LPYL -
School library
development
in South Africa and
Sweden
Library Practice for Young Learners ( LPYL)
Friday 18th of May 2001 at Tollare Folk High School, Sweden.
Minutes from LPYL seminar on study tours conducted in Sweden.
Participants:
South African group: Sarie Baadjies, Jan Beeton, Rose Damon, Zukie Jafta, Meisie Komane, Susan Masenge, Mathandi Mokumo, Whisky Geraldine Monama, Rodgers Sikhosana, Motlalepula Teffo.
Swedish study tour group: Maria Bergstrand, Anna Birgitta Eriksson, Cecilia Flodström, Tina Haglund, Maud Hell, Eva Petri, Helene Swenne, Karin Westberg, Malin Ögland.
Bis working group: Barbro Bolonassos, Catharina Engström, Bodil Hildeman, Lena Lundgren, Kerstin Rydsjö, Lennart Wettmark (and Malin Ögland see above) and also
Birgitta Kindenberg, evaluator and Cecilia Johansson, former library exchange student in South Africa.
Impressions and points of interest from the study tours:
Group Lund: Mathandi and Motlalepula had visited Maud in Lund (old university town in southern Sweden). They received a warm welcome at the Vikingaskolan ("Viking school"). They went directly into a class of learners who asked many questions. The learners were curious and participated actively. M & M learned a lot about the differences in school systems between Sweden and South Africa. They were impressed by
The cooperation between public and school libraries where the same person works in both places with support from the city library. How librarians reach out to teachers The use of computers on all levels in school- and public libraries The gymnasium college where learners used computers to search for information
And they enjoyed the good meal made by students of Hotel education and they appreciated the warm welcome they received and that the head of culture and libraries took their time to meet them. And they had an interesting visit to the doom and the bridge over to Denmark.
Group Tranemo: Susan and Rodgers had visited Tina in Tranemo (a small town) as well as the city of Boras. They found it difficult to single out a few things since all they did was very interesting. They too had enjoyed a warm welcome. They had also met with Ulf Södahl, one of the founders of this project active in Mazisame. They had been to a dinner with municipality heads and they had been interviewed by the local radio and the local press.
After visiting Tranemo public library and libraries in the multicultural city of Boras and the cultural house and museum of Boras as well as the book bus delivering books far out in the countryside they feel
That all Swedish libraries are beautiful
Things worth considering if they possibly can be applied in some way in South Africa were
Book service to old people, they get books delivered to their homes Examples of good networking for different cultures in Boras A pre-school day care center: one pre-school teacher engaged the children in constructive playing while parents talked to each other and got to know each other. A Librarian and a social worker work there certain hours. The librarian visits the parents and give them the first book for the children.
Group Ljusdal: Whisky Geraldine and Meisie had visited Helen in a small town in the northern part of Sweden.. These were their impressions :
Amazing how the public library and the school library share resources Small children came and went straight to shelves and selected books by themselves. (In S.A. they must be 11 years old to do that). Joy for reading program: a list of new books and a letter of introduction to parents to come and listen to a presentation of new books and about the importance of reading to children.
They had told a story in their own language to a class. The children were very happy although they didn’t understand and they were very impressed with Whisky’s dress. They had been on a hike having dinner in the forest wondering if it really was safe? The first time in a forest. There had been a fire and a lot of singing in different languages.
Group Arboga-Bålsta-Rinkeby: Rose and Sarie visited Eva in Arboga ( a small town in the middle of Sweden) and then went on to Malin in Bålsta (almost a very outskirt suburb of Stockholm) and ended up with Anna-Birgitta in Rinkeby (a multicultural suburb of Stockholm widely known for its lack of "real" Swedes). During their visits they were mostly impressed by
The cooperation between public libraries and school libraries. Teachers and librarians work hand in hand. The information system: you can search for a book on a computer even in a school library and then just go and fetch it there. The children were relaxed and looked happy and seemed to enjoy school. Swedes seem very practical The information resources No barriers, no alarms going on, the assumption is: things will not be stolen Life long learning: how adults can actually go back to school ITIS: information technology in schools project. This is integrated with the curriculum., an ideal situation and something we want to happen in SA.
It was interesting to see how Arboga and Bålsta dealt with the same issues in different ways
and Rinkeby had found its own ways within the same educational system.
Group Kalmar: Jan and Zukie visited Karin and Catharina in Kalmar, (a city in the south east on the coast of the Baltic Sea) and a nearby city Oskarshamn.They were given a brief history of the library situation by the president of the library council. Highlights were
A librarian who started out by making coffee for the principal and teachers and ending up with a full time permanent position for her and her assistan: an example of how in lobbying you have to be both formal and informal! In SA it could be a way towards a full time staff in all schools for ages 14- 16 years. School libraries that serve other schools as well. A teacher is always there when it’s open. A joint catalogue for school and public libraries as in Oskarshamn where physical resources are shared. Librarians taught the teachers the catalogue. Schools work with problem and solution based learning. School democracy: they attended a Learner’s Board meeting and discussed library resources. Organisational structure Language policy planning. 25 languages and lending from the international library in Stockholm The advocacy as well as the planning and implementation of library plans The book for all scheme: children are given a book as newborn and at different ages up to age 16 by the library In a secondary school: clocks on the wall telling the time in different parts of the world.
Notes taken by Bodil Hildeman