Some of the newest additions to the shelves of the Vashon Library’s collection are penned and hand-crafted by some of the island’s youngest community members.
The Vashon Library has included the Vashon Young Authors Collection as part of its new assortment of books available for checkout.
The Young Authors Collection launched in March, according to Children’s Services Librarian Amelia Lincoln Ecevedo, after she noticed how many young library patrons had begun to write books that were “really imaginative and creative.”
“I realized there were probably lots of stories out there that needed a bigger audience, [and] more young authors with voices the library could amplify,” said Ecevedo, in an email.
As the COVID-19 pandemic put limitations on in-person programming, the library began to offer free “Take and Make” kits in the summer of 2020.
This March, the “Take and Make” kits included a set of colored pencils, a pen, paper, and information about the Vashon Young Authors Collection, in order to spur the project further.
“We wanted to make sure everyone had good quality supplies and a little nudge to get the project going,” said Ecevedo.
Ecevedo values the opportunity to highlight the work of island youth, and enjoys seeing how children are excited to see their work displayed for the wider community.
Books from the collection are already being checked out, said Ecevedo, and any islander younger than the age of 18 is welcome to bring a handmade book to the library to be featured in the collection. Ecevedo recommends that islanders use the library’s copy machine for their submission, and keep the original copy.
Recently, Vashon Center for the Arts’ Artists in Schools program, and fifth-graders in Ashley Smith, Nancy Jones, Layla Tanner and Allison Reynolds’ classes at Chautauqua Elementary School collaborated in order to create short stories focused on topics of ecosystems and the environment. The students also participated in a storytelling program with local author, Tavi Black.
After the month of May, the hand-created books will be barcoded and officially added to the Young Authors collection.
“Young people will see that their thoughts and ideas are valued,” said Ecevedo. “Seeing their own books with actual barcodes and on the shelf next to their favorite authors means their work is important too.”
