INFO 287- New Model Reflection

As libraries offer different types of models for all groups, sometimes it works for certain groups, but sometimes it doesn’t work for everyone. At times when it doesn’t work, they have to look for alternatives to find that sweet spot to satisfy their needs or find their purpose. I believe that programs in libraries are great for grabbing attention from all age groups. As my restaurant background is always around me, I am constantly asked for tips and advice for cooking, it’s just more than cooking, in my opinion. Understanding what food is is just more than food itself. Most people would undermine who we get our groceries from and at the supermarket, but it takes so much work between growing and buying at the market. There is so much at stake when growing food because it’s people’s livelihood to produce, and it always hits me when I go to a nice restaurant and just cherish what is on my plate. One of the biggest takeaways is food literacy. Understanding food literacy can make others look carefully and cherish what is being used and how it is always prepared. 

As libraries have different programs regarding food literacy, it is so important to share the knowledge and showcase what it means when talking about health and wellness. Libraries like the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Kitchener Public Library are showcasing their programs that bring joy to the communities they represent. Ewen, “A Movable Feast,” which showcases their partnership with the Camden County Library System and Free Library of Philadelphia to have a mobile kitchen where they can have demonstrations and learn about healthy food practices and also towards food protection training as well. As the city of Camden is considered a food desert, there are more stores than food markets, and some rely on bodegas for food (Ewen, 2018). Another model that can be used in the library is learning about culture through food. Kitchener Public Library, partnered with Underground Flavour Group (UFG), talks about and shows different cultures through food.

Through the partnership with Kitchener and UFG, it is important to showcase different cultures for patrons who are interested in food from other cultures. Looking through the diversity in libraries that share food cultures is a great way to understand culture without stepping out of the country or even out of the city. This program not only hosts chefs who cook food from their ethnic groups but also serves as a hub for the community. Shirley Luu, with the KPL, said, “Libraries today are more than just a place to borrow books. Libraries have become a hub for the community; connecting with different programs and partnering with the UFG just made sense.” (CBC, 2021). As I always said to my friends or people I have met in life, “Food is a universal language that speaks volumes.”

Looking at models for the libraries, talking about food and food literacy is important for the groups that are at a socioeconomic disadvantage. They can use these programs to learn and also really think about how they can be a lifeline for them in the future. When they get older, they can cook and understand how to eat to benefit their livelihoods and also to learn about other cultures through food. I believe it is one of the best ways to learn, as is finding others to learn with too. 

References

CBC. (2021, December 28). How a restaurant-library partnership made food and culture accessible. CBC. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/underground-flavour-group-and-kpl-1.6294810?fbclid=IwAR1E-wMqgXKv6R9LMcP1O8LTTzAZTNNUgH5GEI8DiNAgrRdpCUlTBeTJ4Es

Ewen, L. (2018, September 4). A Movable Feast. American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/09/04/movable-feast-library-mobile-kitchens/

S, M. (2014, June 2). Come See What’s Cooking: Announcing Our New Culinary Literacy Center! Wikipedia. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/2006