege of participating in training, workshops, and multiple learning courses but the Library Educators Course organized by Bookworm Trust is unique.
What makes LEC unique, are three things: the facilitators, the curriculum, and the mentoring support.
The facilitators of the course are extremely helpful teachers, who understand the varying learning curve of each participant and encourage the learners to chart their own learning path. The faculty demonstrate critical elements of good Library Educators; non-judgmental, tolerant, listening, receptive to diverse ideas and opinions, and supportive of spaces for discussion.
The brilliant aspect of the course is its structure, the course content, and activities that make sure that no one remains passive. The course is designed in such a way that, every participant will be motivated to read books, and every assignment will make one probe for answers, and get familiar with some brilliant authors and librarians. The learner will be surprised to realize in a short time how much they have learned and shared in the group and the course will nudge you to become an avid reader.
LEC is designed by keeping the participants at the center of the teaching. The course recognizes each ones varying pace of learning, and there is no pressure on the participants to compete with fellow course participants but to collaborate. Activities, assignments, and guidance are provided in small groups with the support of mentors. The course makes one read books that we may otherwise avoid, transform skills on the possibilities of doing more with less, and more importantly teach each participant to be more respectful and tolerant while disagreeing. The learning happens gradually and consciously. The course changed my perceptions about books and the role of a librarian besides uncovering prejudices and limiting thoughts.
The course set me free to work with children and engage with them passionately, besides building my skills and capacities to strengthen libraries in rural and resource-constrained settings.
