"Dumbing Down threatening Reading": Novel Carriers for the Jesteburg Library
Promoting Reading and Sustainability: Jesteburg Community Library's Fabric Shopping Bag Initiative
The Jesteburg Community Library in Jesteburg, Germany, has launched an innovative project to encourage reading among children and young people while promoting sustainability. The project, which involves the distribution of reusable fabric shopping bags, has gained support from the Harburg district and Sparkasse Harburg-Buxtehude.
The Birth of the Fabric Bag Project
The fabric bag project was conceived as a response to the declining circulation of books among children and young people. The library sought to create an incentive that combined environmental responsibility with reading culture. The bags, designed with colourful, child-friendly artwork, have proved to be a hit, serving as both a practical tool and a symbol of belonging for young readers.
Encouraging Reading and Sustainability
The fabric shopping bags have had a significant impact on promoting reading among children and young people in Jesteburg. They have increased library visits, fostered a sense of community, and integrated environmental education into everyday life.
- Increased Library Visitation: The bags have served as a tangible reward for visiting the library, motivating children to borrow more books.
- Environmental Consciousness and Literacy Integration: By combining eco-friendly messaging with a reading promotion tool, the initiative has helped instill values of sustainability alongside literacy.
- Community Building: The bags have become symbols of belonging among young readers, creating a visible community of book lovers at schools and around town.
- Educational Engagement: Some bags feature short stories or reading challenges, encouraging children to complete reading goals.
- Long-term Reading Habits: Early observations suggest that children who receive and use the bags tend to check out books more regularly.
Support for the Fabric Bag Project
The Harburg district has expressed support for the fabric bag project, emphasising the importance of reading in the digital age. Mareile Kleemann from the Harburg district has voiced her support for the project, highlighting its potential to inspire a love for reading among children. The Sparkasse Harburg-Buxtehude has also provided financial support for the project.
Conclusion
The Jesteburg Community Library's fabric shopping bag initiative has demonstrated how libraries can effectively promote reading and sustainability. The bags have served as practical tools, motivational symbols, and community builders, enhancing reading uptake, strengthening community ties, and embedding environmental education into everyday life. This model could serve as an inspiration for other libraries looking to foster a culture of reading among children and young people.
- Some community members, inspired by the fabric shopping bags, have begun adopting other eco-friendly lifestyle choices, such as home-and-garden shopping that prioritizes sustainable products.
- As the fabric bag project expands, it could potentially connect with local home-and-garden shops to offer discounts or special promotions for those bring their library fabric bags as a symbol of their commitment to an eco-friendly other lifestyle.
