Volume 37 Nº 2: July 2001

Editorial

Editor: Margaret Steinberger

Gathered together in this spring edition of Orana is a range of fine reading for you, our treasured readers.

Once again, I'm amazed by the variety of issues that engage the imaginations and enquiring minds of our writers, who are connected with public libraries, universities and schools. Our news section takes in conferences of the recent past and in the near future, literature festivals, a cocktail party and the launch of a report on reading. Our reviewers have again brought their considerable experience to their consideration of a selection of books of real relevance to readers.

More than twenty-five of my earlier years were spent as a teacher-librarian in secondary schools in New South Wales. I recall that not so long ago a Year 7 boy of quite average ability, having returned a cassette he had borrowed, was browsing amongst other titles on the cassette shelves. Pausing by the talking book cassettes, he picked up Romeo and Juliet, dramatised in full, and decided to borrow it because, as he said, 'I've heard that it's a good story'. What better reason to borrow, indeed? He wasn't disappointed and came back for more in the months to follow. I was particularly impressed, because here was a youngster without any preconceived ideas that Shakespeare was boring or old-fashioned. He'd heard that it was a good yarn and thought it was worth a try.

In our first article Pam Lane demonstrates that young children can and do respond to Shakespeare, as she tells of a fascinating program that is being presented in schools in the Hunter Valley. These young people also have no negative preconceptions and react warmly and creatively to the stories and themes. I'm sure you'll enjoy their work which illustrates the article and perhaps have your faith in the classics restored.

Introducing our occasional series 'Speaking Personally', public librarian Cathy Symonds gives her take on the concept of altering, adding to or otherwise 'tampering with' classic books. Perhaps you will feel inspired to respond to her personal view; perhaps you'd like to argue your case on a subject of interest to those involved with children, books and libraries.

Champion swimmer Marcus Robertson was one of the keynote speakers at the launch of Young Australians Reading, the research report by the Australian Centre for Youth Literature. His account of his reading history and preferences conveys an infectious love of reading which should renew readers' enthusiasm and interest. You can find more details of the report in our news section.

Maureen Nimon fills us in on the demise of the National School Library Section of ALIA, and gives us optimism about the new challenges for professional networking.

It's a pleasure to alert readers to the fact that Maureen will be back in the next issue with a sequel to her paper published in Orana in 2000. Stand by for 'True Stories and the Death of Certainty.'

It's that time of year again, when listserves are full of reactions to the announcement of the Children's Book Awards, and the media provides a welcome focus on children's literature. We have our own celebration in this issue, and it's an intriguing package from the West.

Our package features a speech, broadcast on the ABC in 1953 but never before in print, from Margaret Clements, one of the great figures in children's books in Western Australia. It's of particular interest because from that point, at a time of solid growth, the Children's Book Council in WA actually suspended operations for some years. Alison Gregg, who has extensively researched this matter, contributes a biographical note on Margaret Clements and an article providing a context for the Children's Book Week celebrations in WA, their beginnings, disappearance and revival. Our feature concludes with a report on the 2001 celebrations in Perth.

With our news items and our diverse reviews, you'll find plenty to help you spring into the latter months of the year.

One of the news reports in the last issue featured the Companion Summer Reading program. My apologies to Graeme Ireland, photographer with the Lake Macquarie News, for omitting the credit for his photo taken at the launch of the program.

Now, settle back and savour the delights of this issue - and let us know what you and your fellow workers are thinking, doing or planning.