Community EngagementLibrary Collaboration and PlanningCooperation
The library has developed a “Stitches”, the goal of this group, actively supports our community objectives by enriching quality of life and new initiatives as outlined in our 2015-2019 strategic plan.
Stitches is a well-rounded group of friendly people whom love to work on different forms of hand needlecrafts on all levels of experience, while enjoying the fellowships of other crafters along with a cup of coffee. This group meets once a week through the winter months in the library’s multi-purpose room, in which the library showcases new craft or related material purchased by the library, through our provincial library book grant.
This program has been very successful, with an average of 10 participants coming each week. Stitches also have helped renew or develop new friendships with a common interest, while reducing the isolation of long dark winters in the north. Literacy levels are maintained by reading patterns, often various needlecraft skills are passed down to school aged children by their grandparent (whom often have more patience), which encourages literacy development, math and concentration skills.
Stitches will wind up this spring, with an open house displaying their accomplishments, along with book related material on display available through the library, in the multi-purpose room to the community,
In April the Vanderhoof Public Library partnered with the following federations: North Central, North Coast, North East and IslandLink to bring facilitator Dr. Betsy Diament-Cohen into B.C. to instruct a “Mother Goose on the Loose” workshop, in which she is the creator. Dr. Betsy travelled throughout the province to give a day long workshop to Children’s Librarians, Child Care, Day Care and Literacy workers. Our financial supporters for the NCLF consisted of New Gold Inc and Success by Six.
The priority of this workshop was to teach, through structure, music, movement and play the foundation for many social and emotional skills that are linked to success in learning and relationships. This program supports both social/emotional skills that are linked to cognitive development.
The outcome of this workshop was, to connect babies, toddlers and their adult care givers to teach a variety of learning experiences that will increase their child’s literacy skills and prepare for school readiness and lifelong learning. Many positive comments where received in the evaluation forms. The following comment supported early literacy goals in our communities “I loved the workshop, and am excited to see it and its impact on our community”