“Sister Libraries” France-Liban

La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde à Clamart (France) présente dans son site son partenariat avec la Bibliothèque  de Mtein (Liban) : des échanges, et plein de projets en devenir!

CULTURE CAPSULE

In this project we propose that Romanian students produce a PowerPoint/Prezi presentation called “Culture Capsule” on Lithuania, in groups and vice versa. To be able to do this, the students will gather information about their own country and send it to the partner students, which will be responsible for producing the PowerPoint presentation on the partner country’s cultural assets.

The Value

Students will have a chance to look for, classify, talk about, share, write, compare and present information on their culture and that of their partner.

Objectives:

Students will:

• Consider the definition of culture, and reflect on what this means to them
• Share relevant information about their culture with their European partners
• Create “Culture Capsule” presentations
• Reflect on what they learned about the other country and the differences and similarities between the two cultures
• Write reflective essays on what they have learned

Process:

Step 1 – Getting Started:

Brainstorming
Students reflect about these questions and share their responses
o What is cultural heritage?
o How does your cultural heritage define who you are? Consider your language, religion, value systems, neighborhood, etc.
o How would you present yourself to others?
o How do you think other people in Europe see us?
o Do these two perceptions match in your opinion? Why?
o What is the role of cultural heritage in the way we see ourselves and the way others see us?
o Is there a common European cultural heritage?
o How do you think the cultural factors you have identified might change for your future children, grandchildren and great grandchildren?

Step 2: Collecting information

The students get into groups. It is important that there is the same number of groups in the two partners, as they will have to send each other the information they collect.

They group will first have to select 10 cultural aspects about their own country, and write about them, find pictures, links, etc. This is a list of possible themes to pick from:

• Geographical data
• Statistical data: population, climate, death and birth rates, minimal wages, average height, rainfall…
• Survival language: Examples of some useful sentences and phrases in their language
• Music
• Food
• Typical leisure activities
• Famous people
• Important dates in history
• Famous books or magazines
• Proverbs
• Legends
• Poems
• Inventions
• Discoveries
• Landscapes
• Cities
• Typical products
• Festivals

Each group prepares information cards for each of the 10 selected items to send to their partner group via e-mail, video conference, etc. One possibility for an information card is:

• Title of slide:
• Suggested text:
• Suggested pictures:
• URL(s) where you can find pictures:
• URL(s) where you can find additional information:

These information cards will be the basis for their partner’s Culture Capsule presentation.
The groups must try to provide an answer to the question: “What will give my partners the most complete picture of my country?” They should remember that slides for presentations must be brief.

Step 3: Exchanging information

Now it is the time for students inform their partners about the 10 items they chose, and send their information cards to each other.
.
Step 4: Preparing the “Culture Capsule” presentations

The different groups work on the “Culture Capsule” presentations of their partner’s country, by completing the presentation file.

Outcome
Pupils produce PowerPoint or Prezi presentations on the 10 main characteristics of the partner’s country.
Evaluation

Student’s evaluation will be based on their productions during the brainstorming stage, if any.

• Participation in class and group discussions
• Systematic research on particular culture aspects,
• The quality of their “Culture Capsule” presentation
• Their teamwork abilities
• The quality of their information exchange with their partner group

Follow up Options

Option 1:
Oral Presentation of the “Culture Capsule”
The groups will orally report on the presentations they or their partners have made to the rest of their class, focusing on the cultural aspect they have found more interesting. The goal is for the class as a whole to gain appreciation for the variations and similarities among different cultures. A chat or a video-conference with the partner class could be organized to discuss about the results of these oral presentation afterwards.

Option 2: Essay writing
Each student may write an essay reflecting upon the activity and their own personal experience.
Some suggested essay topics:
o Describe your own cultural heritage and identity.
o Imagine you were an immigrant in the country of your partner group.
o How does your cultural heritage compare with the culture of your twin class? What are the similarities? What are the differences?
o Why is it important for future generations to know about and understand other people’s cultural heritage?

Age group: 10 – 12
Duration: 5-6 sessions
ICT tools: e-mail, chat, video-conferencing, file sharing, other software (PowerPoint presentation/Prezi)

Presentation on Sister Libraries

Sister Libraries – Godmothers
Presentation on Godmothers for the Sister Library Project (at IFLA WLIC 2011 in San Juan)

Sister Libraries at IFLA conference in San Juan

We organized a session at IFLA conference in San Juan, where we shared news on Sister Libraries :

- 114 libraries have registered (86 had registered a year ago)

- 11 partnerships have been made.

The first paired libraries received the set Little Books for Little Hands (see the post).

All paired libraries received the Sister Libraries poster, especially designed by the Spanish illustrator David Pintor :

Sister Libraries poster, by David Pintor

 

Some Sister Libraries prepared short videos for the conference. Here are the links, they are really worth watching ! :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuJUSaJuRCg. (Haïti-US)

http://youtu.be/w5ZepTxDjyU (Serbia-Germany)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AJKNt52Cus (Lebanon-France)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsV7Im5ZY4E (Burkina Faso)

Ruxandra Nazare, from Romania, showed a great PowerPoint presentation : Romania-Serbia

We are sure these videos and PowerPoint will inspire other libraries!

A system of “Godmothers” has been installed, where registered libraries can write to, or be contacted by, members of the Standing Committee of IFLA section Libraries for Children and Young Adults.

Don’t hesitate to write to them :

English-speaking libraries  : Annie Everall (annie@alannie.demon.co.uk) , Kirsten Boelt (kbt-kultur@aalborg.dk), Ingrid Källström (ingrid.kallstrom@kulturhuset.stockholm.se)

Spanish-speaking libraries : Ingrid Bon (ingrid.bon@biblioservice.nl) or Viviana Quiñones (viviana.quinones@bnf.fr)

French-speaking libraries : Viviana Quiñones (viviana.quinones@bnf.fr) or Cécile Trévian (cecile.trevian@agglo-sqy.fr)

German-speaking libraries : Kerstin Keller-Loibl (loibl@fbm.htwk-leipzig.de)

Drew Tap Tap party

Entry by Anne M. Pettit [Youth Services Librarian, Shirlington Branch Library]

The Tap Tap BusGifts for Petite-Groave

The children at the Drew After School Center worked for 2 months to create a Haitian Tap Tap Bus. It was their contribution to the summer reading club festivities at the Shirlington Branch of Arlington Public Library, Arlington, Virginia.  The students took photographs of themselves and glued them in the bus windows, and the final creation was bright, colorful and a wonderful addition to the children’s room.  As part of the celebration, the children’s librarian at Shirlington told a Haitian folktale, Bouki dances the Kokioko and shared some Krik! Krak! Jokes with the children.  Appropriatetly themed “Caribbean snacks” were served (plantain chips, mango juice, and fruit sorbets served in the actual rind!)  The Drew students were then given the opportunity to make gifts for the children of our sister library in Petit-Goave as they decorated t-shirts.  The t-shirts will be mailed to Haiti later in the summer.

Gifts for Petite-Groave

Google Translation in Haitian Creole

Timoun yo nan Drew la Apre Lekòl Sant te travay pou 2 mwa yo kreye yon ayisyen Tap Tap Otobis. Li te kontribisyon yo fèstivite ete yo nan klib lekti Shirlington Branch la. Elèv yo pran foto kole tèt yo ak fenèt yo nan otobis yo, ak kreyasyon final la te klere, kolore yo ak yon bèl bagay anplis nan chanm timoun yo. Kòm yon pati nan selebrasyon an, bibliyotekè timoun yo a nan Shirlington te di nan yon folktale ayisyen, Bouki danse Kokioko a ak pataje kèk Krik! Krak! Blag ak timoun yo. Appropriatetly tematik “ti goute Karayib” te sèvi (chips plantian, ji mango, ak sorbe fwi sèvi nan krout aktyèl la!) elèv yo Drew te Lè sa a, bay opòtinite pou fè kado pou timoun yo nan bibliyotèk sè nou yo nan Petit Goave-jan yo dekore mayo. Mayo yo ap poste an Ayiti pita nan sezon ete a

“16 little books for little hands” sent to the first paired Sister Libraries : report from Burkina Faso

“The 16 books from the ‘Petites mains’ series that we received allowed us to do several activities in our libraries. When opening the package, I was touched to find small books that meet the needs of children who love reading. They are written in simple French, with short sentences and are nicely illustrated. This led me to organize reading sessions at the libraries with children of average reading level, to encourage a love of reading. The first session took place under the thatched-roof awning of Bereba’s library with 17 primary school students. Even prior to me distributing the books, all the children were excited about reading because they were so impressed by the shape of the books. Each child was able to read their chosen book with few mistakes and with much satisfaction. They were proud to each be able to make a summary of the book at the end. Books with titles including: “The Zebra and the Crocodile” and “Riddles,” were those most appreciated that day because the content was easy for them to understand. Since that day Ali Kafando (a reader) has become one of our most loyal readers as he was able to read 6 books that day. Children continue to come to the library to consult these books. For me, this collection draws children to read.”

Sanou Dounko
Activities Coordinator
Friends of African Village Libraries/ FAVL www.favl.org

Le coffret “16 petits livres pour petites mains” envoyé aux premières Sister Libraries jumelées : témoignage du Burkina Faso

Les 16 livres de la collection “Petits livres pour petites mains” que nous avons reçus, nous ont permis de faire des séances d’animations dans nos bibliothèques. Il faut noter qu’à l’ouverture du paquet j’étais touché de voir des livres aussi facilement transportables et qui répondent aux besoins des enfants qui aiment la lecture. Avec un français très simple, de courtes phrases et des illustrations bien faites . Ceci m’a poussé à programmer des séances de lecture avec les enfants aux seins des bibliothèques pour les enfants moyens en lecture, afin de leur donner le goût de la lecture . La première séance a vu la participation de 17 enfants du primaire et a eu lieu sous le hangar de la bibliothèque de Bereba. Avant de finir la distribution, tous les enfants étaient concentrés à la lecture tellement ils étaient impressionnés par la forme des livres. Chaque enfant a pu lire avec moins de fautes le livre choisi, avec satisfaction. Ils étaient et fière de pouvoir faire chacun un petit résumé. Les livres avec pour titres, Le zèbre et le crocodile, Les devinettes sont ceux que les enfants ont appréciés, compte tenu de leur contenu, aussi simple à comprendre . Ali Kafando (un lecteur), depuis ce jour est devenu un de nos fidèles  lecteurs, car ce jour même, il a pu lire 6 livres . Depuis lors les enfants viennent pour consulter ces livres . Pour moi, cette collection attire les enfants à la lecture.

Sanou Dounko
(animateur, Amis des Bibliothèques de Villages / FAVL)  www.favl.org

Une lectrice de la collection "16 petits livres pour petites mains"