From: Lisa Von Drasek <lisav_at_bankstreet.edu>
Date: Fri, 05 Nov 2010 19:09:55 -0400

books

Marc, Thank you for responding to me. I know that you share my passion for books and I suppose that was why I was shocked by your statements. This is a lesson to me to practice restraint of tongue and pen and practice quiet reflection. That said, I know that I was not the only one who misread your remarks. I respect you, your scholarship and I do apologize for not noticing that you were reporting not stating your own feelings on the subject of pricing of children's books

In light of what you have said here, I understand what you are saying about the challenges of being a parent presented with the decision on how to spend money for these books. I am not sure that it is a new one. The young parent needs to be educated in all facets of parenting. How to bathe a child, what to feed a toddler, etc. They are educated in these tasks by family, friends and professionals. Parenting magazines have dropped their experts who have recommended books. Blogs abound but who do we trust? Do we use the new social medial to get out the word on the best of what's available to guide parents? It takes an article in the New York Times that many of us found appalling to bring these issues to the forefront. I do feel it is important to continue this conversation. It is part of every children's librarian's job to advocate for the hiring of these qualified professionals to staff libraries. I hope that my message is received less as an attack on you but more of a how do we communicate to parents how to enjoy picture books with their children, the importance of having them in them in the home and support their community libraries.

Lisa

I do think your idea about a preselected group of books is terrific but also not practical in the sense that... Book selection is about personal taste as well as critical thought. I may love Lisa Von Drasek Children's Librarian Bank Street College of Education School for Children Pre-K- 8 610 West 112th St NY NY 10025

lisav_at_bnkst.edu

212 875 4452

I am writing from a phone so I'm not able to trim the original -- sorry . But I must respond to lisa -- Lisa; do not blame the messenger. I share your passion for picture books. I am however describing a reality parents experience. The young parent does not know which book will offer endless hours of shared experience with a child and which will sit unloved and unopened. sure a librarian or bookstore owner could help but most parents find books in chain stores or online -- bereft of help. No meta analysis of relative cost changes the problem a parent faces looking at an array of new and unfamiliar books and deciding how to spend her money. I believe that giving that parent a way to buy a cluster of books new and old might help her take the plunge. perhaps lisa disagrees but to direct her critique at me -- as if I were disparaging picture books -- is entirely unfair. I trust that in the light of reflection she will recognize that.

Marc Sent on the SprintВ® Now Network from my BlackBerryВ®


Message-----

From: Lisa Von Drasek Date: Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:11:13 To: ;

Subject: Re:
 A librarian's Response to the NYTimes rrticle on picture books

Thanks KT

And of course because I just couldn't stop myself when Marc Aronson stated picture books were too expensive...

Lisa Von Drasek

Lisa Von Drasek Children's Librarian Bank Street College of Education School for Children Pre-K- 8 610 West 112th St NY NY 10025

lisav_at_bnkst.edu

212 875 4452

"Kathleen T. Horning" 11/05/10 2:06 PM

If you haven't seen it yet, you might want to follow this link to Lis a

von Drasek's blog post from Huffington Post in response to the issue:

http://www.huffingto npost.com/lisa-von-drasek/childrens-librarian-picture-books_b_4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706

Phone: 608-263-3721 FAX: 608-262-4933

horning_at_education.wisc.edu http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/

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Received on Fri 05 Nov 2010 07:09:55 PM CDT