All out of love?
The last place I expected to hear about Library Lovers’ Day (also known as Valentine’s Day) was in Freedom Furniture, Dubbo but there I was, poking around last Sunday when my husband casually said “Did I tell you we had Library Lovers’ Day at school on Friday?” Now before you jump to any conclusions about cradle snatching I should perhaps mention that my husband is a teacher.
Being the dedicated ALIA Vice-President I am, I immediately jumped on this piece of information, relegating for the moment the search for the perfect dining room chair (our old bentwoods have become highly uncomfortable and rickety, or maybe it’s just our age!). I guess I’ve tended to think of LLD as a particularly public library activity (preconceptions are a dangerous thing) and so I was delighted to hear of a high school going all out and badgered Marcus for more details. He skillfully deflected this line of questioning (vast experience) and suggested that I phone the gorgeous Laura Tilston, Librarian at James Sheahan Catholic High School in Orange.
Laura is always enthusiastic and this had obviously spilled over into the organisation of LLD. Inspired by the chat on one of the e-lists she had partnered with the Student Representative Council (who use Valentine’s Day as a fundraiser) to create some fun activities which would engage the whole school community. These ranged from “blind dates” with a book (very popular) to a guessing competition which featured the wedding photos of various staff members (I was somewhat aghast to realise that I too had unwittingly “participated” in this activity!). There was a lucky dip for every borrower and prizes included book vouchers.
Laura and I agreed that while not everyone gets a Valentine’s Day card or flowers everyone can be a library lover. And while the roses will wilt and die leaving only a memory, your library is there for life.
We have another year to ramp up for the next festival of library love, but as we know that will come around all too quickly. Laura had used some of the ideas on ALIA’s Library Lovers’ Day pages to inspire her thinking. Why not share your successes with us so that in 2010 14th February will be libraries all the way!
Jan Richards, ALIA Vice President.