A COMMUNITY book reading initiative which started in the United States is coming to Co Donegal.
The official launch of Read LK will take place at 7pm Tuesday, 21st February in the Central Library in Letterkenny.
Read LK is a community reading initiative organized by Letterkenny Educate Together National School, Errigal College, Letterkenny library, Letterkenny Town Council along with local agencies, business and communities.
This reading initiative is based on an original city-wide initiative which began in 1998 in Seattle, Washington entitled “One Book, One Community”.
It aims to get people from across the community reading and discussing the same book. To this end, the Health Promotions team at the HSE designed a badge that each project participant is invited to wear.
The badge states ‘READ LK – One Book, One Community” and it is hoped that the badge will encourage discussion about the book specifically and reading in general. Many cities, towns and communities throughout Ireland and the world have already adopted this positive approach to encouraging their communities to read.
The author chosen for READ LK is Siobhan Parkinson, a Letterkenny native and the first Irish Children’s Laureate. She will launch the initiative on February 21st 2012 and activities and events will continue for a 5 week period.
Ms. Parkinson’s book, ‘Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (Maybe)’, is the chosen title for Read LK 2012. The book will be available at the Central Library and shops around Letterkenny. A complimentary badge will be given to anyone who buys or borrows the book throughout the course of the initiative.
There is an exciting line-up of events taking place throughout the course of the initiative including a free event for parents by storyteller and author Liz Weir, entitled ‘Bringing Stories Alive’ which will take place in the Regional Cultural Centre on 29th February at 7.30pm. A Flash Fiction competition for adults will also be running and O’Brien’s Press will choose the winning entries. Details of this competition and a full schedule of events are available on the Read LK Facebook page.
Read LK is delighted to have the support of a number of local organizations including; Home School Community Liaison Scheme, Letterkenny Educate Together National School; Errigal College; Errigal & Mulroy School Completion Project; Central Library, Letterkenny; HSE West Health Promotion Unit; Letterkenny Institute of Technology Access Office; Co Donegal VEC Literacy Service; Port Na Fáilte; St. Eunan’s Nursing Home; Letterkenny Town Council; Parent Stop; Parent Staff Association from Letterkenny Educate Together National School; Parents’ Association from Errigal College; Eason’s Bookshop, Letterkenny and Sprint Educational Supplies.
TIMETABLE
Community events by date
Date | Event | Venue |
Feb 21st4pm | Public lecture with Siobhan Parkinson | Room 1104 LYIT |
Feb 21st 7pm | Public Launch of READ LK | Central Library Letterkenny |
Feb 29th 7.30pm – 9.00pm | A free event for parents- talks with Liz Weir on ‘Bringing Stories Alive’ | Regional Cultural Centre |
1st and 8th March | Letterkenny Educate Together and Errigal College students reading to residents of St. Eunan’s nursing home | |
Throughout the event | Book available in Easons and Sprint or on loan from the Central library – Complementary badges given out with each purchase/loan | Don’t forget to wear your badge throughout the 5 reading weeks! |
Throughout the event | Creative writing competition to be judged by O’Brien Press Criteria available on Facebook’s READ LK page or Letterkenny Educate Together, Errigal College’s and VEC’s website | Entries sent/emailed to bridmcintyre@donegalvec.ie or Bríd McIntyre Adult Education Centre Ard O Donnell Letterkenny |
Throughout the event | Local shops, sports groups, book clubs and family centres are on board with the initiative and reading the book | Please contact us if your organisation would like be involved – contact readlk2012@gmail.com |
Thursday 29th March Time TBA | Closing ceremony of READ LK 2012. All welcome! | Dialann in LYIT |
Who’s involved?
Organisation | Event/Activity | Venue/contact person or number |
Launch day | Tuesday-Feb 21st Siobhan Parkinson talking at LYIT about her role as Laureate nanÓg and the writing process Launch of READ LK – 7pm Launch of the creative writing competition | LYIT 4pm Room 1104
Central Library Letterkenny – 074 91 24950 |
| Parent stop | Involved in organising the creative writing competition Book Club Involved in organising Closing Event Promote Read LK with families using our service and across other agencies | Patricia Lee and Helen Kelly 074 9177249 |
| Central Library Letterkenny |
| Central Library Letterkenny: Ciara or Ursula – 074 91 24950 |
| Port naFáilte | Book club in Port naFáilte every Monday at 4.30pm | Karen White 0749126550 |
| St Eunan’s Nursing home | Book club within the establishment Liaising with Errigal College and Letterkenny Educate Together to hold reading sessions in St. Eunans Nursing Home | |
| VEC | Organising the creative writing competition Compiling questions for the quiz. | Brid McIntyre, AETC, Ard O’Donnell, Letterkenny. Ph 074 9161561 Mob 086 1740683 Email: bridmcintyre@donegalvec.ie |
| LYIT | Pod cast Public lecture by Siobhan Parkinson 21st Feb 4pm Creative writing bookmark Organising the creative writing competition Hosting closing ceremony | Rm. 1104 LYIT |
| Health Promotions HSE | Sponsoring Storytelling sessions with Liz Weir in both schools Involved in organising open event of the READ LK Project Hosting an evening for parents with Liz Weir ‘Bringing Stories Alive’ in the Regional Cultural Centre |
Evening of February 29th7.30pm – 9.00pm |
| Donegal writers group/ North West words | Promoting and organising the Creative Writing Competition Attending public lecture in LYIT on Feb 21st | |
| Eason’s
| Promoting creative writing competition selling the book | |
| Donegal co co and Donegal Town Council
| Promoting the project on the Town Council websites Informing county councillors about the project |
Events at Letterkenny Educate Together
Date | Event | Venue |
| Week 1 Tuesday Feb 21st | Launch of READ LK – 7pm | Central Library Letterkenny |
| Week 2 Wednesday 29th February | Liz Weir talking to parents about reading and oral language development. Followed by storytelling with Junior and Senior infants and parents who’d like to see storytelling being modelled. | parents’ room 10am Senior Infants class11am |
| Week 3 Thursday 8th March | Senior class visiting St. Eunan’s nursing home to read to the residents | St. Eunan’s nursing home(Time TBC) |
| Week 4 Tuesday 13th March
| King of Tory Patsy Dan is visiting Educate Together to talk about what it is like to live on an island. Design a bookmark Competition | 12.30 Senior Class Educate Together |
| Week 5 Tuesday 20th March | Kate Brown will deliver a drama session with the Senior Class around the Book ‘Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows One Witch (Maybe) | Senior Class 12.45pm Educate Together |
| Week 6 Thursday 29th March
| Errigal College and Educate Together will take part in a table quiz 11.30am Closing ceremony at 7pm (TBC) | LYIT – Letterkenny Institute of Technology |
Events at ERRIGAL COLLEGE
Date | Event | Venue |
| Week 1 Tuesday Feb 21st | Launch of READ LK – 7pm | Central Library Letterkenny |
| Week 2 Thursday 1st March | 1st years visiting St. Eunan’s nursing home to read to the residents followed by refreshments and song singing | St. Eunan’s nursing home(Time TBC)
|
| Week 3 Tuesday 6th March | Liz Weir talking to parents about reading and oral language development. Followed by storytelling with the 1st years | 10am -12pm Errigal College |
| Week 4 Tuesday 13th March
| King of Tory Patsy Dan is visiting Educate Together to talk about what it is like to live on an island. Design a bookmark Competition | 2pm Errigal College
|
| Week 5 Tuesday 20th March | Kate Brown will deliver a drama session with 1st years around the Book ‘Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (Maybe) | 1st years Errigal College 10am – 11.30am |
| Week 6 Thursday 29th March
| Errigal College and Educate Together will take part in a table quiz 11.30am Closing ceremony at 7pm (TBC) | LYIT – Letterkenny Institute of Technology |
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