Kerwest Newspapers - Covering Western Fresno County Since 1906
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Mendota Branch of the Fresno County Public Library has been awarded a grant of $1,000 from the California Council for the Humanities to conduct a 10-week project this summer that will engage 10 to 15 local youth in exploring and investigating their community using digital cameras, direct observation, and library resources. “How I See It: My Place” is part of a statewide program of the Humanities Council under its California Stories initiative involving 21 California libraries.
The library will use a curriculum specially developed by the Council and Council donated equipment and materials, including digital cameras, a printer and a computer. As part of the project, the youths at each library will curate an exhibit for the community and organize an opening event.
“Through the course of the 10 week project, the youth will develop research and presentation skills, learn how to document their observations with photography and writing, and acquire the know how to put together an exhibit and a public program,” explained project librarian Kris Jorgensen. “We believe the project will attract local teens, create stronger connection between young people and their communities, promote intergenerational understanding and civic engagement, and highlight the role of the library as a center of community cultural life, especially in rural western Fresno County where activities for teens are extremely limited,” added Jorgensen.
Ralph Lewin, executive director of the California Council for the Humanities, says that the project is loosely based on the work of Harvard landscape historian John Stilgoe, who sees everyday landscape as a historical record and wants to awaken people to the excitement of exploring their surroundings. In addition to its observational intent, the program also aims to spark the young participants’ interest in the humanities and encourage them to pursue their newly developed skills and interests through high education and careers.
A culminating exhibit of photographs and writing about the youths’ discoveries will be on view at the branch at the conclusion of the project. In addition to the library exhibits, the youths’ work will be featured in an online exhibit on the Council’s website in spring 2009. For information about the Council’s youth projects and its California Stories Initiative, visit www.californiastories.org and www.calhum.org/programs/HowISeeIt_overview.htm.
“California Stories: How I See It: My Place” is supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. This project is conducted in partnership with Califa (www.califa.org), a membership based service bureau designed to provide cost effective delivery of services, programs and products through a membership network of California libraries.
# # #