The children’s departments at public libraries are essential to our communities. They provide a space for learning, exploring, and refuge from the everyday hustle and bustle of daily routines. Visiting the library can become an exciting routine for children of all ages.
The Children’s Department at the Delaware Public Library has much to offer, from teen programs like Book Clubs, Paws for Reading, and even Lego Club to the perennially popular story time four times a week. The librarian in charge of story time has a different theme for each meeting. It’s a great way to get kids excited about learning and reading.
The Assistant branch manager of Delaware Library–youth services supervisor, Andy Barlett–discusses what being a children’s librarian is like. He also talks about the Young Writer’s Workshop–a program sponsored by the Friends of the Library that helps kids write and publish their stories that library patrons can check out. Read Andy Barlett’s interview below and learn more about the importance of libraries in children’s lives.
What does your day-to-day look like in the Children’s department?
It varies! We all spend time on the information desk assisting patrons. We do four story-times a week (family story-time, toddler story-time, preschool story-time, and baby story-time). Our librarians also order materials for the collection, and we maintain our collection, weeding/shifting/etc.
Do you cycle through different activities throughout the week? What are your most popular activities?
We do cycle-through activities in our children’s area. It can be anything from coloring sheets to scavenger hunts. We also have different types of technology in our children’s area for patrons to use. We have “Hatch” computers with educational games and activities, as well as Launchpads (little tables with educational games loaded onto them) that children can use while in the building. We also have launchpads that circulate.
What is the young writers’ workshop, and how can kids get involved in the program?
This is sponsored by the Friends of the Library with author and illustrator Steve Harpster. The next workshop will be at the Delaware Branch in April.
Have you encountered any requests for certain books to be banned in your department? How do you respond to these concerns?
We respond to concerns about materials first by using active listening skills. Often, people just need to be heard. If they would like to press the issue further, we provide them with a Request for Reconsideration form.
If you could describe what it’s like to work in your department in one word, what would that word be?
Rewarding. There are lots of different facets to this job, but our purpose, first and foremost, is to serve our patrons. Whether it’s finding the perfect book to make a child fall in love with reading or helping an adult patron create a resume to find employment, we provide an important service to our community.