Lynne and Chris prepare to cross!

As Children’s Book Week 2010 draws to a close I’m sure many of you are taking a deep breath and planning a weekend of feet up. It’s certainly a major date on the public library calendar. At my library it’s been the usual whirlwind of activity played out against the backdrop of winter ailments which somewhat depletes the staff and some of the participants (often feel CBW would be better in a more ’seasonable’ term).

Given the effort we’d put in we were a little dismayed to receive an email criticising us for having no mention of the Week on our web site. In actual fact we did and we were able to direct our correspondent to the right spot but as you can imagine it unleashed a fair degree of conversation as we toted up what we’d done, how we’d promoted it and the effectiveness of the celebration.

This in turn led to a discussion of times past and how indeed the focus of CBW in our community has changed from the public library to the school environment. Where once we might have seen class after class pass through our doors the restrictions on travel (and the associated expense) has seen the Week become an in-school celebration. Instead we’ve paid attention to pre-schoolers, their parents and carers.

Not that we see this as competition, more a rationalisation of roles and responsibilities. With competing agendas supporting each other is important. So we’ll get over our bridge (borrowed from a local garden centre) , and put aside our disapointment at having our efforts criticised.

Not that competition is dead! Pictured below is the Golden Gate Bridge replica in the window of a local bookshop. There’s a fair bit of friendly rivalry between us and they have been scathing of our easy way out. Time to plan our next campaign

Boomers take on the Golden Gate Bridge

I look forward to catching up with you in Brisbane in the shadow of that other Storey Bridge!

Jan

Jan Richards

Chair ALIA PLAC