Open Museum Annual Report

Manor High School in Oadby regularly borrows from Artworks.  In 2005 they selected  a diverse range of works from the brooding ’Figure Study’ by Stephen Conroy, to ‘Bon Bon Alley’ by Peter Howson depicting a scene from Bosnia when occupied by UN troops, to PJ Crook’s ‘Beautiful Game’ a painting of a football match with  strong colour, composition and surface effect.  These works were chosen for the variety in their technique and subject matter, and for the questions posed by the portrait and war scene, as well as the strong composition and appeal of the painting of a football match.

Wigston Library is a regular borrower of Moving Objects displays and used four displays during 2005 to support various aspects of their work ranging from Wriggly readers storytelling sessions in which the ‘Myths, Legends Fairytales and Fables display was used, to their ‘Knitter-Knatter’ knitting and social group who used the ‘Creative Memories’ display.  

Comments from Librarians and Library Development Workers include, “The support materials, fairytales and fables books and activity sheets were excellent for Wriggly reader sessions”

All Saints C of E Primary School in Wigston regularly borrow from Resource Box, in particular from the history section.  In 2005, due to a late order they were unable to borrow the Roman pottery boxes that they usually book every year.  The teacher responsible for teaching about the Romans in History,  Keystage 2 said that he didn’t spend much time on the Romans this year, as due to the needs and circumstances of the pupils involved, he is only able to engage them by enhancing teaching activities with the use of objects and primary source material.  The school did borrow, however, a range of history objects including model castles, medieval figures, Victorian domestic items, natural history and biology items and an abstract wall hanging.

A Learning in the Community Worker borrowed early 20th century laundry equipment to use in reminiscence therapy with a group of residents in a care home.  One lady had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and was so upset that she stopped speaking out of fear of the effects of the disease and was silent for six weeks.  On being handed some of the objects she immediately started to talk again.