A
background in history is an important cultural literacy component. Having a grasp of a culture’s main events,
outcomes, and personages provides a basis on which future understanding builds. For example, politics and international
policy are influenced by past interactions between parties and countries. In order for history to come alive, there
needs to be an intersection of knowledge, interest, and opportunity.
Little American Girl’s Club is a
cultural literacy program hosted by the Brandon Township Public Library in
Ortonville, Michigan. Created in
response to parental and patron interests, the program is 45 minutes, once per
week for 10 weeks for students in grades K-6.
The program centers each week on a particular doll, most of which are
historically-based. Past programs have
featured such American Girl dolls as Felicity from Colonial Times, Addy from
the Civil War, and Samantha from the Victorian Age, Caroline from the War of
1812, and Kaya, a Nez Perce Indian.
Programs include socialization time, sharing, crafting, and watching a
film, all of which focus on that week’s doll.
The Youth Assistant shared her
experiences with the program. She had
not yet had speakers but had recommended children attend a lecture at the Old
Mill Historical Society in town to learn about living in America during WWII,
just as the American Girl doll Molly did.
She mentioned that reading the American Girl doll books provided her the
opportunity to bring in artifacts mentioned in the book for the children to
examine. She firmly stated that the
children’s cultural literacy levels were definitely increased.
Another program at the Brandon Township Public Library has
increased military history and battle strategy literacy. The Historical Miniature War Gaming Program
is hosted by Mr. Ben Peterson, Associate Librarian. He created this drop-in program 12 years ago
for teens in grades 6-12 to meet every Tuesday from 2-5 p.m. The program has evolved over the years, but
teens who attend participate in several types of games, including Flames of War
(WWI and WWII), the Ancients (World History), Warhammer (Fantasy), and
Warhammer 40K (Science Fiction).
The
Historical War Gaming Program is supported by the Brandon community. This program is highly promoted through word
of mouth, but it is also promoted on the library’s website, in the BTPL monthly
newsletter, and through the program’s own Facebook gaming page. The community support is evident in the
teens’ consistent participation numbers, and the support of parents, local
hobby shops, and guest speakers. Teens
who have graduated and moved onto college return to Mr. Peterson’s programs as
mentors to the current teens, instructing on game play and on painting
miniatures. Several parents have
commented to Mr. Peterson that they have noticed increased interest in reading,
participation, and achievements in school.
Three local hobby shops have shown their support of Mr. Peterson’s programs
by advertising, donating prizes, and providing discounts to Mr. Peterson’s
teens. Mr. Peterson has also involved
many acquaintances as guest speakers, including a professional miniature
painter who presents two to three times a year, a Vietnam vet who spoke about
the Vietnam War, a Military Police (MP) officer who served in Fallujah and gave
a speech about the Gulf War, a presenter on the Battle of the Bulge, and a
guest speaker who introduced medieval history along with sword demonstrations.
Mr.
Peterson believes his program has increased the teens’ knowledge of history,
including historical economics, cartography, diplomacy of writing messages for
campaigns, and artistry of banners, camouflage, buildings, walls, and forts. By combining the socialization and history,
Mr. Peterson believes he is preparing these teens for college. They have become literate in historical time
frames and strategic thinking. Many of
his teens have gone onto college to obtain history degrees. 
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