The South East Sport, Culture & Recreation District and the Southeast Regional Library have announced that they are collaborating to implement a new initiative called the Physical Literacy in the Library Project.
The project aims to create a variety of physical literacy kits that are available for all southeast libraries to access, including the Estevan Public Library. The physical literacy kits are similar to the Southeast Regional Library’s mobile Makerspace kits concept, where library branches book the kits on a three-week or four-week rotation.
“Rural communities need a safe and fun space for activity, and the library can fulfill that need,” states a press release for the initiative. “The physical literacy kits give libraries access to unique and creative resources to get people of all ages and abilities moving.”
The project was initiated to assist libraries in developing barrier-free, movement-based programs and opportunities. It also helps local libraries to support broader community goals around health and wellness.
Physical literacy is defined as the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.
At the start of the project, a survey was distributed to libraries to garner input into the content of the kits and target groups they would intend to reach through physical literacy programming. The summer student employees from both partner organizations worked together to source, order and assemble the kits.
There are 11 kits available which cover the following topics: pickelball, outdoor summer activities, outdoor winter activities, glow in the dark miniature golf, floor curling, early years play, play for children ages six to 12, outdoor games, fitness, story walks and quidditch.
Each kit has a guide which provides an outline of how to use the kit in the community and ideas for programming. A kit would be loaned to a library for a one-month period. Some of the kits are duplicates.
Joni Hagen, South East District executive director, said: “One of the priorities for South East District is to support local groups to offer a wide variety of physical activity and active opportunities in their communities. This work supports the goals of the Framework for Recreation in Canada, which includes a priority around active living, and the Canadian Sport for Life movement, which identifies the importance of developing physical literate children to be active for life.
“We were really excited when we initially presented the project idea to Southeast Regional Library; they immediately communicated that the project fits their goals as well.”
The physical literacy kits will inspire new movement-based programming such as walking or fitness programs and assist public libraries to weave physical activity into summer programming.
The kits will help form and sustain community partnerships. For instance, the press release said libraries could team up with schools for such activities as an outdoor winter festival with snow carvings; daycares for story time and movement; museums for heritage walks; seniors’ clubs for chair yoga or a walking book club; and sports and recreation organizations to support play, sport and access to nature.
