LIBRARIES MAKE READING A WALK IN THE PARK
THREE LIBRARIANS SHARE THEIR RECENT STORYWALK® EXPERIENCE, THE BENEFITS, AND SOME HOT TIPS ON RUNNING STORYWALKS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
WHAT IS A STORYWALK®?
Storywalk® is an international initiative that, because of COVID-19, over the last two years has become popular worldwide. This includes 11 new Storywalks by libraries in Aotearoa.
Storywalks inspire reading in a creative way – building youngsters’ literacy skills without them even knowing! The walk also encourages time with friends and whānau in a free outdoor space, where everyone is welcome.
Pages of a children’s book are displayed on boards, secured to posts along a path, usually through a park. Storywalk® is a registered service trademark owned by creator Anne Ferguson of Vermont, USA in collaboration with the Kellogg-hubbard Library. Acknowledgements should be made to Anne Ferguson, the book publisher, author and illustrator at the beginning or end of any Storywalk® produced.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PROVIDING A STORYWALK?
Storywalks support literacy development as well as physical and social wellbeing, especially for children and families/whānau. They also provide a brilliant opportunity for community building and engagement outside the library walls.
Promoting reading
A Storywalk® is enticing for kids who have plenty of energy or are not usually keen on reading. The appearance of a new book on the Storywalk® can encourage whānau to develop literacy rituals by exploring each story together. They are a novel way of presenting gorgeous books to not-yet-library-users outside the library walls and are ideal for highlighting our New Zealand authors and illustrators.
Getting kids active
Storywalks also encourage tamariki and their whānau to spend time outdoors together, walking, biking or running from post to post as they follow the story. It gives a purpose to “going for a walk” and a helpful distraction for those unenthused about the value of fresh air and exercise. The development of cognitive skills, such as language learning, reading, predicting, and detail observation, go “hand-inhand” with the gross motor skills used in physical activity. Simply put, when we move our body, our brain works better!
Building community
The flow on effect of people getting outdoors and reading together has a positive impact, not only on individuals and families/whānau, but on the wider community. Storywalks allow libraries to connect with the community where they are, when in-person visits may be limited or unavailable.
The positive messages upheld in books chosen for the Storywalk® are themselves significant in contributing to societal and cultural transformation. Connections can also be made between the stories and local or national celebrations such as Matariki, Conservation Week, Te wiki o te reo Māori, and Christmas.
Extending the library’s reach
The Storywalk® boards can be a way to advertise events and resources at the library related to the story that the community may not be aware of. It is also a great way of linking in with events that are currently running, for example reading challenges, school holiday programmes, and wider council events and activities.
There is much potential to work with community groups such as Scouts or land care cooperatives who enjoy this free activity. Storywalks also provide an opportunity for positive acrossorganisation collaboration with council staff members in a project that benefits community wellbeing.
WHAT DID WE LEARN IN THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING STORYWALKS? Factor in damage
Inevitably, there will be damage or vandalism. Have backups of your books and hard materials to replace any damaged ones as keeping on top of this is important to the image of the library. Alternatively, with publisher permission, copying the pages onto synthetic waterproof paper cuts down preparation time and costs, and means the pages are fine in any weather and are reusable.