Case Study - Wigmore Library, Luton
Dads and Lads Session (also publicised as 'daddy and baby' rhymetime).
Quick links:
- Introduction
- What were the reasons for setting up these sessions?
- What has been successful in terms of encouraging dads to attend?
- What do you do in the sessions?
- What are the positive outcomes?
- Does the involvement of a male worker have a positive impact on dads attending the group?
- Partnership working
- What have been the key ingredients of success?
- Future development
Introduction
Alexis Dimyan runs a monthly session, along with colleague Michael Barker who between them ensure that all sessions are covered, on a Sunday morning that is targeted specifically at fathers. So far there have been two sessions which both attracted fourteen fathers and their children.
What were the reasons for setting up these sessions?
Alexis is aware of the evidence showing the positive impact of father's involvement in reading with their children, and in particular the importance for boys to have male readers as role models. He is also aware of the national focus on trying to impact on literacy by engaging dads, and at a local level as an objective in the libraries business plan.
The library is one of two libraries in the area that are open from 10am - 1pm on a Sunday. Another library is open in the afternoon. There is a comfortable family atmosphere in the library at weekends which he believed would be welcoming and encouraging to fathers to attend.
Some fathers attend weekly storytime sessions with their children in the library but they tend to be in the minority amongst a group of mothers. Alexis has noticed the father's slight awkwardness in these sessions and in consultation with the manager of Wigmore library and colleagues was keen to set up a group for fathers where they could feel comfortable and relaxed and gain more enjoyment from the sessions. He believed this would more likely to be achieved if most of the participants were men.
Alexis also had a personal interest in promoting reading, stories and rhymes with fathers and their children. He has a particular desire to provide opportunities for fathers and their children to have fun together in the sessions and to demonstrate that reading is a fun activity they can do at home. This enthusiasm and motivation has undoubtedly been significant in attracting so many fathers to attend and in making the sessions successful.
What was successful in terms of encouraging dads to attend the sessions?
The sessions were promoted on local radio and fathers invited to contact the library if they were interested in attending or had any ideas for the name of the group or views on how and when it should run. Posters that include pictures of fathers and sons reading together are displayed in the library and flyers handed out to directly targeted fathers. The message is simple and direct.
However, word of mouth is considered to be the single most important means of attracting fathers. This works in a number of ways. Alexis directly approaches dads and other men using the library, talking to them about the group and inviting and encouraging them to attend. He is supported in this by his colleagues in the library who are all equally motivated to promote the group and proactively draw attention to the posters and leaflets. All staff are welcoming and encouraging father's involvement. This is a library where good customer relations are promoted by all staff and publicising the 'Dads and Lads' group was part of the routine activity.
The sessions are also advertised at the regular storytime sessions and in some cases mothers and children encourage the fathers to attend.
Are the Dads regular library users?
The dads who attend are library users. The library is located in a middle class area and parents tend to be highly motivated in terms of library use, which means that there is great potential for family involvement.
What do you do in the sessions?
Alexis runs the session alone and does not generally use any special materials believing that there is a wealth of books, games and songs that have universal appeal. He starts the session with an icebreaker, usually rolling a ball between participants to help them get to know each other's names. He may choose a book that has particular reference to fathers, for example, 'My Dad' or a story that he thinks dads and boys will relate to. Usually a session would include a couple of stories, an action rhyme, songs and possibly a simple colouring or craft activity. Sometimes there may be a theme for example at Easter there was a bunny hop and at the end of May it will be tractors. His main aim is to make the sessions fun and the more the children get involved and enjoy themselves the more the dads loose their inhibitions and join in.
What are the positive outcomes of the sessions?
It is early days for this group but Alexis and colleagues have been successful in attracting dads to his sessions and has achieved his objective of creating an environment where they feel comfortable and have fun with their children. He suspects that the group is having success in promoting reading as a fun thing to do together as some fathers and their children stay on in the library looking at books and choose books to take home to read. There has also been a general increase in the numbers of fathers who come to the library with their children to choose and borrow books. Several dads have attended both sessions and have indicated that they will attend regularly. Some fathers have told Alexis that they had never done anything like this before and could not believe how much they enjoyed themselves.
There has also been feedback from some mothers who had exerted pressure on fathers to attend who were amazed at the extent to which their partners and children had enjoyed attending the sessions together.
Does the involvement of a male worker have any impact on dads attending?
Alexis suspects that the involvement of a male worker could make it easier for men to become involved and help break down barriers. Often men can feel self conscious because they are doing something different of unfamiliar and having another man leading the session possibly helps them feel less self inhibited.
Partnership working
Alexis is involved in the Peers Early Education Partnership, runs rhymetime sessions in pre-school provision and in reception classes and is involved with family learning groups. When the 'Dads and Lads' sessions are more firmly established it may be possible to use these partnership forums to extend work with dads in Luton.
What are the key ingredients of success for your group?
- Promotion. Alexis could not stress strongly enough the importance of promotion through local media, posters and leaflets and above all direct personal contact particularly with dads but also through their partners and children. The message is about having fun, sharing books and togetherness for dads and their children.
- A team approach. A whole team approach in the library where all staff are promoting, welcoming and encouraging the involvement of dads with their children. Staff showing a real interest in the sessions and in chatting to fathers afterwards is also critical.
- Timing. Choosing a time of day when dads can attend easily is vital. Weekends, and particularly Sundays, are good because it tends to be a more relaxed family day.
- Location. Wigmore library is adjacent to an ASDA supermarket and a shopping centre. This makes the library visible and accessible and encourages library use as users can combine a trip to the library with other activities.
- Drop in. Alexis suspects that the 'drop in' nature of the sessions is an advantage as there is no longer term, weekly commitment or fees involved.
- The Bookstart brand. The Bookstart brand has become so big and well known by parents and has an easily recognisable logo that parents recognise and value. Alexis believes this has been significant in attracting parents to library sessions.
- Being Flexible. It is important when leading sessions to be broad and flexible and pick up verbal and non-verbal feedback from the group about what they enjoy and what is less popular.
Future Development.
The ultimate aim is to support the group to be self running and for the dads to develop the skills to lead sessions with support from the library staff. This would in turn free library staff time to expand and support the development of more groups within the library, or outside the library with partners.