3
Dec
The Beedle Society
Ever since reading A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd, I’ve been inspired by the mysterious “Beedle” character to create a club or secret society of kids that perform random acts of kindness. It isn’t a program or an event. It’s a small effort to encourage positive vibrations, giving without reward, a connection with one another, and the simple act of making someone smile. Thus, The Beedle Society was born!
The Beedle Society
Shhh… Can you keep a secret???
The Beedle Society is inspired by a secret do-gooder named “the Beedle” from the book A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd (a Chattanooga local!). The Beedle performs random acts of kindness around his/her town and no one seems to know who it is! It’s a mystery!
We would like to inspire a society of young do-gooders here at the Chattanooga Public Library. When you visit the 2nd Floor, say “Beedle” to the librarian and they will give you a BEEDLE SOCIETY TOP SECRET MISSION. If we all do one random act of kindness, we can change the world!
The above proclamation is printed on little slips of paper that can be found around kids’ area in the library and at the service desk. I’ve taken to recruiting members with kid-friendly guerrilla marketing by slipping these slips in the books on display or leaving them in play areas.
Also, I made a couple badges that can be worn around by staff members to encourage conversations about The Beedle Society with kids and adults. Like any good (not-so-secret) society, you have to scout out good candidates and hope they spread the word to others! If a kid seems interested, I whisper-ask if they would like to be a part of a secret club? And if the answer is “Yes” I pretend scold them for answering so loudly and slip them a BEEDLE SOCIETY TOP SECRET MISSION.
Top Secret Missions
A few library teen volunteers and a community service helper created a variety of colorful, anonymous envelopes out of magazines and colored paper. Inside these envelopes are BEEDLE SOCIETY TOP SECRET MISSIONS. So far, there are only 6, but I plan on adding more and more as time goes on….
The envelopes are discretely numbered on the outside for kids who may or may not want to do the same mission twice. The Beedle Society has been up and running for a week and so far the response has been good. The day before Thanksgiving, I was busy giving missions to kids and a grandmother remarked that that they (her twin 7-year-old grandchildren and the other children in the library at the time) are at the perfect age to fully embrace an air of mystery as well as the weight of their actions. I absolutely agree!
Beedle Society Sightings
Evidence of Beedle Society members at work are already popping up around the library:
Remains of a Beedle chalk drawing outside the library after a couple days of rain.
If anything, my hope is that this will be an exercise of how one small action can make an impression in someone’s life, big or small. Human kindness in itself is absolute magic.
I live in N. GA, and although I love my local library the selection is not the best. I finally decided to pay the $50 to get a card at the Chattanooga Library. I went straight to the 2nd floor with my 3 yr old and can’t believe I haven’t done it sooner. One of the first things I saw was the “Beedle” papers. I think this is the best idea and she can’t wait to leave a picture or a note somewhere
Thanks for all that you librarians do. Looking forward to many more trips to the library.
Thank you so much for your comment, Rhonda! It made my day!! We are lucky to have such wonderful patrons like you and your family. I’m hoping to create more missions this week, so be on the look out
I just found your website, and BASICALLY ALL YOUR IDEAS ARE AMAZING. I’m especially enchanted by your idea of the “Beedle Society” – would you be ok with other libraries using your idea? I’d love to do something like this where I work!
Hi DeeDee!! Absolutely!! The only reason I post about programs is because I’m constantly inspired by youth librarians and educators, so this is just a way for me to pay it forward. Thank you so much for your comment. It made my day
Let me know if you end up doing something like this at your library!