Reading Roadmap: 5 years traveling roads with reading
On May 28, 2014, the first “Reading Roadmap” organized by the library in collaboration with American Space Madrid took place at the International Institute, within its first year of cultural programming. This coming April 23, twelve editions later, we will celebrate a special session for the fifth anniversary of the ASM, which is at the same time a celebration of its own existence throughout that time.
We were looking for a way to carry out an activity that would promote reading in English for families with children between the ages of 4 and 7, and that at the same time would serve as an opportunity to publicize the library and the Institute in general. With the philosophy of a gymkhana and the notion of travel in mind, we set out to summon people who wanted to read a story with others who wanted to listen to them, following a reading route through different spaces of the Institute. To these elements we added a playful and challenging component: the participants would receive a map and a "reading passport" to mark the places they passed through so that if they managed to finish the circuit they would receive a children's book in English as a gift. Some other components were added to this very attractive format:
The sessions became thematic to give them more coherence and use them as celebrations of special occasions. We started with a special edition on Dr. Seuss, and we incorporated editions on festivities such as Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day or Halloween (the latter being the most successful). We also celebrate Book Day under the title "The Book That Made Me" with a selection of classics chosen by the readers of the stories themselves.
In addition to the readings, we add to a lesser extent spaces where related parallel activities can be carried out (projections, arts&crafts, dance or facepainting). The kids have enjoyed this combination so much that for the ASM fifth anniversary celebration session, each place will have its own dynamic linked to each of the five stories chosen for the occasion.
The Reading Roadmap has always had such a positive response from the public and enthusiasm that we even used its format to commemorate the centenary of the birth of the poet Gloria Fuertes, linked to the International Institute in the past and whom the children of the new generations know a lot better since then.
The volunteer readers have been mostly Americans from the community of the Institute and American Space (students of the American programs, Fulbright scholars, Embassy staff or professors from the English department) but also on the occasions when we did bilingual sessions fathers, mothers and children's library users who wanted to contribute by reading or helping with parallel activities.
This has been one of the hallmarks of the library's programming in collaboration with American Space Madrid from the beginning and we trust that it will continue to evolve so that young and old alike can enjoy a trip through the Miguel Angel 8 building and through reading.
