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RE: the missing issue
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From: Steward, Celeste <csteward_at_aclibrary.org>
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:22:18 -0700
"I suspect that we as a profession do not value that set of interests as hi ghly as we do, say, kids drawn to fantasy novels or "realistic" fiction. In other words, is part of the issue what we are willing to credit as a form of passionate reading, not just whether young people are in fact impassione d readers."
I agree...the books on war and weaponry generally fall apart from overuse i n the libraries where I've worked. Boys especially are fascinated by battle s, soldiers, etc. Not buying these books would be like not allowing your ch ildren to have any type of war-related toys..it simply doesn't work. The ki ds will fashion arrows/guns out of pencils if they are so inclined. :)
"How many libraries have a Books About Battles club -- versus how many libr aries have a Novel Reading club? I am willing to bet that if a library had a Books About Battles club -- complete with maps, military atlases, bios, p erhaps war games software, books with lists of the kinds of ammunition, or planes, or tanks, or swords employed it would it would be wildly popular -- and filled with kids who would not otherwise be in a Teen Reading Group."
As for the book club you suggest, I love the idea of it! But there are two issues here...the first being that a library would host a program solely ba sed on a popular topic for kids rather than one adults may not approve of.
The second issue is that while popular, a Books about Battles club or some iteration of, may carry a public relations risk. In other words, the librar y will have to defend itself politically if the outcry is loud enough. For example, I once worked at a library that advertised a wizard craft program (when HP was at the height of its popularity). Parents in the community wer e incensed that the library would "encourage witchcraft" in a children's pr ogram. They threatened to protest outside the library on the day of the eve nt. Fortunately, our director held her ground and allowed the program to ha ppen. It was quite well attended!
Selection (and programming) are double-edged swords...if we buy solely for the children, we also risk criticism (from adults: parents, colleagues, etc .) for not stocking enough "quality" materials children need. Therein lies the rub for children's selectors: balance. Easy to say but so tricky to ach ieve.
Celeste Steward Collection Development Librarian IV Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538 (510)745-1586
Received on Thu 14 Oct 2010 08:22:18 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:22:18 -0700
"I suspect that we as a profession do not value that set of interests as hi ghly as we do, say, kids drawn to fantasy novels or "realistic" fiction. In other words, is part of the issue what we are willing to credit as a form of passionate reading, not just whether young people are in fact impassione d readers."
I agree...the books on war and weaponry generally fall apart from overuse i n the libraries where I've worked. Boys especially are fascinated by battle s, soldiers, etc. Not buying these books would be like not allowing your ch ildren to have any type of war-related toys..it simply doesn't work. The ki ds will fashion arrows/guns out of pencils if they are so inclined. :)
"How many libraries have a Books About Battles club -- versus how many libr aries have a Novel Reading club? I am willing to bet that if a library had a Books About Battles club -- complete with maps, military atlases, bios, p erhaps war games software, books with lists of the kinds of ammunition, or planes, or tanks, or swords employed it would it would be wildly popular -- and filled with kids who would not otherwise be in a Teen Reading Group."
As for the book club you suggest, I love the idea of it! But there are two issues here...the first being that a library would host a program solely ba sed on a popular topic for kids rather than one adults may not approve of.
The second issue is that while popular, a Books about Battles club or some iteration of, may carry a public relations risk. In other words, the librar y will have to defend itself politically if the outcry is loud enough. For example, I once worked at a library that advertised a wizard craft program (when HP was at the height of its popularity). Parents in the community wer e incensed that the library would "encourage witchcraft" in a children's pr ogram. They threatened to protest outside the library on the day of the eve nt. Fortunately, our director held her ground and allowed the program to ha ppen. It was quite well attended!
Selection (and programming) are double-edged swords...if we buy solely for the children, we also risk criticism (from adults: parents, colleagues, etc .) for not stocking enough "quality" materials children need. Therein lies the rub for children's selectors: balance. Easy to say but so tricky to ach ieve.
Celeste Steward Collection Development Librarian IV Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538 (510)745-1586
Received on Thu 14 Oct 2010 08:22:18 AM CDT
