Arlington Heights library's fairy tale exhibit aims at hands-on learning
Children and their families who attended Saturday's opening of the Fairy Tale and Fantasy Gala at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library couldn't wait to explore each of the interactive fairy tale sets.
Each provided one surprise after another. From the wardrobe in the beast's castle - filled with costumes - to Cinderella's pumpkin coach and glass slipper to try on, and the shoemaker's bench, complete with nails in the soles of shoes to pound in.
Each set in this national touring exhibit - there are seven in all - provides hands-on components in this storybook kingdom, which allow children to bring these time-honored fairy tales to life.
Included are scenes from "Beauty and the Beast," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Cinderella," "Thumbelina," "The Shoemaker and the Elves," "Lon Po Po" and "Anansi and the Talking Melon."
But the whimsical scenes are just the start of an educational exhibit, around which Arlington Heights library officials designed programming exploring fairy tales and their importance worldwide.
"These sets are the centerpiece for a whole series of events and programs," said Jason Kuhl, the library's executive director. "It's a large-scale exhibit that allows us to dig deeper into fairy tale literature."
The exhibit runs through March and during that time all of the library's story hours will be devoted to fairy tale themes. A special puppet show is planned and school groups are scheduled to visit and learn more about the cultural influence of fairy tales.
Programs for tweens explore the role of villains in historic fairy tales, while adults will dissect Russian fairy tales and their impact on popular culture and other topics in a series of discussion groups.
The highlight of the adult programming is a presentation March 9 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre featuring author Gregory Maguire. He wrote the novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," which became the basis for the Broadway musical, "Wicked." Registration will be required.
Jennifer Czajka, programs and events manager, said the library has begun hosting more special events and using them as a springboard for educational programming. She points to its successful Lego installation last year, and the various programs it spawned.
"Museums have been doing this for years, developing programs as a result of their exhibits," Czajka said. "Libraries have been a little slower to create them."
Kuhl said the library's move toward large scale, interactive events reflects the changes in education and the way students learn.
"Libraries have always been about learning and books," Kuhl says, "but reading is an individual, passive pursuit. We're transitioning into a more active type of learning.
"If you look at the trends in education today, it's much more about hands-on learning, collaboration and teamwork," he adds. "Libraries are reflecting that."