#myfriendthelibrary
Hi!
The My Friend the Library project is produced by our nonprofit, Gordon Education Initiatives for the Performing Arts. The idea sprouted from a desire to empower young people to create art for something that they care about. We focused on the magical place that kids cherish and many "big kids" have a fond memory of visiting as a child: the library!
In October 2023, we asked students around Houston, TX to send in an original song about what the library means to them. After sorting through student submissions, one original song popped out, the kind that gets stuck in your head and you find yourself humming it. This song, entitled, "My Friend the Library", became the basis for our project. Everything else was built around these lyrics and melody including the inclusion of two other student song-writers who wrote and performed the rap featured in the middle of the song. 20 other local kids signed up to be part of this music video from schools all around Houston, as you'll see them sing in the recording studio and dance in the music video. A choir teacher at a local elementary school rehearsed with the students to prepare students for the studio recording.
Soon enough, the music video was released on YouTube on March 24th, 2024 and is currently available on all streaming platforms.
Using lyrics and a melody written by students, we are demonstrating that their voices, creativity, and ideas can inspire others. Students are able to see in real-time how their art has the power to have a positive impact on people.
An educator came up to us to say how watching the music video made them cry. A parent commented how it made them recall how how special class trips to the library were for them. These comments are testaments to the students' authentic voices coming through in the message of the song.
For this project to have a broader impact, we extend an invitation to students, not just around Texas, but around the country to send in their video about what the library means to them through a song, poem, rap, dance or any performing art. All languages and performing art expressions are accepted! We would love to share and celebrate the creative talents from kids everywhere around the subject of libraries and the important place they hold in a child's life.
Please join us in the My Friend the Library project! We would love for you to be involved in any capacity.
Dan Gordon
Executive Director
Gordon Education Initiatives for the Performing Arts
At the recording studio, December 2023
Kathy Starr, General Manager of Gordon Education
FAQ's
Who is behind this project?
It's just us! No one hired us or requested us to produce this project. We are not an arm of a larger organization. We're just passionate people running a mission-driven arts non-profit that believe in the power of art to make change in the world.
Who are your partners? And, can my org become one?
We plan to partner with libraries, schools, and literary programs. After we made the music video, a number of Texas organizations wanted to help amplify our message on their social media accounts because our project aligns with their mission of promoting libraries. If you or your organization is interested in becoming a partner that wants to help engage students in the My Friend the Library video challenge, email us at library@gordoneducation.org with the subject line "Partner"
How is this project funded?
We received a sustainability grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance and the City of Houston in Fall 2023 in which we used to pay for the teaching artists involved in helping create this music video project from instructors in choreography, music, and filmmaking. We would love it if YOU would donate to keep this project going. We accept tax-deductible donations here.
If I donate, where does the money go?
Website maintenance, staff outreach to libraries, schools, and nonprofits to participate in video challenge, staff to review and post video submissions on YouTube and social media, marketing and publicity expenses. Funding for My Friend the Library is essential to have this project reach students across the country through 2025.
How are student videos selected to be featuried on here?
If a student's parent/guardian sends us a video and it follows all guidelines, we will celebrate their achievement by posting it on our "Kids Videos" page!
If you have another question, please contact us at library@gordoneducation.org.
On set for "My Friend the Library"
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