So I've been spending a lot of time in the kids books this fall, and I'd like to share some of what I've learned with the world to better enhance the world's library experience. If this doesn't apply to you, just log it away until you are at the point when you are taking your small children to the library, or taking other people's small children to the library, or maybe just lurking in the library to watch small children, in which case I will totally call the police on you, freakshow.
So. Here they are, insider tips courtesy of your favorite librarian! (Or, you know, just some librarian whose blog you read, or don't.) And these are actually meant for the right-thinking people out there. I've addressed the crazies already many times and will surely do so again, some more, for all the good it'll do me. But that's not for today.
Ahem.
1. Buy a box of cleaning wipes. Consider using them to wipe down the covers of the picture books you bring home before you give them to your kids to read. This goes triple for board books. Not only will your kids' immune system thank you, but you'll be helping to keep the library books looking new and shiny. Unconvinced that this is necessary? Head over to the Eric Carle section and pull out a book or two. Those black streaks all around the edges are not part of the design, friends, and you have NO idea how long they've been there. Also? Two words: Flu. Season. Don't let your family be the victim, here.
2. Teach your children to be darling to the librarians. This will likely get them stickers. Or stamps. Or candy. Or even better things that you can't even fathom yet, because that's just what happens when a librarian loves your kid.
3. Please don't chat with the other parents if you're sitting in a storytime, even if you're whispering. It's like the butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil. You risk spinning the world into anarchy, I promise you.
4. This may seem like a silly one, but in a lot of UT libraries the pictures books about kids who are not white don't get checked out very much (Dora the Explorer notwithstanding), even the books that are really good (not you, Dora). Seriously, I don't know what the story is there but I'm guessing it's not a conscious thing. Do any of you know? And is there anything to be done about that?
5. Get to know your library's website (if your library is the kind that has one of those and not just some random homepage that lists which holidays you'll be closed for in 2006, not that I'm bitter) and see what kinds of free electronic sources are available. Instead of slogging into the library looking for the last remaining book about [sdflkjasdflkj] for your kid's report, you could very possibly be able to get the best, most current information through the electronic journals, encyclopedias, countrygrams, and I know not what. For instance, check out the kid page at the Salt Lake County library system. Or the Preschool Pioneer page by the State Library. Hours of fun right there, y'all. Or maybe you could just sit your kids down in front of safe educational games while you try to poop alone, in the bathroom by yourself. Whatever your needs are.
6. Check out the juvenile nonfiction section. For lo, it is awesome and kind of the best-kept secret in the kids section. A lot of these books would be just fine mixed in with the picture book, they're that gorgeous and cool. Plus, depending on how your library does things, that may be where you'll find a lot of holiday books, fairy tales, poetry, and all kinds of good stuff.
LDS books-289
Fairy Tales, Myths, Legends--398s
Holidays--390s
Poetry-811s
Pirates--910s
Also they have a whole award now for nonfiction kids books. Here are some of the favorites I've read in the last couple of weeks that are potential Sibert Medal nominees. And some will likely be considered for both the Sibert and the Caldecott, they're just that pretty.
Eggs
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells: The Daring Life of a Crusading Journalist
Planting the Trees of Kenya
What to Do About Alice?
Lady Liberty: A Biography
A Boy Named Beckoning
If you want some reading ideas for the Christmas break, check out the potential runners up for the 2009 Caldecott, Newbery, Sibert, and Geisel awards. Some of these books are fabulous, others I really think have no business being on any list that is not called "Books You Don't Need to Bother Reading." And one of the Newbery buzz books is called Savvy, which I think is sign enough that it needs to win.
And now enough of me. Has anyone else picked up any tips to share with the group about how to make the best of your library?
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