By Elizabeth Covino
MethuenLife Writer
“The Nevins Library is my favorite library!” exclaimed Anahera Nwosu, a fourth-grader at St. Monica’s School.
As part of a collaboration between Nevins Memorial Library and St. Monica’s, students are treated to a monthly joint art and literature session in the school’s Art Room. Librarians Amy Dorsheimer (head of Youth Services) and Alison Cochrane (head of Teen Services) team up with St. Monica’s art teacher Lisa Buglione to connect art and literature helping students to improve their reading comprehension and vocabulary, critical-thinking skills, and inspiring them to use their imagination while creating art based on books read during these sessions. Students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade have the opportunity to participate.
The inspiration for this partnership started over two years ago when Buglione chatted with St. Monica’s Principal Donna Henderson about the importance of children having access to books and making the library part of their childhood. Buglione previously worked with the library on adult and youth programming. Both the library and the school were eager to further their community partnerships and bringing librarians into the classrooms seemed like a great opportunity for the students. This seemed like a naturel expansion of Buglione’s strong ties to the library.
In a recent session, Dorsheimer introduced fifth-grade students to “Aaron Slater Illustrator” by author Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts, an uplifting story about the power of art, finding your voice and telling your story even when it doesn’t come easy. Students answered questions about how each character was feeling and how the artwork was generated. They also chatted about how science and art are connected. Students were assigned a multi-media, three-dimensional art project by Buglione which would include a visual of the main character in the book.
“Bring in some recycled items from home to use in your sculptures. You will be building the most magnificent piece of art!” said Buglione. “This story has a message: ‘My artwork is magnificent!’ It does not mean that it’s perfect. There’s a strong message about you feeling good about yourself as an artist,” she reminded the children.
They were offered other books from their Art Room and the school’s library to use as inspiration, such as “Rosie Revere Engineer,”
“Ada Twist Scientist” and “Iggy Peck Architect,” all by the same author/illustrator duo.
During the librarians’ visits, students get to learn more about public libraries in general. Dorsheimer opens a discussion about why people come to the library: “What can you do at the library? You can find a book, do homework, you can borrow a book, you can borrow a book for 3 weeks and take it home with you to read. You can use computers, play with the toys, play a board game or just come and hang out! We have library programs for people of all ages. And almost all programs at the library are free. Lots of programs are held on school vacation weeks. We will have a Dinosaur Program this summer.”
And she explained how to get a library card.
“I come to talk to the sixth- through eighth-graders. We talk about what’s going on at the library to try to engage them and get them more familiar with the services we have for them. We read a book together and they do an art project. Some of the titles have included: “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, “El Deafo” by Cece Bell and “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander,” explained Cochrane. “They seem to really like listening to the books and learning more about what we have at the library. From my perspective, it’s a great way to get different members of the community involved with the library and having them learn how reading and art can be connected. We are creating more partnerships in the community.”
The children’s artwork will be showcased at Nevins Library in April during school vacation week. The younger children’s artwork will be in the Children’s Room and students in grades five through eight will be on display in the teen area.
“They are excited to show off their artwork at the library at the art show,” Cochrane said.
The partnership between the library and St. Monica’s School has a multitude of benefits. “This is just so much fun,” said Dorsheimer. “Community outreach is so important. We love the connection with kids. They see us here in their Art Room at school, and then see us at the library when they come to visit. They see us here sharing literacy and then at the library sharing literacy in a different way. We want to share literacy in any way we can with youth. We share literacy with them while doing something they enjoy doing.
“I am very passionate about getting out in the community and reaching kids,” she continued. “I also love art. … When they come in for the art show with their families, it’s very exciting. They recognize us from our school visits. And having families come to the library when they can in their schedule and use the library is an awesome benefit.”
Nevins Memorial Library’s Head of Youth Services Librarian Amy Dorsheimer reads to fourth-grade St. Monica’s students as part of an art and literacy collaboration between the library and the school. Students then create art inspired by the book that was read. ML photos by Elizabeth Covino
Intently listening to the story are (from left) fourth-graders Elizabeth Griffin, Bayleigh Parks and Anahera Nwosu.
St. Monica’s art teacher Lisa Buglione (left) and Dorsheimer team up to help students improve their reading comprehension and vocabulary, critical-thinking skills, and inspire them to use their imagination while creating art based on books.
