Ocean State Media is partnering with 11 libraries across the state on a new program called The Books That Grew Us. Modeled after the state’s summer reading theme Plant a Seed and Read, the initiative wants to help Rhode Islanders explore the power and impact of media.
Centered on the question “What book planted a seed in your life?” readers can participate in a two-part media-making workshop.
The program was created by Ocean State Media senior community engagement specialist Sarah Trudeau and education specialist Gisele Esquivel. They both sat down with morning host Luis Hernandez to talk about the initiative.
A complete list of the dates, times, and participating libraries can be found below.
Interview highlights
On the origins of The Books That Grew Us program
Gisele Esquivel: We are really lucky to be part of this pilot program. In the past, we’ve worked with libraries individually on a number of projects, whether it’s doing a one-off workshop, or maybe a series for a summer camp. We’ve also worked with OLIS, the Office of Library Information Services, to do statewide programs; for example, collaborating for the Week of the Young Child. I think we’ve just been really lucky that we’ve built a strong partnership with them, and we’re lucky to be one of two organizations that are piloting this statewide program. Along with the Providence Children’s Museum, we were trusted to develop a summer reading program with that theme of Plant a Seed and Read.
On the program’s two-part workshop
Sarah Trudeau: A lot of times, books are the first piece of media we interact with. Our goal is to engage patrons in a conversation about a book they love and how this is a piece of media that you interact with every day – along with a cell phone or a magazine – and exploring those different types of media.
The first part of the workshop, the libraries themselves will actually be running it, and they’re engaging in that conversation of “What is media?” Giselle created this amazing media matching game. So they have the option to go that route, or we’ve created this list that they can choose an activity to kind of work that conversation in. Another one is they may use a book that explores what may be true or false. The librarians will run the first part of the workshop.
For the second part of the workshop, Giselle and I will be there to support and lead the hands-on media creation. So using that prompt (What book planted a seed in your life?), they will be asked to create their answer in some type of media format. So using two different types of media (audio, digital, a collage, etc.), we’re asking them to answer that prompt and create a piece of media, essentially.
On why it’s important for Rhode Islanders to think about their media consumption habits
Equivel: We live in a rapidly changing media landscape. I think as a public media station, we have a responsibility to support our community of all ages. I think of my parents, I think of my former students. We are seeing AI-generated images all the time. We are seeing fake news. We are seeing so many things that are triggering responses online. And so how can we pause people when they see something to really think about, “Okay, what am I viewing right now? What am I listening to right now? What is the message? Who created this and why?” And then just critically thinking about it before they react.
Trudeau: Living in this time, we really need to equip ourselves with these media literacy skills, but also making it known that it’s accessible. A book – a physical, tangible book – is one of the first pieces of media you interact with as a child, whether you’re 10 months old, if that, and your parents are reading you a book. I think a lot of people fall in love with books from a very young age. I know Gisele and I, it’s one of the topics we talk about almost every day. It’s like, “Did you read this? I read this.” It’s one of those things that it’s a universal theme across everyone.
Also, we are hoping by the end of this workshop, each library will essentially get a digital archive of all of the patrons’ final multimedia pieces. So we will have those on display, whether it’s a digital component, a video/audio piece, a picture of the collage they created; we’re really putting this prompt out to the open of how it can be analyzed and interpreted however way they want. I think the beauty of this project, too, is how it is accessible, universal, but also all the different pieces come together in ways we don’t even think.
Workshop schedule
- Tuesday, July 7, 2 p.m. at the North Providence Union Free Library
- Thursday, July 16 at 2 p.m. at the Warwick Public Library
- Tuesday, July 21 at 6 p.m. at the Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library in Burrillville
- Friday, July 24 at 11 a.m. at the Island Free Library in New Shoreham
- Monday, July 27 at 3:30 p.m. at the Pawtucket Public Library
- Wednesday, July 29 at 12:30 p.m. at the North Kingstown Free Library
- Thursday, July 30 at 4 p.m. at the Cross Mills Public Library in Charlestown
- Tuesday, August 11 at 12 p.m. at the Rogers Free Library in Bristol
- Thursday, August 13 at 2 p.m. at the Exeter Public Library
- Wednesday, August 19 at 6 p.m. at the George Hail Free Library in Warren
- Thursday. August 20 at 1 p.m. at the Middletown Public Library
