February Fun

East Lothian is filled with many wonderful treasures, a rich history (did anyone mention Robert the Bruce Charter? Traprain Law Silver? Rabbie Burns? Mining? Fishing? The Witches!!) and many accolades....but how long has it been since you spent time in one of our most welcoming assets? 

East Lothian Libraries are full of surprises, laughter, wonder, resources, creativity and friendly faces. One thing you won't find is a grumpy librarian with fingers on lips sushing you or your loved ones. 

The teams are innovative, delighted to greet you and full of ideas to share, making time IN libraries a true delight, a place to meet others, form and forge connections and feel like you truly belong. 

Is it any wonder that our theme for February - a love bonanza - took us to the Libraries teams? 

Our Gathering

Hosted by Catherine, Sarah and colleagues in Tranent Library, but with a playful jump to being online too, we "filled our boots" with the magic of the libraries. Their "Why?" is simple - libraries are a place for the community, the whole community. All ages, all backgrounds, all interests, all abilities. In a typical week there will be Bookbug songs, rhymes and fun as well as book clubs, but there could be digital buddies, customer services support for accessing benefits and similar, knit and knatter, coding clubs, community info or a simple chat over collecting new batteries for a hearing aid. Whatever takes you through the doors....you know it will never be restricted to 'just books'. Oh...but those books!! What a resource we have whether borrowing in person or online.....

It's all about the books, the books, the books....

Is there anything better than seeing a young child with book opened on the floor, their body stretched out and chin cupped in their hand as they become immersed in a new place, space and time through the words and pictures? Or perhaps the joy of an older adult finding a book that shows them the place they visited 50 yrs ago....or the triumph of finding the book you've been waiting for back on the shelf. Magic! Not just books of course, other publications are there to share their words, stories and information. Safely housed and cared for in our libraries - and a meaningful tool for self care for all of us.

So, if that was all that you found within the walls of the libraries, that would be enough wouldn't it? A favourite author - perhaps a NEW author or genre to explore, a historical publication or whatever else you wanted to read....all so important in their own right. Well, that is just the tip of the iceberg really, as our libraries truly do love us and embrace us for 'all one's born days.'  

It's NOT only about the books - it's about YOU and ME

To take a peek at what is on in your local library - check out the E Lothian Council's library pages or the facebook page. (Top Tip: It's always worth checking in regularly as things change too.) Catherine, who has a special E. Lothian wide post for Health and Wellbeing Development shared her focus on this being a central focus for all the library services - recognising the amazing opportunity the libraries offer as a focal point, a place to gather and connect, to find information and to feel valued, seen and supported. For some this is as simple as a face-to-face contact and friendly chat collecting hearing aid batteries, for some it may be inclusion into a group or activity, getting to know both staff and volunteers in the libraries as well as others from the same community and making friendships through shared interests and situations. It may relate to the resources in / through the library too and feeling supported to find this and explore it. It may be about the fun of summer reading challenges, memory and local history groups, storytelling, writers, penpal buddies or book groups. It may about being a warm and safe space to spend time in, but we recognise that community settings are such special places and the truth of 'every interaction is an intervention' in the lives of all who come through the doors.

Surprise!

Now, maybe you think that is more than enough....but just hold on there. What about libraries and being OUTSIDE? Well, that is absolutely an option - with a couple of walk and talk groups and some bookbug sessions outdoors already, but as Dionne and Mark shared - there are two Library Gardens being developed too! Dionne was delighted to share a tale of persistance, resilience and hope with the garden at N. Berwick becoming a reality. Years have passed with the aspiration shared, but funding meant work could finally start in partnership with E.L.C. for ground clearing of rubble and preparation with raised beds etc. Planting and partners to garden and grow connections are the next chapters as Dionne and colleagues look forward to a truly intergenerational approach for their garden. Accessibility is being maximised and the future chapters of this story are ready to be written with many hearts and hands combining to ensure it is a good one. 

Mark shared the early stages of a Prestonpans Library garden too, bringing the wonderful DadsWork (adults) and children together initially, to prepare and develop the initial stages of the garden before it becomes something for everyone. The recognition that outdoors space, so important for health and wellbeing, along with sustainability being a common focus and skill-share opportunity, is also an open door for intergenerational connections was discussed and certainly ignited some passions. If you are surprised by these developments, you weren't the only one.....who knew our Libraries were also loving our opportunities to grow and nurture plants and relationships in gardens! Whether you are 'green' about gardening or have skilled green fingers - both Library teams would love to have your help and engagement. "Many hands make light work" - and of course, the library will have a wonderful source of books to learn together from! Win-win for sure! We can see "Pans Pals" enjoying this opportunity in time too!

So, that must be it now. Surely! Well, let me ask you this. Do you know what an owlbear is? No? Well maybe your library can help again - with an intro to Dungeon and Dragons perhaps! A fantasy-based game not caught your imagination? Crafting more your thing? Or maybe just looking for something really calming that helps clear your mind - like mindful colouring for adults - any age of adults! Well, if you don't feel the love yet - maybe it's Lego you love...and libraries do love Lego Clubs. Whatever it is that humans find so engaging around building and construction is found in lego...as are stories / make-believe and a spirit of experimentation. 

Passions, Interests and Know-How

Maybe the skill-sharing is something you could contribute to - Tranent Library's Saturday "Know How To" sessions are keen to recruit local community enthusiasts to come and share something they are passionate and knowledgeable about, so if you are inspired about something in another library, why not have a chat with your local community librarian and see what you can get going and how many ways you can bring together people of different ages. 

Our discussions noted that there is scope to develop intergenerationally in so many ways - like Reading Champions, where older children or adults with literacy (reading) challenges can still support development of reading and love of literacy in young children and feel deeply valued / encouraged to be a 'literacy champ', (perhaps starting with playgroups in high schools - Tots and Teens). Paired reading schemes can run in school and in libraries, as can homework clubs. Bookbug can be intergenerational, reading with someone who has developed visual or cognitive impairments - with sensory links used to bring stories to life works for young children too, as does being very playful. Digital buddies, pen-pals (both in English and other languages). We chatted about ambition to create a public living room (See Camerados) and games to encourage conversation, memories and even the Regional Ethnologies project for capturing stories about growing up, living and working in E. Lothian over different lifespans. Children and young people have been trained to be Ethnology interviewers - and this could be captured so well in libraries too. (Training available through the Project Leads). The project shares all the info with the John Gray Centre also - the region's local history centre in Haddington which is another amazing resource for us all and loves engaging with the communities around E. Lothian. 

Biggest surprise of all?

Libraries love noises and activity!!

Don't believe me? Check out PlayJAM. A joint project between East Lothian Play Association (ELPA) and East Lothian Libraries. Initially piloted in Prestonpans & then rolled out to Tranent Libraries; developed through collaborations and ideas shared in Hubs and summer of play in Covid times. Play and Story are completely interwoven and support literacy, learning, engagement, connection, health and resilience. An incredibly strong and positive wellbeing approach for all ages to connect through.

So - do you feel loved?    Do you feel included?     Do you love the libraries' ideas? 

For staff and volunteers in libraries interested in developing intergenerational opportunities - Play and Storytelling the Intergenerational Way is a suite of resources from Generations Working Together and Play Scotland*, including a Toolkit to explore and a Booklist which had contributions from Caroline Messer (East Lothian Libraries) and Ruth Boreham (Scottish Book Trust). *Play Scotland and GWT are free for everyone in Scotland to join and access the resources. SBT and GWT also co-created How to run an intergenerational writing project. (Free to join GWT for everyone in Scotland to access the resources). 

There's a long history of bringing children and adults together through libraries. Bookbug in care homes is an ideal choice for early years and older grandfriends or any other opportunities for these age groups, building on a shared sense of experience and something that has real value for both age groups. (Song, rhyme / nursery rhymes and stories shared between young children and adults can lead to a really meaningful reminiscence time, with the older adults often referring to their own childhoods or raising children / nephews and nieces, or even work-related. Action songs are wonderful, encouraging movements, timing and rhythm which is great with all ages for cognitive function, but it is also very inclusive as it encompasses different languages, including sign language, really well. An East Lothian project, "The Language of Art", used rhymes, action songs and art-based activities to introduce different languages to children and older adults from care homes, day centres or through 'grandparents with grandchildren' activity, combining introduction to the benefits of bilinguilism, creativity and art, song and rhymes, physical activity and intergenerational connections alongside a researcher. It worked well with different age groups of children in same session also.

As Sarah, Tranent's Community Library noted pre-meeting, Dungeons and Dragons, where teenagers support and mix with younger children, brings a really positive benefit for both younger and older children and is one of her favourite times of the week. Although this wouldn't be termed intergenerational practice, it is true to say that the biological gap is far greater than the chronological one over this age span. In short, bringing together different age groups on a sustained basis, reaps positive benefits.