Humans of Warwick - Chris White

Chris White

Digital Experience Development Manager, Library

“During lockdown I created my own YouTube channel, ‘Reading with Mr. White’.”

“After studying Early Childhood at Warwick I went on to be a primary school teacher for 11 years. I was looking for a change and it was on a school trip here that I thought this would be a good place to work. So, I’ve come full circle from studying here to now working here.

And I suppose the library was the next logical step, one of my favourite things when I was a teacher was sitting down with the children and reading them a story. That’s where the YouTube channel came from, we’d just started reading a book in class and then lockdown happened. Wanting to finish the story I started recording myself, from my son’s bedroom, reading a chapter at a time to the class.

The videos took ages to make as I was very picky about how they looked, and I’d chosen what seemed to be the longest book as well. There’s 37 chapters in The Nowhere Emporium by Ross MacKenzie! I probably would have chosen something shorter if I knew we’d end up finishing it online.

Lockdown ended and I’d only got to chapter 12 so stopped the recordings, thinking that I’d just continue it in class. That’s when I started getting messages and comments from parents and children across the country and even some from abroad. I thought it was only my class that was watching, turns out it wasn’t so I carried on and finished the book online. I was so pleased that the kids were enjoying it, and I loved doing the videos too. It was quite emotional getting to the last chapter. It’s all still online as well so if you fancy listening to me read to you, then take a look and have a listen.

The reading carries on at home as well, I’ve got two young boys who enjoy a story, but I’ve just made the mistake of introducing them to WWE wrestling. They seem to prefer playing that but it’s my own fault. I was a big fan when I was younger, ask me anything about The Undertaker. When we play at home the kids have the costumes and the walk in music playing, it burns off quite a bit of their energy, I struggle to keep up!

I can’t finish without talking about the library. We’ve got some great facilities and if your family life is as busy as mine then you might want to spend time in The Breathing Space. it’s a nice area to relax and gather your thoughts with a book, highly recommended and great for your wellbeing.

We’ve also got a growing collection of leisure reading materials that staff can lend. People seem to think the library is just for students and It’s all academic books, it really isn’t. We encourage everyone to unwind with a good book. Pop in and see us, and if you have time, I’ll read you a chapter to get you started.”