ASCEL Conference 2013: Show and Tell Libraries as core building blocks in the development of children’s communication skills
8-9 November, Kegworth, Leicestershire
“Bouncy and vibrant” - Delegate
This was a conference full of laughter; learning; friendship and some very moving moments. 67 Delegates attended over the two days exploring how libraries and school library services support children’s communication skills.
“The theme was seamlessly threaded throughout” - Delegate
The conference looked at the impact of good speech and language skills on children’s reading development with The Communication Trust and how important speech and language skills are in helping children escape the cycle of poverty. Elizabeth Jarman helped us consider how to make our libraries communication-friendly with safe, enclosed spaces, calm colours and natural lighting. She entreated us to look at our libraries through a child’s eyes.
“Excellent opportunities for exchange of ideas and practice” - Delegate
Steve Lowe, Children’s Rights Officer from Derbyshire gave an impassioned, funny and powerful presentation about communicating with vulnerable children and young people. He said “when you give children the space to express themselves you get simple but fantastic solutions.”
“Excellent topic this year and well managed in terms of variety of speakers. All were on message and a joy to listen to” - Delegate
We were treated to a moving and very personal series of testimonies from authors Sophia Bennett and Kate Maryon and illustrator Lynne Chapman and the very energetic David Fickling about communication through stories.
“The workshops were entertaining and informative” - Delegate
A range of workshops gave the delegates the change to look at the new National Curriculum; teaching literacy through phonics and the importance of real books; communicating through storytelling and using digital technology; marketing and supporting school library services and also looking at the public library Universal Offers and the Children’s Promise.
The conference welcomed three ASCEL partners – Viv Bird from Booktrust; Brian Ashley from Arts Council England and Miranda McKearney from The Reading Agency who briefed us on developments that will impact on libraries.
“I felt like there was a great big dose of energising inspiration” - Delegate
The first and the last sessions focused on the delegates themselves looking at the importance of “being brilliant!” Andy Cope (author of The Art of Being Brilliant) completely energised the delegates giving us strategies to move into the 2% of the population who are significantly happier than the average because they choose to be positive, to understand that happiness is here and now and that we’ll miss it whilst we search for the gold at the end of the rainbow and left us all musing on the surprising merits of Bob the Builder. Janene Cox, President of The Society of Chief Librarians closed the conference with her personal,practicaland very clear advice on effective self presentation.
A publishers’ exhibition and goody bags full of books ensured that the delegates found lots of new titlesto inspire them. There was also thesurprise that Lynne Chapman had secretly been the “illustrator in residence” drawing delegates and speakers alike and documenting it all in her blog demonstrating the importance of visual communication as well as words.
ASCEL members can access all presentations from the conference in the members-only pages of the website.