School visit to Merstham Library

A library supports and offers much more to the community than just lending books.

Supporting local libraries involves active participation, such as borrowing books and using services. A library can be a key hub in the community, welcoming and encouraging visitors. My local library hosts a monthly Creative Writing Group, which I attend.

Promoting library services ensures their sustainability. 

Merstham Library is always great to work with.  I have worked with libraries in Surrey, including those in Redhill, Horley, Banstead, and Merstham. I have appreciated the support from the library. Once again, I had been asked if I might come along to the library to meet and talk to a few children from a local school.

Surrey libraries have all my books in their catalogue and say that they are constantly out on loan. There were only four of my sixteen books in the library today, but luckily, I had brought along my own copies in the hope that the visiting children might like to buy their own signed books.

“Meeting an author, illustrator, poet or storyteller in real life and hearing them convey their passion for their work can fundamentally alter a child or young person's relationship to books and ignite a life-long love of reading. An author visit can contribute to the recommendations in the 'Moving English Forward' OFSTED report. This encourages schools to develop policies to promote reading for enjoyment."

Tina Campey is the enthusiastic and knowledgeable librarian at Merstham. We initially met at Redhill and have undertaken visits from both invited schools and informal author visits, which involved me also taking my badge machine and speaking to visitors to the library.  Tina’s support and enthusiasm are certainly infectious. Tina had previously arranged a school visit with a Merstham school, which was a great success, not only for me but also for both the school and the library. This time, she had been able to liaise with another local school, organising a time and a date for children to come along.

The children would have the opportunity to meet me as a local author. I would then be able to explain how I began my writing journey and the inspiration behind my storybooks. If time permitted, they would get a chance to buy a signed copy of a storybook.

For this visit, the schools didn’t have to arrange anything other than to inform the parents about the visit and to walk the children to the venue. Letters would also be sent home, offering parents the opportunity to contribute money for their child to purchase a book.

It is great for me as an author to share my writing journey and promote the importance of the library.

I wasn’t sure how the visit would go, but I will always adapt as we go along.

Today, there would be two classes from Merstham Primary School. Year One would arrive at 10.15 and Year Two would follow at 11.

Merstham Primary was not only the school my grandmother and her sister attended in 1890, but also a school I had visited on occasion over nine years ago. 

I wasn’t sure which book I might focus on, but as the 10th of February was ‘Teddy Bear’ day, I thought maybe Barty’s book would be good for year one. So, Barty Barton bear would come along too.

The Year One class arrived, and Tina welcomed them. They then came to sit and be introduced to me and to learn about my work.

I was able to tell the children about the real bus and the inspiration behind my stories.

‘Gloria, the Summer Fun Bus’, also has connections to Merstham as it was the version of the Playbus which visited offering summer play support many years ago.

The children asked a few questions, and we ended with Barty’s story as well as meeting Barty himself.

The story was written for my grandson, who is now in Year One himself. The children liked that.

The session ended with the children listening to Barty’s story, and after a few photographs, they were ready to head back to school. The children sadly didn’t have any money to spend, but at least they had enjoyed meeting me, and knew that my books are available to loan from the library. They also found out more about their library. Barty also received a cuddle or two from the children as they left.

The second class was due to follow straight after; their time would be limited as they would need to return to school for lunch. However, the class must have needed the help of adult helpers as they were very late arriving.

Sadly, they didn’t have the opportunity to buy books, but then again, we wouldn’t have had the time.

With the Year Two class, I was again able to tell the story and background of the Playbus and the inspiration behind the books.

We had time for a few Questions and Answers.

“Are there still Playbuses around?” asked one boy.

“Yes, in fact, 'Maggie's Red Circus Bus’ was our story, but the book was dedicated to Maggie, the Ipswich bus. Hackney still has a Playbus and was one of the original projects.

As always, when visiting and sharing my stories, there are surprises along the way.

Today’s surprise came from the TA, who told me she had worked with me many years ago when I visited their school as a supply cover teacher. Wow! That certainly was a long time ago, as I hadn’t visited for over nine years. But how fantastic that she remembered me. 

She ended up buying a book for the class, ‘A Ticket to Ride’, my new book, and it also has the ‘Mouse Maze’ poem, which I had read to the class.

What a lovely, supportive library. It is always a pleasure to visit. The schools are lucky to have the event organised for them.

Thank you to Tina Campey, Merstham Library and the Surrey Library service for providing a much-needed event for the local community.

Visiting is always a magical mystery, which seems to deliver magic at each of my events.

You can even buy a Mystery book. That looks interesting.

And

They even have a Lego Club, which operates on Saturday morning. Perhaps, as I’m the Lego Lady, I will have to visit again and bring along some of my old Lego. 

The Hub, in Merstham, offers a friendly, welcoming approach to the community. It is a great example of how the library can offer so much more to support the community

Well done, Nanny Owl, the wise librarian.

Visits to Libraries  (click on links to find out about previous visits)

Why should we support our Library?

A Visit to a Library

Visiting a library

Summer Fun at the Library

Wise words from Billy Connolly What will your key unlock