Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - UVA - 5

Kimberley Barker
portrays Briar the
Book Faery.

Spreading Literacy

DOSE OF

MAGIC

When Kimberley Barker dons her wings,
she goes into character to bring a brief
respite for those facing a stressful reality
BY KELLY CASEY

PHOTO BY KAY TAYLOR, UVA HEALTH SYSTEM

f you've had the fortune of spotting a winged creature roaming the halls of UVA Medical
Center, count yourself among the
enchanted. Briar the Book Faery brings
a much-needed dose of magic to worried
parents, anxious children and even busy
staff members.
"No one is ever at the hospital for fun,
and many people are experiencing some
of the worst things they are ever going
to experience. You're sitting there overwhelmed and upset and, all of a sudden,
here comes this creature walking toward
you, wearing a beautiful costume, wings
and a flower crown," says Kimberley
Barker, the creator and human behind
Briar Copperleaf.

Barker is very much connected to
21st-century technology as a librarian at
the UVA Health System Claude Moore
Health Sciences Library. Her title is
librarian for digital life, but when she
puts on her faery wings, she becomes a
creature from the ancient and magical
world of Appledoria, clueless about the
strange gadgets of the human world.
"Briar lives in a moss-covered cottage in
a forest with a one-eyed crow and fox.
She is very old, but she doesn't look old.
She comes and visits UVA for an hour
each month on the second Thursday
at 10 a.m.," Barker says. While in this
world, Briar tells curious children that
her wings don't work here and are
very ticklish.

Briar is the central character of a traveling
Storytime Program that has brought more
than 200 free books to children. It's part
of a larger initiative, made possible by the
Soho Center, to spread a love for books
and help calm the fears of every child
and family who comes to UVA for care.
Through a long-standing partnership with
UVA Children's Hospital, the Soho Center
gives away about 7,000 quality books to
children at UVA each month.
The impact Briar has on people of all
ages has been a surprising part of the
storytime program. "It isn't children, but
people my age and older, who just really
embrace the character and suspend all
disbelief," Barker shares.
While Briar gets all of the attention,
Barker emphasizes that she couldn't do
the character without Lydia Witman.
When Witman is not helping Briar navigate the strange human world, she manages the UVA Patient & Family Library
Service. "The passion Kimberley brings
to this character," notes Witman, "comes
across to everyone. They'll try to nudge
her, but she won't break character."
Barker stays true to the magic, as she
says, "Distraction is a powerful tool. I've
been in the hospital as a patient and any
moment you can step away from that grief
and fear, it's a beautiful thing." ■

WEBSITE

Books for Kids
The Soho Center has given
away more than $10 million
in quality books to Virginia
children. Books are provided
through UVA Children's
Hospital, libraries and
other centers that serve
children. Learn more at
child2000.org/books.

SUMME R 2019

http://www.child2000.org/books

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - UVA

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