Scottish Borders Council Library & Information Services PLIM project – World War 1 “Keep the Home Fires Burning - the Scottish Borders’ Stories”

Background PLIM funding secured in for “Scottish Borders Newspapers of the Great War” project to digitise local newspapers from Project aim : To improve access to WW1 material through digitisation and create resources for use in schools and for research Further work during to make the digitised images searchable

Aim: To take the Great War out to schools and give primary school children a better understanding of the impact that World War 1 had on the Scottish Borders, through research, drama, song and dance Objectives: Effectively utilise and promote the use of library resources and raise awareness amongst local school children on how to use them for educational purposes Improve children’s information literacy skills Produce a play for school children based on the information research carried out by the pupils Project aims and objectives

Topical subject for schools Helps to address a lack of printed resources in schools project collections – insufficient resources to meet demand for materials Cross curricular, meets the principles of Curriculum for Excellence and gives pupils new skills in art, drama, creative writing and research and ICT - links to YMI and Creative Learning Builds on the “Scottish Borders Newspapers of the Great War Scottish project” Helps to address findings from the Reader Development Network reading audit Develops information literacy skills Develops opportunities for partnership with creative practitioners- potential to develop other strands with cultural/heritage partners Supports SOA N04- “Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens” and SOA N13 “We take pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity” Why ?

PLIF Grant £8,820 Staffing costs £1,220 Resource costs £3,000 Flash drives £ 500 Fee for production (as per guidance from Federation of Scottish Theatres)£4,000 Materials – props and costumes £ 100 Library Services and Arts Development Team£2,450 Materials and resources contribution £1,050 Youth Music Instructor assistance (in kind YMI) £ 615 Creative Learning Assistant support ( in kind YMI) £ 785 TOTAL£11,270 Budget

What? Produce 10 resource boxes to allow selected classes to research the impact of WW1 on their local area including : –flash drive of digitised newspaper resources, links to online resources and items from the local collection –information on how to research WW1 in relation to the local area –pre-determined research paths for pupils to follow regarding an individual or an aspect of WW1 life –Selection of junior fiction and non fiction titles relating to WW1

Pilot the project in one primary school with an upper level primary class- January 2015 Produce a play based on Local Studies resources, containing 3 -4 songs – play will draw from newspapers, items from local studies collection to include local history of WW1 Provide research skills workshop at local library Project evaluation and roll out to other schools. What?

“Nightshirts, dayshirts, cardigans and socks, Gloves and mufflers, they all go in the box. Jams and sweeties, Oxo cubes and buns- We’re the women behind the men behind the guns” “We’re the women behind the men behind the guns”- words by John Nicol, 2014 Keep The Home Fires Burning - Scene 2 “Knitting for Victory” The Patriotic Girls’ Club, Hawick,1917 from “Hawick at War, ”

Library & Information Services Communities Team Library & Information Services Local Studies staff Arts Development - Creative Learning Team Heritage Hub – Archive and Family History Centre Museums and Galleries Service Who? Auxiliary post women delivering letters in Hawick, 1915

For further details…. Margaret Menzies Gillian Swales SBC Library and Information Services Library Headquarters, St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk  