Libraries and Circuses

The ACRLog blog has a great post about how libraries might take some leadership lessons from a circus - the Cirque du Soleil.

I love thinking about how we can make our workplace and work better by collaborating together and working together. A little less pulling the net out from beneath each other and a little more boosting of efforts is something we all could learn from.

Lead in Kids Books and CPSIA

From Beth Yoke, ALA YALSA Executive Director:

CPSC Issues Rule Regarding Lead Standards; More Guidance To Come for Libraries

As the American Library Association (ALA) has emphasized since first enactment of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), concern for children's safety is our first priority in providing materials to young patrons (12 and under). On August 26, 2009, the CPSC's final rule on children's products containing lead was released. In the rule, CPSC confirmed that libraries have no independent obligation to test library books for lead under the law. CPSC also announced its intention to release a Statement of Policy specifically providing guidance for libraries with regard to the treatment of older children's books that could potentially contain lead. According to our conversations with CPSC officials, that Statement of Policy should be released within the next several weeks.

While we await the Statement of Policy, ALA recommends that libraries take the following actions:

1. If a library is aware that any children's book does indeed contain lead above the legal limits or otherwise presents a danger to children, the library should remove it from public access, for instance by moving it to the non-circulating collection.

2. We would also ask that if libraries do learn of any particular books containing lead to please let the ALA - Washington Office know so that we might share that information with other libraries. Please be sure to provide full citation information, including ISBN.

When the Statement of Policy is released, we will promptly notify our members. If you have any questions or would like to report a book containing lead, please feel free to contact Jessica McGilvray, Assistant Director of the ALA Office of Government Relations at jmcgilvray@alwash.org or 1-800-941-8478.

Mellow Programming

Abby (the Librarian) has a great post about programs that are passive - basically programs that involve kids, promoting the library and its materials but are easy on the staff since they are informal and not tied to specific times and dates. We often don't consider these activities to be "programs" but they are in the best sense of the word. And anything that stretches our resources but still excites kids is worthwhile for us to consider!