Category Archives: Parents

Reading rewards…for some

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

Many of my memories of being a mother to young boys are wonderful. Not all, mind you, but many. But someone recently posted on Facebook something that brought one of my least favorite memories back. Here’s what Paul Hankins wrote … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood reading, Children's books, Parents, Public libraries, Reading Incentive Programs, Youth Services | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

New Pew Report: Families Use Libraries

Posted on May 1, 2013 by

Children’s librarians will find the new Pew Report Parents, Children, Libraries, and Reading very reassuring. As we have long suspected, the children’s department brings families into the library, and while they’re there, the adults use the libraries for themselves as … Continue reading →

Posted in customer service, Disappearing print, Parents, Public libraries, Youth Services | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Getting through the sorrow and the horror

Posted on December 15, 2012 by

When I was a little girl in the sixties, I remember seeing on television that people were setting their city on fire. It was baffling and terrifying to me. I remember standing out in the backyard, feeling the sunshine and … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Development, Parents, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

All awards are not equal

Posted on June 4, 2012 by

I worry sometimes about the proliferation of book awards, particularly the ones that enable a publisher to slap a shiny seal on the front of a book. There are the longstanding, very meaningful awards like the Newbery and the Caldecott. … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's book awards, Children's books, Collection Development, Parents, Public libraries, Reviewing | 5 Comments

If you build it, they will (or won’t) come

Posted on May 7, 2011 by

Last night, I attended the annual Zena Sutherland Lecture at the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago. It was, as always, a delightful occasion. This year, the author speaking was the brilliant and very funny Mo Willems. And that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Management, Parents, Programs, Uncategorized, Youth Services | Leave a comment

Picture books in bins

Posted on October 21, 2010 by

I’m reading Libraries Designed for Kids by Nolan Lushington (Neal-Schuman, 2008). It’s mostly practical and interesting, but it repeats the same ridiculous opinion several times. I hear library directors (not my own, fortunately!) repeating it too. Here’s how it goes: … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's books, Management, Parents, Public libraries, Youth Services | 8 Comments

What are they thinking? pt. 2

Posted on September 11, 2010 by

Awhile back, I promised more stories of the kinds of things parents do that really make you wonder. Then I self-censored because I know that parents often feel that everyone is criticizing them and I don’t want to load it … Continue reading →

Posted in Parents, Public libraries, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Questions we all ask ourselves

Posted on May 25, 2010 by

I think it’s safe to say that most Youth Services librarians ask themselves two questions from time to time.  The first one is, “They pay me for this?” You ask yourself that on those days when the job is just … Continue reading →

Posted in Parents, Public libraries, Uncategorized, Youth Services | 2 Comments