{"id":15547,"date":"2017-05-08T12:01:32","date_gmt":"2017-05-08T16:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=15547"},"modified":"2017-05-06T07:57:29","modified_gmt":"2017-05-06T11:57:29","slug":"did-you-say-booktuber-and-la-hora-del-cuento","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2017\/05\/did-you-say-booktuber-and-la-hora-del-cuento\/","title":{"rendered":"Did You Say Booktuber and La Hora Del Cuento?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Leonora
Leonora La Llamita Lectora: Image courtesy of Biblioteca Regional de Antofagasta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is last December, 2016, and I am visiting my hometown Antofagasta, Chile after almost ten years of absence. My birth city feels the same with its marine breeze, the dazzling sun, the immense desert, and the curious and welcoming people. However, one thing is different. Now the city has a modern three-story public library built inside a refurbished historic building filled with natural light, innovation, and magnificence.<\/p>\n

\"View
View of the circulation desk used to display books as well.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Silverware
Silverware art in exhibition at the Biblioteca Regional de Antofagasta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Biblioteca Regional de Antofagasta<\/a> is dreamy with books on display every place you look – including the circulation desk- computer stations on all three floors, and an art display. This magnificent library is located in the heart of a town that is learning to use the resources that a public library offers. In fact, one of those resources is the equivalent of the American storytime called \u201cLa Hora del Cuento.\u201d The other resource is a booktuber called \u201cLeonora, la Llamita Lectora.\u201d<\/p>\n

La Hora Del Cuento:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The library offers six weekly storytimes including a Saturday and Sunday Storytime at noon. As the library is located in the town square, heart of the city, across from Antofagasta\u2019s cathedral, the time of the Sunday storytime is strategic coinciding with the end of the mid-day Mass. Therefore, parishioners have the chance of attending another family event; a library storytime across the street. \u00a0This community engagement is relevant for a public library that is building consciousness to make its community ascertain that books and reading are not only part of learning, but also relaxation and entertaining.<\/p>\n

Another compelling element in La Hora del Cuento is that children and their caregivers are encouraged to participate by giving their opinion of the book that is read and refer to the message of the story. Through this interaction, the librarian obtains an understanding of what families are gaining through the reading and the themes that are more appealing to them. Ultimately, the idea is to foster the love for reading to a community that does not read much.<\/p>\n

In addition, La Hora del Cuento uses books that relate to the library\u2019s monthly cultural programming. Thus, the storytimes are prepared following a multigenerational monthly theme that the library is using across library programming. For example, April\u2019s theme is \u201cthe month of the book\u201d where adult and children\u2019 programs will encourage love for books with programs based on this particular theme.<\/p>\n

Leonora La Llamita Lectora:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leonora is a Llama that offers a booktuber about a particular title \u2013 adult, teen, or children\u2019s. This initiative involves the collaboration of a number of staff members, who dramatize the plot or work to support the creation of Leonora. The introductory theme materializes Leonora as a civilian, who is looking for the library and taking the bus \u2013widespread transportation means for Chileans- to arrive to the library.<\/p>\n