YPICK (Young Person's in Choosing Knowledge)

YPICK book display

The YPICK (Young Person's In Choosing Knowledge) project began during National Children's Book Week in October 2001, when staff from Stockton Borough Libraries met with a small group of pupils from the local comprehensive school in their school library to carry out a selection criteria brainstorming exercise as the first step in establishing a selection process that involved, and reflected the requirements of, the pupils.

The project has now developed and every community library runs a YPICK team in partnership with a school, reading group, parent & toddler group, SureStart or regular library users, in order to involve children and young people directly as customers in stock selection and promotion.

This scheme involves children visiting a local booksellers (Badger for Books, Borders or The Forbidden Planet) with a budget to spend on stock and resources for their local library. The children also give book talks to selected audiences and are presented with certificates at the end of the project.

YPICK has developed into a hugely successful project going from strength to strength each year. There is huge educational potential for those involved but above all it's great fun for staff and young people alike.