How I See It -- My Place Exhibit

About The Project

What is How I See It — My Place?
 How I See It — My Place is a documentary writing and photography project for teens. It was developed by the California Council for the Humanities (CCH) and supported by the California State Library. The project was designed to engage young people in thinking in new ways about the communities in which they live. Participants actively explored their surroundings and documented their observations through digital photography and writing. They also conducted additional research and shared their discoveries about local history, environment and culture with peers and community members through exhibits and public events.

How does the project work?
Twenty one California libraries implemented the project in 2008. A designated staff member at each library — in most cases a young adult librarian — served as project director. Librarians recruited ten to 15 teen participants and guided them through a ten-week process of exploring, investigating and (re)discovering their local environment, in some cases with the assistance of local resource people. The teens created exhibits to communicate their findings to the rest of the community, and organized opening events. Each library submitted images and text for inclusion in the online exhibit now on the Council’s website.

The Council provided the libraries with a “package” of resources. They included a project curriculum and digital equipment and materials. Each library also received a cash grant of $1,000 to help defray program costs. Project directors received training in the use of equipment and materials at a two-day workshop in spring 2008 to enable them to carry out the program effectively. The Council provided technical and program support to the libraries throughout the summer and fall of 2008.

What are the objectives of the program? 
The goal was to provide libraries with an off-the-shelf program that would provide young participants with an engaging, enjoyable and enriching humanities experience and enhance awareness and understanding of place, community and environment. Activities were based on youth-development research findings and designed to strengthen a wide range of participants’ skills and capacities — cognitive, social and emotional. The project also enhanced the skills and self-confidence of librarian project directors, and enhanced the capacity of the participating libraries to conduct engaging young adult programming. Participating libraries reported that the program helped raise awareness of the central role libraries play in community life and increased community awareness and support of libraries’ work. Many libraries were successful in obtaining funds and in-kind donations from community members and institutions to augment their own resources.

We expect that the project will produce similar results and benefits in other settings.

How can my library or institution conduct this project?
We have assembled a number of programming resources to enable other libraries, youth-serving institutions, or organizations or groups to conduct this project on their own. These include a program handbook that outlines a week-by-week process, along with other information and resources. All these materials are FREE and can be downloaded from the Toolkit.

This project was developed specifically for use in libraries, but can easily used by other youth- or community-serving institutions, such as schools or after-school programs. Although the project was intended for young people, ages 12 – 18, other ages, including adults, seniors or multigenerational groups would enjoy and benefit from it.

How was the project developed? 
The California Council for the Humanities developed the project after extensive research. The core concept grew out of the work of young adult librarians who participated in a pilot program conducted in 2006. The project was enriched with research and consultation with humanities scholars, including Professor John Stilgoe of Harvard University, about the concept of “place.” Other young adult librarians, library professionals, youth media specialists and humanities scholars, provided assistance that enabled the Council to shape the program to meet youth-development objectives and ensure that it reflected best practices in young adult librarianship.

This project was conducted in partnership with Califa, a membership-based service bureau designed to provide cost-effective delivery of services, programs and products through a membership network of California libraries, www.califa.org, and was supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. 

Comments from a few of our participating library project directors:

La Habra Branch Library, Orange County Public Library
Taking my group of teenagers around town was akin to taking a young child to Disneyland the first time. The teens saw everything from a different perspective. Initially, I was the one pointing out all the sights; very soon they took over and surprised me with their vision. Learning to compose photographs is still a goal but each person’s creativity amazes me. It was a learning experience for all of us and one I want to continue. Jill Patterson

Ridgecrest Branch, Kern County Library
We began our "How I See It: My Place" grant project in mid-August. We started with 13 teens, and five adult advisors: two library staffers, a photography consultant and two writing consultants. At the exhibit opening on October 30, seven teens completed it.
Most of the photography trips centered around Old Town Ridgecrest, the best place here to find Stilgoe's themes. We invited an early-timer to speak to the teens early on, as well as a local historian with the Historical Society of Upper Mojave Desert. Our meetings were held in the library meeting room on Tuesday evenings for 2-3 hours each.

We found that our group didn't get enough done in the early meetings. The last five were pretty intense as the date of the opening drew near with lots of work yet to be done...mounting, staging, publicity, invitations, exhibit brochure, etc. Our teens learned so much through this experience that will stay with them. Reaction to the exhibit has been very positive from the community. The show was here in the branch for 10 days and now it is on display at Ridgecrest City Hall through Nov. 21. It will return to the library after that date. Marsha Lloyd

San Leandro Main Library, San Leandro
During the Summer of 2008, the San Leandro Main Library recruited 12 local teens in grades 8-12 to participate in a photography documentary project sponsored by the California Council for the Humanities. The participants used digital cameras and writing to observe and document their "place" - the downtown San Leandro neighborhoods bordering the Main Library. The 10-week project culminated in an exhibit called Behind the Scenes in San Leandro that was on display in the Main Library from August 25-September 14, 2008. The teens also organized and hosted an opening reception to the exhibit, at which three teens spoke to an audience of approximately 75 people about their experiences. Every teen participant told us that they had a great or good experience participating in the project. Most said it taught them new skills, some said it helped them discover beauty in their home city, and all said they made new friends as a result. Kelly Keefer

How I See It — My Place

An Exhibit of Photographs and Writing by California Teens

About The Project

Comments from a few of our participating library project directors: