When I went to Library School, my career goals involved working in large academic libraries behind the scenes, so it was with great trepidation that I moved into the public library sphere. I now work for a small rural library that asks me to wear multiple professional hats – one of which was to become … Read more
By Hanna I.
While I was a college student working as a library clerk, I found a way to combine my work with two of my passions: art and teaching children. During that time, I was studying to become an elementary school teacher. As I spent time in elementary schools as part of my education, I noticed that there is a trend in our nation towards high stakes testing in math, reading, and science, which has an unfortunate consequence of squeezing the arts out of the curriculum.
By Barbara M.
Where I grew up, visiting the library was a Saturday morning downtown trip . My mother, heading for the Bargain Basement at Hess’ Dept Store, dropped me off and I excitedly ran up many stone library steps to open tall, wooden and glass doors. Enormous bronze handles easily gave way to the children’s section waiting for me on the second floor.
By Adam W. I was lucky to walk into a library with an amazing legacy that was invisible to most people on the campus. I say I was lucky because I was able to change it. I discovered a copy of the De Divina Proportione (Divine Proportion), which is a 1509 mathematical treatise illustrated by … Read more
By Mary M. Books have always played a very important part in my life since I was very young. One of the role-models for the woman I wanted to be when I grew up was a young librarian: I grew up during the 1960’s and this librarian was hip! She wasn’t at all the stereotype … Read more
By Kim C. My daughter is turning thirteen today (shiver appropriately), and she has grown up with our local libraries and librarians. We started out in toddler time, she has been a princess, she has pet a snake, she has even read a few books. She started out with cut and glue crafts and advanced … Read more
By Angie T. In 2014, for the first time, my library organized celebratory events for National Library Week. We invited students, faculty, and staff to submit speech bubbles with stories of how libraries had changed their lives. We received responses such as: “Thanks to our library, I have been able to keep up on my … Read more
By Kaitlyn M. When I was in elementary school, I was a very shy little girl. The school librarian took notice of me and allowed me to assist her in the library every day. I would go there while other kids went to recess and I would help her shelve books, work at the check … Read more
By Paula I. I have a reluctant reader who obligatorily visits the school library once a week. Rather than read, he would rather cause a commotion, get others in trouble or just sits and watches the fish. I spent months trying to get him to check out a book, any book. I bought comic books, … Read more
By Adam W.
The love of reading happens over the Summer, after you shut the text book for the year and chart your own reading course. Kids are going to read in November because they read what they wanted in the Summer. The Summer Reading Party is just an extension of reading, it is one chapter to spark a lifelong love.
The 2014 theme is Spark a Reaction and that is exactly what we do with the Library Kick-Off Party. We kickstart the rest of the Summer. We have rides, bounce houses, authors, prize giveaways, Kindles, GoPros, Boat Rentals, even a PS4.