The show goes on
Wellbeing advicevia online site
NIKI TENNANT
A dedicated YouTube channel has been created for South Lanarkshire’s youngest library lovers.
The Libraries Children’s Team have put themselves on camera to create content dedicated to helping entertain and educate young book fans during lockdown.
South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s library service has a well-established online presence which continues to be improved and expanded to support the resources and services available in libraries, with the coronavirus pandemic seeing the team putting a full focus on the digital side.
For the Children’s Team, that meant finding a way to deliver interactive sessions for the very young such as Bookbug, Shake, Rattle and Read and Fiona’s Foodie Fun.
That’s when they came up with online video as the answer.
SLCC general manager, David Booth, said: “We’ve all had to adapt very quickly to the current situation and our libraries team have done a fantastic job.
“The children’s team faced the particular challenge of reaching out to our youngest audience and creating a dedicated YouTube channel allows children to see the familiar, friendly face of their favourite assistants and participate in fun and educational activities.”
The channel was launched earlier this month and has already racked up thousands of views, with the team proving a hit with young fans, as a two-year-old, with a little help from a grown up, demonstrated through an email.
It read: “Hello, just a little email to say we are missing coming along to the Library and seeing all of our friends and taking part in Bookbug with Kirsty and all of our friends.
“I’m missing Zooming Bookbug to the
Moon and singing Wind Your Bobbin up during song time and going upstairs to play with everyone during ‘Let’s play.’
“My little sister misses coming to the library with mummy too, she never sleeps through Bookbug now and is starting to take part in all of the songs as well as watching everyone around her. She loves going along to Tactile Tots and practising her new skills with all of her baby friends and letting Mummy chat to Kirsty and all of the mummies and get a warm cup of tea. We look forward to seeing everyone again soon.”
For other library users, including older children, the libraries team are using their Twitter and Facebook feeds to keep in touch and share information on services and activities.
One measure of their success is an incredible 245 per cent increase in the number of users registered for their BorrowBox eBook service.
The libraries pages on South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s website offer links (www.slleisureandculture.co.uk/info/504/ active-e/1124/digital_library) to the digital library resources.
Keep in touch, keep moving and keep being kind to yourself.
These are just some of the messages being shared with parents and carers to promote good health and wellbeing for families during these challenging times.
The Scottish Government’s Parent Club ‘Here For You’ campaign is encouraging parents and carers to look after themselves as they juggle the additional pressure being placed on them as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Whether it’s trying to support the kids’ learning while working from home or keeping on top of the housework and trying to keep the kids entertained and fed, there’s a lot to deal with.
Parent Club is a digital information resource, support hub and online community offering practical advice and support for parents and carers in South Lanarkshire and across Scotland.
From mental health advice, tips for play and learning at home, keeping active and eating well to talking to your kids about coronavirus, advice comes from the trusted voices of other parents and is backed by experts and the Scottish Government.
To find out more and get help to make the day a little easier, visit parentclub.scot/coronavirus, and follow @ParentClubScotland on Facebook and @parentclubscot on Twitter.