From: Chrissie Morrison <chrissiemmorrison>
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 15:45:41 -0700 (PDT)

As I visit classrooms I URGE teachers to take students to their local public libraries for children to get library cards. It is AMAZING to me to see how many children do NOT have cards. There are many reasons for this both socially and psychologically.


We cannot take for granted this little piece of magic that opens up worlds to boys and girls.

Ask every teacher you know to ask the class how many children have library cards...and if not, visit the library and have them sign on.




  I am both a certified teacher and a certified public librarian -- and, for lack of full time work in either field, I am currently a substitute teacher and a part-time youth services librarian.
  Many times when I am subbing in the middle and high schools, kids will talk about how the school library "sucks" because it doesn't have a book they want. I will suggest that they go to the public library -- where they can even request the book from anot her library if it isn't there -- and I swear the kids look at me like I have 3 heads! I know that the main branch of the Troy Public Library is a few miles away and not very safe to walk to, but the Lansingburgh Branch is only about 8 blocks from the mid dle/high school... Still, many kids who live only 2 blocks away from the library don't even know it exists!
  I also happen to know that I will be subbing for the same teacher again tomorrow, and she said that they are allowed to have a movie in the afternoon as long as they behave. Since I also had to work at the library tonight, I asked the kids what movie the y wanted me to look for at the library. With the incredulous looks I received, you would have thought that I said I was going to borrow some money from a leprechaun. These poor kids just had no clue that it was possible to see the latest movies without going to Blockbuster and paying $5 a night. How sad!
  What's worse, though? Teachers in my area aren't able to bring students in to sign them up for library cards -- even if they want to. The library requires a parent or guardian to sign up the child (since the parent/guardian is going to be responsible fo r any late fees or lost materials). Too many parents in my community just don't think that books -- or even school, for that matter -- are very important, and their children are paying the ultimate price...




Chrissie Morrison YS Librarian Troy, New York
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Received on Thu 14 Oct 2004 05:45:41 PM CDT