Youth Librarian as Guide and Sister?

I appreciated this recent reflection on "parenting like a librarian" from Michelle Woo, writing for Lifehacker. In the article she references the work of John Holt, unschooling pioneer, and his belief that parents need to "get out the way" and allow kids to discover.  Woo then compares that advice to how we in the library world do just that: offer diverse choices; don't dictate what to read; take part in the cultural conversation; and help people follow their interests.

Pixabay Image

This dovetails with something I share with grad students in my classes when we examine history and current practice in youth librarianship.

"Precepts and Practices" by Christine Jenkins published in the September/October 1999 issue of Hornbook has a much quoted set of  beliefs or central concepts in children's librarianship  that are part of our history as well as very present in our current librarianship. One of the seven beliefs she explicates is the the belief that children's librarians have "a friendly and unsentimental older sister's attitude towards children."

This particular description is one that often elicits the most discussion and controversy from students. (sometimes I wonder whether its because students might have fraught sibling relationships). So as I teach, I have given alot of thought to this. I think part of this belief description is turning away from the concept of youth librarians as motherly or grandmotherly; away from the concept of youth librarians as bosses; away from the concept of youth librarians as teachers.

Rather, the description enfolds the best of what an older sibling can provide: pathfinding guidance; experience; and support. Woo's article comes at this in much the same way and really speaks to me about how we approach our work with people of any age that use the library.

I like it!

The View from the Other Side

Pixabay image

I retired from my job as Youth Services Manager at the end of SLP this year. What's it like?

Not surprisingly, it's been great fun and the best stress-reducer known to humankind. Though I worked to keep stress under control and made lots of decisions to keep things balanced (forgoing some things; saying no to others; passing offers on to other youth librarians; working on some work things at home to leave more time for co-workers during the work day), work stress is just one of those things that was part of my day-to-day. Can't say I miss it.

Many friends said it would feel like vacation. It doesn't. It feels like freedom.

Lingering warm weather allowed me to have an extra run at summer, a season I felt unfamiliar with after SLPs entered my life. It's good to make her reacquaintance. Nature has been my balm and I was able to plunge in with hikes, bikes and adventures in this beautiful driftless region and northern parts of my new state MN.

I read - alot. I cook - alot. I visit and help with friends and family - alot. I take my time - alot. Time does tick down from here (one doesn't usually retire because one is young) but more slowly and at a more measured rate.

I found that I retired from a job, not from a career. While I am lots more relaxed, I still keep my fingers in library "stuff" - but at a pace that allows me to finally do all.the.things.

I realize now- in a huge way - that because of my longtime outside commitments in professional associations, presentations, teaching and consulting, almost all my work weeks were 60-65 hours. There was my 40 hours paid for by my library. For all those other outside things, all the prep and doing was done in home-time (good morning 4 a.m!; hello long weekends of prepping sessions; why I'd love to work at that after supper until 10 pm; oh a vacation week to stay at home and put this course together, that's swell). Lucky I was - and am  - to have a supportive partner! Now I have all the time in the world to put this stuff together since all my time is my own. Feels good!

I'm most excited to be embarking on a long-time dream. I will be the youth services system consultant for the Southwest (WI) Library system libraries on a very part-time basis for 2016 while they transition into a more permanent consultant position for 2017. I look forward to delving into work with the youth staffers and directors who-do-everything and lending a helping hand.

I'll still be seeing lots of you. I'm on the ALSC Sibert Award committee so my reading will turn to youth non-fiction in 2016 and ALA conferences remain on the agenda. I will be working on lots of teaching, webinars and presentations in the next year. I'm pumped to help contribute to planning for a national youth librarian leadership/management conference sponsored by UW-Madison SLIS and scheduled for April 3-4, 2017 (there will lots more on that soon!).

Blogging will occur at the same languid pace I've adopted in the past year or so. I promise to stay in touch and hope you will too.

#whylib Journey - Hmmm, Why Indeed?

Children's Book Week poster from my childhood

A Twitter conversation among school library colleagues grew into a call for Tell Your #whylib Story for School Library Month and from there, librarians from all types of libraries joined the conversation. Here is my "why" story.

Once upon a time there was a little kid who loved libraries and books and was an avid library user.

When, as a preschooler, she asked if she could run the cool ka-chunking check-out machine, her branch librarian said, “When you grow up and work in a library, then you can!” Hmmm.

As an elementary school-ager, she walked the mile to the branch library weekly - which actually was as good as the penny candy store she stopped at on the way back - both were full of good stuff but the library was free! Surrounded by  thousands of books, she imagined that working in a place like that would have to be heaven. Hmmm.

When she was old enough, she started taking the bus to the giant Main Library.  She was perhaps a little young to be using the adult section where the really interesting books were. She knew it because when she asked for help, the reference librarians turned a cool eye on her and always inquired, “Have you checked the catalog first?” (You Meanies, of course I checked!!) It struck that now pre-teen ager that perhaps she could make libraries a little more fun, a little less quiet and a lot less intimidating. Hmmm.

At college in the lovely '70s, she found the intermediate courses without prerequisites the best: Astronomy; Physics for Poets, Metallurgy (engineering), Old English, Old Norse, Medieval Lit, - well any lit for that matter, Scandinavian Mythology (not influenced by Tolkien, was she?), Theater, Art History, and the Development of Language and Writing. Nearing her graduation, she thought, "What all can I do with this disparate knowledge?" She looked at UW-Madison SLIS and thought, "Hey I could organize myself AND libraries!" Hmmm.

Once in graduate school, with an excellent children's services program, many future children's, teen and school librarians in her cohort , the CCBC just down the hall and more excellent courses to take on campus like Child Development and Creative Dramatics, she knew that work with children and families in libraries was exactly where she was heading. Hmmm.

When she got her first job as a children's librarian in La Crosse, she was encouraged by wonderful mentors like Avis Jobrack, Jane Botham, Nancy Elsmo, Pat Bakula, & Ginny Moore Kruse who taught her “Give yourself permission to be creative.” You had to believe them! Plus working with kids and in libraries was as good as she imagined. Hmmm.

From there she got active in state and national library association work, met tons of colleagues IRL and continues to meet and work with them virtually. She began storytelling and giving workshops and presentations and met even more people and saw where they all worked - at libraries very small to large.Each interaction with library folks has enriched her practice. Hmmm.

Throughout the years, the librarian learned something new every day from the kids and families who came through the doors of the libraries she worked at. They taught her that connecting the right book to the right child can have life changing implications. Hmmm.

And now, 57 years after trying to use the checkout machine and 38 years into my career, I look back at

all of these “aha” moments that led me on the path of librarianship. Reading the tweets and posts tells me the story I'm telling isn't unique to me. You all live it each and every day as you work with your communities. We are all awesome for the fundamentally important work we do in bringing information and literacy to our patrons. Despite tough economic times, our libraries and our work with the kids is vital and more important then ever. Yes!

Our happily ever after IS the work we do. And that is all the why I need!

It DOES Make a Difference

Julie over at Hi Miss Julie just wrote another in her long line of thought-provoking posts - this time on the question of self-worth for youth librarians.  Being valued for our work is something we all need. Our youth library community embraces us in so many ways.  The youth we work with and their families do to. But how can we help each other boost our support and recognition in the larger community of other types of librarians. Julie encourages us to make sure youth librarians are nominated for awards and recognition. I couldn't agree more.

Time for a story....

Three years ago, I was honored as the Wisconsin Librarian of the Year. Two long-time colleagues in WLA/ALSC youth work had put together the nomination and tag-teamed to call me with the great news. It happened out of the blue and was the most pleasant shock of my life.

Part of the surprise? It is an award that seldom goes to youth folks.  In my decades in the association, I can recall only three other youth librarians receiving the award. Most awardees were directors and/or just about to retire or leave the profession.

I have always been a working grunt of a front-line librarian. Big believer in service to my community; service to the profession and service to my colleagues. I believe in learning and sharing every single day I go to work. Inventing and creating great service - and supporting those who do the same - is what I live for. I do it because...well, isn't that just what we all do?

So I was truly honored and humbled. I was also blown away by the appreciation I felt from colleagues who were so excited not just for me but that a youth librarian had received the award. It was like a giant celebration and recognition of all our youth services tribe.

This award changed the equation of my professional life in significant and subtle ways. While I had done a workshop or presentation here and there, suddenly, the requests started pouring in. Colleagues in other disciplines in the profession started seeking me out to serve on committees, ask my opinion, teach and work collaboratively. I ran for a statewide non-youth library position and won against a library director (doh!). I was seen as a "library leader."

What's funny is that I didn't feel any stronger, smarter or mightier after the award. I'm pretty much the same person/librarian I've always been (still just as opinionated and prone to mistakes and mis-steps). The award didn't change me.

But it did make a huge difference in the eyes of colleagues - especially librarian colleagues in other disciplines. They learned to listen to and respect a youth librarian! I think it empowered youth colleagues around the state to step up and take on leadership roles locally and state-wide.

It has motivated me to work even harder to support my youth colleagues in taking those steps to leadership. I routinely nominate or support nominations of youth colleagues for awards. I want everyone to experience the recognition they deserve for their daily hard work in our field.

So please, do as Julie says. Boost your youth colleagues and shine a light on them. You'll be glad you did. Not just for you, but for our whole youth services tribe.

Graphic courtesy of Pixabay

It Ain't the End!

Does anyone else get tired of the goofy articles that pop up in the popular press about how useless libraries are  - from people who don't use libraries?

Well, just like a refreshing, cold brew when you pop the bottle cap off , Jacob over at the BeerBrarian sends a what-for to the ignorant dudes who write this dreck. Go ahead and bookmark that post. He links to lots of great research, some hilarious comebacks and speaks truth to the straight white male power structure on their privilege and ignorance vis a vis most things but especially libraries.

Everything Old is New Again

I always think it's funny - and a little bit sad - when bug-eyed articles come out about some aspect of adult library programming being trendy and pushing the envelope. What stands out is it's usually something that, in some format, youth services librarians have been doing for decades in their programs.

When I first read the Wall Street Journal article on programs being held on hog butchering and blacksmithing, I thought ho-hum. We've been bringing in sheep, snakes, horses, cows, giant shopping cart go-carts and heavy equipment vehicles for kids to explore and discover since forever.  Programming that informs kids by sharing stories or information books and then hands-on experience with an IRL thing has long been a staple of most youth programs.

I feel the same way about gaming. While most adult services folks think of gaming as avant-garde and new, new, new, I would argue that again, gaming has had a respected place in libraries for a long time in youth areas. When I first came to our library, we had a robust tech gaming program - wii, lan; computer games; multi-player games. But our gaming assistants also developed the seeds of Lego Club, board game night, giant Candyland and Pokemon Club; card games - to the dismay of the manager who oversaw the gaming. He insisted that wasn't "real" gaming.  I always disagreed.

Libraries have been providing and playing games with kids from almost the beginning of their existence. Think of chess and checkers clubs; scavenger hunts; book bingo; game-based SLP reading programs; Lego and Pokemon Clubs; board games available in the room for kids to play with. They have engaged kids in skills-building - math; engineering; problem solving; planning; and cooperation to name a few. When our city council balked at funding the computers and video games, our director used that argument to win them over. Electronic gaming is just another face of what we've always been doing in youth services.

Makerspaces are the new glamor-boy. Uh-huh. This blog post was jump-started by Amy over at Show Me Librarian who shared some thoughtful comments on arts and crafts and the nature of maker spaces.  I'm with her. Youth librarians have been doing makerspaces, again, for decades. Programs that provide kids with hands on time to create paper airplanes or tissue box racecars; moebius strip making; knitting; crafting; building; Legos; science experiments...I could go on and on. Youth librarians have been working with kids to grow skills, to create opportunities for them to create and make since forever.

In many ways, it's all in the branding. Here at our library, we tend to embrace any new paradigm that comes along (Harlem Shake dance next?). I think of it in the same way as hopping on the PR train for children's book film premiers or debuts of popular children's books and creating a program to capitalize on the hype. So, for these new adult bandwagon efforts: DIY? Re-brand craft programs and scrapbooking. Gaming? Re-brand Pokemon club. Tech Creator Space? Re-brand cartooning; writing; creating book trailer programs. Makerspaces? Re-brand Legos clubs; science discovery programs and more.

But, in a deeper way, this "second-coming" hype also speaks to me about the disdain or dismissal or outright ignorance by others in our profession of efforts by youth folks. It's echoes what Julie was speaking about at Hi Miss Julie when she addressed the issue of power and youth librarianship (and the plethora of commentators who.so.missed.the.point). There may be some adult services librarians who realize that the programs and spaces they are now creating are based on efforts in programming that youth librarians (and others who work with kids in schools and youth serving organizations) have been doing since the beginning of children's spaces in libraries in the last century. People have come before. In the same way I admire, emulate and credit great efforts by colleagues serving all ages in all types of libraries, I hope to see that same reciprocity from all my colleagues serving other ages.

Will it happen?  You tell me.
.

You Picked That Up From Where?!?!?

A recent post from a widely read blog, which will itself remain uncited, described a library's program for  kids. It looked fun and had a ton of good ideas. It is a program we have done too. All was well and good until I reached the point in the post where I read about an activity that I had created and originated and blogged widely - and more than once - about. Sadly, I didn't see a link back here. Sigh.

I definitely like to scatter idea seeds - both ones I've thought up and ones I've learned from others.  I let them fall where they may. I always hope for fertile soil;  for sprouts and gardens to grow that let kids experience something amazing that they couldn't if their youth librarian didn't try something new they heard from me - or discovered on a listserv, blog post, workshop or book .

But truly, as much as I have scattered, I have also gathered from others. I have learned and borrowed and recreated ideas that others have pioneered. Each time I do, I have said, "Hey, I found it here; or this library or librarian was the founding mother or here was the acorn that produced this oak." Everything comes from somewhere and I appreciate the person that hatched the first egg of the idea.

Every time I read a post that describes a program, I love to see where it came from (the writer's mind; another colleague; a chance conversation; an adaptation of an article; like that). It leads me to that first place and adds a colleague and their work to my blog roll, my reading pile or my bookmarks.

I have been mellow about seeing stuff I've created go viral ("Oh, there's my little baby," I coo proudly, "all grown up") even if my hand in it is long gone. I rarely pitch a fit.  But, somehow, this time, this missing link bothered me. I will totally get over it. I understand how in this world of Pinterest and links to links to links, things can easily fall between the cracks. But I send out a plea to my sister and brother pinners and bloggers and blog administrators - please remember to ask yourself and your writers to link to original content or at least lay a path that helps others find their way.

After all, everything starts somewhere.

Note: I composed this post last month and scheduled it for next week. But three incredible posts of the last 24 hours moved this up since they touch on aspects of support for each other in what I am writing: Hi Miss Julie's questions about who gets tapped for rock stardom vs. the librarians truly working in the trenches of youth librarianship; Kelly over at Stacked who thoughtfully and reflectively explores how we support each other in our work and blogging; and KM Librarian who thinks about networks and support that matter. All these posts are knock-your-socks-off thoughtful.


Image: '382e nestled in'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/25171569@N02/6298805160 Found on flickrcc.net

Get Up, Get Out!

Cen Campbell has a guest post up at ALSC blog that encourages youth librarians in particular to get out of the echo chamber and really interact with and respond to their community.  I love her seven steps that are a literal kick in the butt to engage and be engaged.

We all need reminders to get out of the lanes we're in and think beyond what we've always done. It's challenging; it's hard but it's worth it. What are you going to do this year to shake up your routine and really learn, build and serve your community?

Image: 'Grace and poise?'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/92814092@N00/477256270 Found on flickrcc.net

Building the Ship

Long-time colleagues and readers know that I hate standing still. I have been a children's librarian for all 36 years of my career and have been privileged to serve my communities in that capacity. I have never wished for more or less than what my career has happily been - serving youth and families in libraries.

This is my passion and my calling. So I have pushed hard in my jobs and profession to look for ways to offer the best. Looking for more and adapting to changing needs is what drives me.  I can't stand still when every tide brings a new treasure to the beach of my library. It often drives co-workers and professional colleagues crazy but most of those found treasures that generous colleagues have tossed out on the sea of youth librarianship have made a positive difference in how youth are served at the library.

But I always thought, "Just imagine, if rather than a flotsam of ideas, we could build a ship of them!" Yesterday, something happened that makes me believe that dream might come true in our state.

It was with real pleasure that I attended a pre-conference at my state library's association's fall conference on youth services. It was, of course, a wonderful experience. But more than that it represented a sea change in attitudes, power shifting and conversation from what has been going on in youth services in our state for awhile.Too often individuals looked to an ephemeral "someone else" to lead. Networking was hit-and-miss or concentrated on a few issues without looking at the bigger picture. Colleagues from large and small libraries just weren't linking.

But times have been changing in the state. Rather than popsicle sticks and lamentations, participants yesterday were treated to a power-producing afternoon that demonstrated concretely that our state level children's consultant, our WLA Youth Services Section leaders, our system level consultants and youth librarians were ready to enter a bold world of action, support and innovation. WE are what we make of youth services. I am ready for the ship we are creating - come on board with me!

Librarian Stereotypes - Myth Busting

Stephen Abrams shared Kelly Allen's (a Texas University LIS student) Prezi on the depiction of librarians in picture books.  We recently did some youth librarian myth-naming and myth-busting in an online graduate course I'm teaching.  Allen's observations and the illustrations chosen are an interesting eye-opener when you consider this is what our clientele is seeing!

I Gotta Tip for You

I really love lists that librarians put together to guide, warn, express exasperation or otherwise share their wisdom/experience/ideas/disdain. Here are a few recent gems:

Screwy Decimal's Top 10 Tips for Librarians. Rita knows, follow her sage words.

Magpie Librarian's Please Don't Say This to a Librarian . One my favorite parts of this post is the clueless commentator who. just. does. not. get. it.

Edudemics 20 Twitter Chats Every Librarian Should Know About. Inquiring minds who like to chat about libraries will want to stop here.

Early literacy storytime guru Mel at Mel's Desk shares her Ten Favorite Baby Storytime Plans. I slavishly follow Mel's suggestions. Always. So should you. She's one smart, creative cookie.

For Those About to Mock details its list of 14 classic Newbery misses. Thank god, my year isn't mentioned ;->

An oldie but goodie: My Life Scoops 10 Cool Things for People Who Read (Real) Books. If it's bling and it's books I'm there!

You got some lists to share?

Image: 'Tipping Point'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/77967821@N00/4608798120

Love Me Some Weekend Work

In order to get a few days off mid-week to do some research, I did some shift trading and found myself working three weekends in a row.  And as I worked, I realized how much I like those weekend shifts. Why?

*Each weekend day is a four hour shift - two people split the duties: one goes 9-1 on Saturdays; the other works 1-5 on Saturday and Sunday. These are short, quick shifts that are easily worked and still leave plenty of time for weekend fun.

*It's all desk, all the time. I gear up for having a good day with patrons and for the most part I do. I get into my Wakanheza place and launch my service self from there. Even if I have to get tough, I have a smile and joke in reserve.

*Because of the pretty high usage and good pace, I only plan service to the public and not projects while working. So with my goal to serve the patrons, I ineveitably accomplish my work. If I do manage to get through emails or finish a report or design a handout because it's slow, that's a bonus - but not an expected result.

*As a manager, these are great days to work - lots of hands-on, sleeves-up reference and reader's advisory but no calls to negotiate, mediate, problem solve for staffers within the department or around the library - we are all too busy giving primary on-desk service (or having great days off!). This unadulterated face time with kids and families is golden.

*Weekends are great times to be up and about from the desk - straightening shelves and displaying books; spot weeding collections; chatting with kids and adults using the room; helping with catalog searches.  There are fewer phone calls so being tied to the desk isn't necessary and the pace is definitely one that keeps me moving.

*I get to check in throughout the shift on Twitter with the #saturdaylibrarian and #sundaylibrarian hashtags that connect me with colleagues from all types of libraries. Sometimes we comment on our days; sometimes we help each other with reference queries and sometimes we count down the time and patron quirks.

I don't think I'm Pollyanna-ish or see the weekend world through rose-colored glasses or live the lemons/lemonade paradigm. I just genuinely like those Saturday/Sunday shifts. It could be I'm just weird. Anybody else weird like me?

Image: 'It's here!'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/94812957@N00/341430448

Can Ya Pipe Down Please? True Conference Etiquette

As you prepare to go to ALA conference...or really any workshop, CE opportunity or speech...you need to read and own my friend Ingrid's blog post at Magpie Librarian on badly behaved librarians. And if you see yourself in her post, please, would you keep it down? The rest of us are trying to listen  - and not to YOU!

Image: 'IMG_6851''  http://www.flickr.com/photos/24630636@N03/6976435455

Are We Really Glittery Cockroaches?

Hey-yell yes!  The always provocative Hi Miss Julie has a fascinating series of blog posts about to begin that are based on her hilariously skewed recent tweet,  "Children's librarians will always survive. We are adored. We are loved. We are the glitter covered cockroaches of the library world".

She goes on in her first post on this subject to tell librarians from all types of libraries to follow the model of what youth services librarians do to find their karmic pathway to success: "we provide unique, superior value and we make sure people know about it. Also, we’re the nicest people in the library world, and that keeps people coming back."

Julie will be following her first post with a series of posts on services children's folks do really well. I can't wait. Now where's my glitter?

Image: 'iPhone Background - PARTY!!!'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/60057912@N00/5596912586

Extra, Extra - Who's Got It?

I read a post by Jessica Olin over at Letters to a Young Librarian that really got me thinking. In it she reflects on what it is that motivates her to reach out and beyond herself to stay fresh in her work. She read Daniel Pink's book Drive and talks about his use of the mathematical concept "asymptote".  As Jessica writes, Pink "uses this concept to talk about motivation and skill mastery and about how, if you're really passionate about something, developing your practice never stops."

"If you're passionate about something, developing your practice never stops." 

Those words really struck me.  I think they encompass the difference between a great worker and an adequate or poor one.  When I look at colleagues I work (and have worked with) with at my libraries (at all position levels), colleagues professionally in my state and across the country, colleagues online and on social media sites, I know I most appreciate those who constantly strive and look for ways to do a better job and learn more each and every day.  They listen to the public and peers and leap out with great service.

They help ME learn. They help colleagues learn. They share ideas and enthusiasm generously and constantly. They aren't afraid to try, fail and try again.  They are collaborative. They care passionately about making life better for the customer. They are intrigued by solving the puzzle of advancing librarianship.

It isn't who they know.  It isn't how much they know.  It isn't how much knowledge and expertise they "own". It's how they process the things they see and hear to build consistently better service in collaboration with co-workers and the public.

And they don't stop. They don't phone it in after 10, 20, 30, 40 years of work. They bring it and they bring it every day for their customers.  When they feel badly managed, they bring it. When funding collapses, they bring it. When doors close in their face, they bring it. When their personal life is challenging, they bring it.

I'm not sure I'm enough of an uber-manager or colleague to help create that passion and ongoing commitment to developing practice where it has never existed or simply no longer exists. I don't know if I have the skills to expand very narrow passions ("I just want to be a grandma to the little kids and do storytimes"; "I know everyone in town, but you don't"; "I have a skill but it's mine and I'm not sharing."; "I served on state library association board once and I'm done with that forever").

But I know the people who truly are passionate, who have that "extra", are the ones that are most satisfied with their work, the most worry-free and take the most pleasure from the sharing, learning, collaboration and innovation they help create.  They love the moment that they step into work each day even if the challenges they face are discouraging. They don't give up. And they never stop developing their practice.

Are you someone like that?

Image: 'IMG_1904'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/45339532@N00/95202050

Stop Driving Our Customers Nuts!

My friend Cheryl Becker has a great post up at her site bemoaning how difficult many library websites make it to find contact information. She was inspired by the M Word blog.

Man, I totally get behind this.  I find that on so many levels, libraries make it hard on customers. Our website is a perfect example (I am not linking to that monstrosity; if you want to see it, please use your google skills). I can barely find what I need. How can a customer?  On the good side, we are in re-design mode.

But then there's the on-line catalog.  Eeeee-yooooo. People gamely try to get it to give them the info they need but it is absolutely non-intuitive.  We don't foresee a time with our current vendor where the average user will be able to successfully use it without constant staff assistance. That makes it easy on the customer. NOT! It does mean job security for staff though. Hmmm, stealth vendor support of librarians?

Or let's consider signage.  Why do we assume that kids can read anything that we have posted around the place?  Why are we not relying on pictures and graphics to help our pre-emergent and emergent reading kid-customers find what they need? Gack.

How about information on programs. How many hoops do we make people jump though to get the information they need? One thing that has helped us is immediately posting programming on our website as a downloadable PDF as soon as we have it nailed down (even before any printed handouts are out) and putting out business-card sized handouts with bit.ly URLs pointing there. People can get a sneak peek months beforehand.

It's worth looking around at our work places, our websites, our handouts and our procedures to find ways to welcome our public by making it easy to use and peruse the library.  I can't help thinking that it  would help relieve nuttiness for all!


Image: 'Nuts 1'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/82607712@N00/2079743107

Leaving with Class and Style

I ran into a post from my friend Ingrid, the Magpie Librarian this week that I really adore. She talks about the process she went through as she decided to accept another position in her library system. In this thoughtful post, she considers what she should share, how she should break the news to her patrons and when she should say good-bye.

Most impressive to me is her care in taking responsibility for the decision and not trashing and burning her way out of a job that seemed to have had some tough personnel aspects. She wants the transition for her patrons to be painless and wants to make sure her colleagues left behind short-staffed for the short term get the benefit of her planning and leaving updated files and info.  Her tips are so thoughtful I had to share.

In the same vein, Jen the Youth Services Librarian's in a recent blog post revealed she would be leaving her job in weeks and shared the programs she had planned for the summer she won't be there. That is so thoughtful. Today on Facebook she posted a picture of the storytime mom and kids who surprised her with a goodbye visit.  You receive in karma what you give.  Both of these librarians do and will!

 Image: '004/365'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/29559659@N03/6010519164

Why I Love Being a Children's Librarian

Besides getting to see all the new materials and read them first in my favorite reading chair at home so I know what to recommend to kids....

Besides connecting kids to information resources and answering their questions....

Besides running into a parent who I had in storytime when they were kids who tell me how much I meant to them and their love of libraries and books (and meeting their kids!)...

Besides working with colleagues in my library, the state, the blogosphere, and across the country who so generously share ideas and energy...

Besides loving to talk to kids and tease them and bring a smile out....

Besides connecting to other youth serving organizations in the community to do even better work for kids...

Well, besides all of the above, I love my work because I think nothing is better than connecting kids, books and libraries together in one big happy mish-mash.

Why do you love children's library work?

Image: 'I Love to Read'  www.flickr.com/photos/90819592@N00/775089650

Are Libraries the Next "Big" Thing?

Over at NPR's Monkey See blog, Linda Holmes has a tongue-in-cheek speculative piece on whether libraries are on the verge of a ubiquitous surge of love and approbation.  You got me.  But we sure have been in the news in good and bad ways over the past couple of months.

The bad ways are are in the teeth-grinding, sweat-inducing budget horrors going on around the country ("Oh, yeah, we'll close ya down every Monday"; "Money for the library?  Nah, better we give it as a loan to a for-profit professional sports team to keep 'em in town"; "We don't need so many stinkin' branches").  They are in the stupidity of a local Fox affiliate "reporting" that no ones uses the library and it costs money.

The good ways - in advocacy organizations like Geek the Library, I Love Libraries, Save Libraries. And in the stream of amazing and very funny videos that have absolutely gone viral on libraries (I don't think I have to link you to the Old Spice guy or the New Spice guy which have been everywhere in the blogosphere in the last week) like Librarians Do Gaga and more. Humor is always good!

Good and bad news puts libraries front and center in the public's perception.  And it forces people to think about whether a shared, public, community resource (whether school, public or academic library) is worth keeping in times of real struggle.

I hope we are the next pop-culture phenom.  Libraries are there for all.  And we need to keep it that way!

Image: 'picture'   http://www.flickr.com/photos/58428285@N00/3122529077

Three Cheers for Shout-outs!

I really enjoy the sometimes curmudgeonly, often hilarious, and sometimes bent outlook of the.effing.librarian.  Today, he gives definite props to all of us children's librarians out there for the work we do with with kids.  Of course what always makes this kind of thing special for me is when someone in the library world who doesn't usually come near kids stuff still "gets" it and appreciates the good stuff we do. We saw it with the Library History Buff's powerful essay at LISNews in February.

It's good when any of us in the library biz give a little love to others way outside of our own career niche.  So let me give a little praise back to my friends up on the front line of every Circ desk in the country.  I know the joys and annoys you go through minute by minute, day after day.  You handle the ups and downs with aplomb and there is not one other desk that handles the sheer number of transactions with such grace. Without your work and equalibrium, we would fold! Thank you!

Here's to the Tech Services folks who put such care and concern into all you do to put things into some kind of organizational order...and deal with all the dreaded discards and processing issues.  You are my heroes behind the scenes - you make us all look good!

Hey my Tech savvy friends who keep the systems chugging along, look at the big tech picture and help translate it in a way that makes me interested and eager for new technologies.  You make our webpages slick, our operating systems hum and our computers remain lively and far away from the blue screen of death!  All hail!

Custodial staffers - you rock bigtime.  Thanks for keeping our place looking so amazing and inviting all the time - from the inside to the outside (mowing; tending gardens and constantly removing snow).  You deal with the roughest stuff and do it with cheer -plus you invent stuff that helps us...cool!

A big "Hey" to all the adult services folks who deal with so many social issues and ferret out info and create amazing programs for their clientele.  They fight mightily against becoming simply internet computer overseers.  They are true champs in showing that google does not replace the amazing skills of a true reference detective!

So here's to you my colleagues.  I'm glad you do what you do to make libraries a great place!

Image: 'Hands in the air - in concert' http://www.flickr.com/photos/45409431@N00/3272079115