Guest Northern Highlight - Youth Libraries Group
Guest Northern Highlight
 |
| Alison Brumwell and Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal Judges |
Youth Libraries Group
Alison Brumwell and Jake Hope
Can you tell us about YLG?
YLG (Youth Libraries Group) is one of CILIP’s several special interest groups. We were formed nearly 75 years ago, and our focus is upon supporting children’s reading development. We provide training and CPD opportunities for our membership of just over 1400 librarians/library workers. While these are mainly derived from school and public library settings, we also have members from 17 other library and information sectors; including amongst them, prison, academic and health. What unites us is a shared passion for books, ensuring that children and young people have access to stories and information in a range of diverse formats, and that their own voices and lived experiences are reflected. YLG also administers the prestigious CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, which are in their 84th and 64th years, respectively.
How many members are there in the North?
YLG has regional branches in Scotland, the North West, the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber. While the majority of our membership is based in what constitutes the “south” of the UK, we have over five hundred members in these four regions many of whom serve on committees, contribute their time and considerable expertise as CKG judges, volunteer for initiatives like National Shelf Service and otherwise fly the flag for quality library services to children and young people.
Can you tell us about the highlights of the YLG annual conference in 2020?
The past year has seen many challenges for our profession but one of its highlights was the YLG national conference, In the Frame: Putting Readers in the Picture, which we delivered virtually in November 2020. It was a labour of love for the national committee and would not have been possible without librarian support from Scotland, NW, NE and Y+H regions. Highlights included interviews with acclaimed writer Maggie O’Farrell, a fascinating session about the creation of Nosy Crow’s “Tiger, Tiger” poetry anthology and an event with illustrator James Mayhew reflecting upon his social media “Illustration of the Day” campaign. Established authors like Alex Wheatle and Patrice Lawrence featured in the programme, alongside exciting newcomers like Annabelle Sami and Francesca Gibbons. The 2020 conference was also an opportunity to celebrate the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal winners, Anthony McGowan and Shaun Tan.
How is YLG involved in the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway awards?
The judging process begins and ends with reading! Every member of CILIP is able to put forward a nomination for the Carnegie medal and one for the Kate Greenaway medal for a book that they feel offers an outstanding reading experience through the way it is written or illustrated. Our members are busy reading and discussing books all through the year in readiness for making nominations. Our YLG regions organise nomination days to discuss the books they feel should be nominated and to put these forward. YLG also supports the phenomenal shadowing scheme which sees tens of thousands of children and young people reading the books and voting for their favourites! It’s a very intensive but exciting process!
What events do you have planned for 2021?
As part of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway programme we’ve organised a number of virtual events with Jackie Morris, Shaun Tan, Kwame Alexander and Ruta Sepetys. We also have a Twitter Takeover planned for 13 June – we’re just working on the programme for that now and of course the awards announcement will take place on 16 June! We are organising a special writing competition for young people to tie with Paul Jennings’ autobiography Untwisted and have some other exciting plans so definitely keep an eye on our Twitter @youthlibraries!
The high point in most years is our annual conference. In 2021 we’re planning for our conference to be in Torquay, 17-19 September. Representations of Place: New Lands and New Ways of Looking will give delegates to meet publishers, including several regional ones like Barrington Stoke, to share good practice and to be inspired. Once again, we will offer a blended programme with CPD opportunities offered through a range of breakout sessions and author panels and plenaries. Confirmed to date are Michael Morpurgo, Philip Reeve, Geraldine McCaughrean, Paul Jennings, Hilary McKay, Morag Styles, Nicola Morgan, Kevin Crossley-Holland and illustrators Chris Riddell, Debi Gliori and Yu Rong. We hope 2021 conference will offer three days of reflection upon “place” in its myriad layers: physical, imaginative, the landscape of the brain and the body… not to mention the very beautiful Devon countryside surrounding Torquay.
Can you tell us about your conference with CBN this year?
The conference with Children’s Books Norths feels a brilliant opportunity for librarians, authors, illustrators and publishing professionals to come together and to learn more about one another’s work. It’s a fantastic chance to network and to add value to what we do. Libraries are all about connections, connecting people with the past and future, with different world views and ways of thinking and seeing. The conference feels an ideal way to connect with other children’s book professionals to build and grow new opportunities, we’re really excited by this!
Why is it important that we continue to support children’s libraries and librarians in the North?
It is vital that we continue to support children’s libraries and librarians in the North as they serve some of the most underrepresented and disadvantaged communities in the UK. They provide safe spaces, access to books and opportunities for families to share a range of artistic experiences. In many smaller towns and villages, they are also community hubs and allow children to have cross-generational experiences. We hope that children’s libraries in the North will continue to provide these services, and with YLG’s support through our partnership working with organisations like Children’s Books North, as well as via regional training and joint events.
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment