The David Vaisey Award ceremony took place at Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday 6th October. This award is designed to recognise and reward outstanding library initiatives county-wide which aim to improve literacy by encouraging, for example, more borrowing, reading and book discussions.

This year's award goes to the Gloucestershire Family Festival, set to take place over five days during the October Half Term 2024. This unique festival, themed 'Fairytales and Fantasy', will be held in various non-library venues across Matson, Hesters Way, Oakley, Cinderford and Dursley. Each festival day will feature a range of fun activities including theatre and music performances, arts and crafts, storytelling, science experiments and more. This free festival aims to introduce the joy of reading and storytelling to children and families who don’t regularly engage with libraries. Read more and support the festival at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/gloucestershire-family-festival

Well done to all of the shortlisted finalists; Cinderford, Moreton-in-Marsh, and Chipping Campden libraries.

This year’s shortlist was announced by Debby Thacker, Chair of Trustees for the David Vaisey Trust at Gloucester Cathedral on 15th August.  Congratulations to the four shortlisted entries from Cinderford Library, Chipping Campden Library, Moreton Library and the Development Team.  Read on for a summary of each project and comments from the judges:

The Projects

Story-telling with the Royal Forest of Dean Centre (Cinderford Library)

This project provides a welcoming space in the library for the centre’s clients who visit for story-telling sessions with their key workers.  These sessions are provided by the library staff who use a wide range of books to cover different themes and engage the clients by making the sessions immersive and interactive.  

Judges’ comments: “This project identifies a great need and shows positive engagement”.

Sensory garden for mindfulness and wellbeing (Chipping Campden Library)

This project is about developing an accessible sensory garden area at the library where customers can meet, relax and enjoy books to support their wellbeing.  

Judges’ comments: “A creative and impressive project which encourages the borrowing of books in a lovely environment”.

Book buddies (Moreton Library)

This projects delivers fortnightly themed sessions for home-educated children and their families.  The sessions encourage borrowing and there is also a related craft activity.  An outcome of the sessions is that the families develop an informal support network.

Judges’ comments: “A sustainable project for home educators which has identified a need from a pilot initiative”.

Gloucestershire Family Festivals (Development Team) 

The aim of this project is to extend the reach of creativity and culture to more parts of the county, therefore engaging with more families who would not otherwise use libraries. The Family Festivals will feature a range of activities linked to literacy, storytelling, and imagination, all revolving around the theme of 'Fairytales and Fantasy' and will provide a unique opportunity to enhance community engagement with libraries. 

Judges’ comments: “A diverse project with lots of partners and sustainable too”.

2024 marks the first time that the David Vaisey Awards have been expanded to include school libraries and reading initiatives. This year, Dene Magna Secondary School have ben awarded for their projected programme including a reading buddies plan whereby targeted pupils will be mentored by older students and will then themselves help to encourage primary school children. Congratulations! 

Well done to all the school library finalists; Gloucester Academy, The Shrubberies, and Stratton. 

The David Vaisey Trust have also awarded two young library volunteers for their work in libraries. Congratulations to Leah and Arun for both winning the Young Persons Award 2024. Well done to the young finalists; Daisy, Harry, and Isobel. 

Read more about the awards at https://davidvaiseyprize.co.uk/

Information shared from Glos Libraries News