In a public library serving a diverse population consisting of both children and adults, the issue of noise level inevitably comes up. As a children’s librarian concerned with creating a space that both inspires creative exploration and in-depth learning, I sometimes find it hard to strike the right balance between tomb-like silence and a marching [...]
Archive for July, 2008
A Shhhhhh-Free Zone: Is it Possible?
Posted in Children's Room Policies, Children's Spaces on July 31, 2008 | 6 Comments »
Is there a blushing font?
Posted in Uncategorized on July 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Cause if there is, I’d be using it to announce my nomination by my pal MissPrint. Click the pic to check out her other picks…….
The Latest in the City of Ember Series
Posted in Children's Books on July 23, 2008 | 7 Comments »
The fourth and final book in the City of Ember series, The Diamond of Darkhold, is coming out in August.
I loved the first book, City of Ember, and use it often as a booktalk for 5th and 6th graders. I was somewhat disappointed in the sequel, People of Sparks. I never quite got “hooked” and [...]
Reluctant Reader Pick of the Week
Posted in Reluctant Reader Pick of the Week on July 22, 2008 | 2 Comments »
This week I decided to go with a non-fiction title. Often I get parents in who are frustrated with the fact that their child hates to read. Parents often assume that reading must be confined to fiction. I’m not sure where this perception got started- but people- reading is reading! When I have an open-minded [...]
Library Voicemail Service?
Posted in Patron Complaints on July 22, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I had to share this one.
A regular adult patron came up to the reference desk and explained that he is creating a user profile on craigslist.com. Apparently, the form requires a home phone number. For reasons that the patron did not want to get into, he wouldn’t/couldn’t use his home number and wanted to use [...]
QuickPicks: Historical Fiction that Doesn’t Seem Like Historical Fiction
Posted in Children's Books, QuickPicks on July 22, 2008 | 7 Comments »
At least once a year, some poor, defeated looking kid will come in with a list of assigned historical fiction titles. I don’t know, but could any two words sound less appealing to a 10-year-old than “historical fiction”? My first goal is to rename this genre. To, uh….hmmmm. This is hard. If you have any [...]
Children’s Library of the Future: 10 Commandments
Posted in Children's Services on July 21, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I just found the latest issue of SCL News. There are some great articles, like the one on the opening of the first English children’s library in China.
I was especially impressed by a list of ten recommendations issued by the Danish Library Authority on the future of children’s services in the public library. Here they [...]
An Excuse to Wear P.J.s to Work?
Posted in Children's Programs on July 21, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Last week we had our first Pajama Storytime of the summer. At 6:30pm the kids began showing up bedecked in nightgowns and footies, their stuffed animals in toe.
We sang Ten in the Bed, read some bedtime stories including Sleepy Bears by Mem Fox, Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton and The Night Worker by Kate [...]
Shelter Visit Storytime
Posted in Children's Programs, Outreach on July 16, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit a local homeless shelter and read to the children. Another children’s librarian and I, along with the librarian from our Outreach Services office who runs the program, read to a group of about 20 children, ranging in age from three to fourteen.
This was my visit time visiting a [...]
Anne Carroll Moore…..
Posted in Children's Books, In the News on July 14, 2008 | 4 Comments »
a) is the patron saint of children’s librarians everywhere
b) was a literary snob
c) was a crazy, controlling dictator of NYPL’s Children’s Services
e) all of the above?
