The Library and seeking to educate through leisure activities: the example of Bordeaux Public Library

Abstract

How can pupils be received without their teacher? How can the professions of librarian and youth leader be brought closer together? How can a link be forged between the various stakeholders in children’s education? How can the library, as a window on the world, be brought to the children’s notice?

- By allowing librarians and the youth leaders to collaborate on activities - By providing librarians with training on how to lead activities, while at the same time providing the youth leaders with educational “suitcases” on a range of themes - Through communication: organisation of meetings, establishing contact with teachers, accentuating the work of the pupils… - By linking the themes of the modules to areas of the library which children don’t usually come into contact with, through the creation of games etc.

Bordeaux’s libraries have been offering answers to such questions since September 2014. High quality activities have been developed by combining the competences of the various stakeholders, which have in turn allowed the children to discover another side to the library, to learn more about what it has to offer the public and, more generally, to learn about their place in the wider world. This poster put forward our thoughts on the subject, the tools we have developed, as well as our project and our willingness to exchange.