Case Study: Slough Library, Bookstart Dads Music
Quick links:
- Introduction
- What was the reason for setting up the 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?
Introduction
Salma Barakat is employed on an18.5 hour per week contract as the Bookstart officer and a15 hours per week contract as Sure Start children’s librarian. She runs music time sessions three times a week in the library and a monthly session targeted specifically at dads. In her Sure Start role she takes the library service out to the Sure Start centres where anyone in the local community is free to access library services. The links between her two roles add value to both as she promotes Bookstart and Family Learning and library services in all her contacts with users.
What was the reason for setting up these sessions?
Salma was keen to increase dad’s involvement with their children in the library. She wanted to show children that it was good to have their fathers involved in reading and enjoying books. She uses music in the sessions because she finds that storytime can be hard with small children and the music allows children to sustain concentration, to engage and to stay absorbed. Engaging dads is one of the objectives in the library plan of the library and also supports Sure Start objectives.
A year ago Salma ran a music session for dads as a trial and 45 dads turned up, said it was fantastic and asked that the sessions run regularly. As a result the sessions have continued and take place every month on a Saturday morning with about 20 dads and their children attending each time.
What was successful in terms of encouraging dads to attend?
There are barriers to fathers becoming involved and these have to be considered when setting up sessions. The timing of sessions is important in attracting dads as many of them work. Dads are often wary when they first come and seem a bit embarrassed, so it is important to welcome them and be proactively in getting them involved in the session. It is important to be sensitive but also firm as because when they get involved they lose their inhibitions and start to really enjoy themselves and enjoy taking part with their children. Making the time pleasurable and making sure the dads and the children enjoy themselves will make them come back. Sometimes it is hard when dads are resistant to joining in but ultimately Salma reminds herself that this is not primarily about the dads but about the children and refuses to take no for an answer!
Selma knows she has a very bubbly, effervescent and enthusiastic personality and thinks this really helps as it is infectious in the group. Also through her experience she has got to know what works well and that the dads like what she does in the sessions.
The children are very excited to be with their dads and show their pride for them. Equally the dads see how much children are enjoying themselves and are also proud of their children’s achievement.
Selma loves what she does and this is infectious. There is a lot of laughter and humour and this engages dads as well as the opportunities the sessions provide to talk to them about sharing books, songs and rhymes with their children.
The drop in nature of the session is also attractive as there is no pressure on dads to attend every time.
Publicity is important and Selma promotes the session wherever she goes. Personal contact and direct invitations are important particularly with dads who would not normally go to the library or attend organised activities with their children. The sessions are promoted in the Bookstart newsletter which is circulated to all Sure Start centres, teenage pregnancy groups, through the Family Welfare Association and travellers support services. The library publicises the sessions on the website, in their newsletter and through activity leaflets and there is information in both the staff and citizens council magazines. The local press have also run articles promoting the sessions.
Are the dads regular library users?
There is a whole range of dads attending. Slough is a very multi cultural area and the group membership reflects the population of the town. So, some are library users and many others would never have come into the library if it had not been for the dad’s sessions.
What do you do in the sessions?
Salma runs the session by herself with no special adaptations; they follow the same format as the weekly sessions. The sessions are music based involving songs, dance, musical instruments and other resources such as feathers and scarves. There is a warm up song which helps with introductions and then the songs are linked to make a story. For example, the theme may be pirate ships or going to the jungle and a mixture of songs, dance, actions and musical instruments are used to engage the dads and children. Most of all there is a lot of activity and fun and the children are completely absorbed and waiting for the next song and activity
What are the positive outcomes of the sessions?
- The session attracts many people into the library with their children who would not otherwise have used library services,
- It provides an opportunity to promote Booktrust and to encourage children to ask their fathers to read with them,
- It encourages bonding between fathers and children and shows them what fun they can have together using songs music and books,
- Many of the families stay on in the library after the session looking at books together.
- Dads get involved with dancing and singing with their children and the feedback is always positive.
- The children gain confidence and their learning potential is supported.
Does the involvement of a male worker have any impact on dads attending?
Salma believes that if the session is good the gender of the person leading the session is unimportant. In her library the male staff would be too embarrassed to lead sessions.
Partnership working
A close partnership exists with Sure Start and a wide range of services which target hard to reach groups.
What are the key ingredients of success for your group?
- Promotion - promoting enjoyment will help the group promote itself,
- Persistence – Keep going even if not many people come at first,
- Continually adapting what you do bases on what is popular and successful,
- Making sure you enjoy it and the dads and children enjoy it so they come back again.