Jane Austen Week in the library

Display case highlighting Jane Austen Week.

This is the second year in a row that I have hosted a Jane Austen week in my library and for the kids who attend it seems to be a true highlight.

Here's how I set it up:

• Pick a week when there are no other conflicts on the school calendar
• Advertising- Daily bulletin, fliers, display case
• Word-of-mouth invitations to library loyalists
• Pass out event tickets to kids who want to attend so that they can bring their food into the library during lunch period.
• Select a Jane Austen DVD that is short enough to be shown in five lunch periods (no longer than 100 minutes.
• Create trivia questions about Jane Austen and her books
• Shop for prizes. I bought a used antique teacup and saucer for my trivia winner. Look for Jane Austen books on sale, Austen paraphernalia (this year I found note-cards and J.A. advice book.)
• Invite teachers to attend also during their lunch period.
• Get DVD and projector ready

Grand Prize

The event:

• Greet students and handout trivia questions. Give them a few minutes, then go over answers. Most students know very little about Jane Austen and her books with the exception of Pride and Prejudice. Do a little "teaching" here and there.
• Each day talk about some aspect of life during Austen's time (Regency Period), her books, manner/customs, etc. for less than 5 minutes.
• Show one-fifth of the DVD.
• Collect trivia for points.  The student with the highest point total wins the grand prize on Friday.
• Give out daily treats like a shortbread cookie, a cup of tea, a J.A. Bookmark
• Encourage students to check-out her books and/or any of the many sequels written in recent years.
• Gush.  Allow kids to gush.  Many will fall in love with Jane Austen because of this introduction.

Grand Prize winner Alicia S. on 3/11/11 (Photo published with permission)

 Overheard comments in reference to this event:

• "Let's get together and have a slumber party and watch all Jane Austen's DVDs in one night."-a group of girls talking to each other after events of the second day
• "Jane Austen Week was the highlight of my school year last year." - a member of library club (official- sponsoring club) to another member
• "Let's do it again next month!"-said to the librarian at the end of day five
• "I checked out one of Jane Austen's sequels, The Diary of Mr. Darcy.  I'm so excited to read it."-said to the librarian by a new Jane Austen devotee.
• "Remember being called a Janeite is like being called a nerd.  Can't hurt our feelings.  We like being nerds. Same thing goes for being called the derogatory term Janeite.  We like that label."- Mrs. Bennett to the group
• "I love Jane Austen!  All her endings are so romantic!"- one girl to another

Such fun!

Note:  If you are a teacher/librarian and you'd like to host a Jane Austen event in your library, I'd be happy to share any of my trivia questions, bookmarks, and handouts with you.  Share the wealth!