What troubles librarians most

I'm on this committee who's purpose is to draft policy to deal with extreme library behavior. We're going to individual libraries to talk to them about how to use library policy to handle patrons and circumstances that are "out of the ordinary."

What it seems that most of the libraries want to talk about, what is troubling them most, is unattended children. This is a problem that is striking every library, from the ones who serve the upper middle class to the branch in the poorer areas. At a staff meeting last week we did not get to finish everything we wanted to say because the library staff wanted to focus on the issue of unattended children.

How do you deal with an unattended child who's causing a ruckus? What happens when a parent does not handle their own children? What happens when a parent simply isn't there? Library policy DOES address these issues but a librarian has to ACT on the policy and that is never simple. Some librarians are simply content to sit behind the desk and have the problem sort itself out or ignore it entirely. You cannot ignore an unattended five year old roaming around the library, asking questions every five minutes and pulling books off the shelves. Yet it seems like some librarians are trying very hard to do so.

"Planting" Summer Flowers

Last week I had an activity where the children planted their own summer flowers. I bought these 80 cent flower pots at Walmart and had the kids decorate them with paint. Then they filled the pots up with potting soil and put seeds in them then watered them. I had marigolds, zinnias and sunflowers.

I learned quickly that children have no concept of planting things. They would put a few of each plant in the pot instead of just one plant in the small little pot. Or they would dump twenty seeds into one pot before they covered it up with dirt. Some kids would fill the pots up with dirt and then sprinkle the seeds on top of the dirt like mozzarella on a pizza. I ended up having to stand next to the seed station and instruct the kids on the proper planting techniques. I have a feeling that lots of kids are going to be disappointed when they get home and no flowers sprout from their pots.

The Power of Storytelling

During the end of May I visited the local elementary schools to talk up our Summer Reading program. I visited around 3800 students at various assemblies around the area. With me I took the very accomplished storyteller Rachel Hedman to get the children excited and then I gave the "boring" part of the assembly where I talked about the summer reading program and what they needed to do to sign up.

Where children are endlessly entertained by videogames and TV I was not sure that sitting still and listening to someone tell a story would go over well. But these children were entirely riveted to every word that Rachel spoke. When she gestured to the back of the room and spoke of a "glowing book" "far in the distance" half the children's heads turned to the back of the cafeteria to see this imaginary book. It was great to see the YouTube generation sitting so quietly, hands in their laps, eyes forward, listening to simple, well-told stories.

The Psychology of Meetings

I go to countless meetings. Some are small 3-4 person informal group meetings and others are formal 20 member board meetings. Despite the differences between the meetings you will always find the same types of people at them. I have put them in these categories:

1. The Tyrant: This person dominates the meeting. In every single topic they have to have their say no matter how irrelevent it is. Sometimes these people are "overtalkers" and will speak while other people are talking to get their words across.
2. The Name Dropper: This person is here at the meeting to make themselves look good. They will bring up in things they've done no matter how off topic it is to make themselves look accomplished. Anytime they can mention the name of someone they know (usually they've just shook this person's hand and said "hello") they will do so.
3. The Random Story Artist: This person cannot stay on topic. They will bring up random personal stories or events from years ago unrelating to the discussion that leaves the rest of the group scratching their head.
4. The Statue: This person sits in stony silence. They may have brilliant things to say but the aforementioned people do not allow them to say it.

We all lie in these categories at some time or another, sometimes all of them in one meeting. However, usually distinct individuals claim the category for their own and another roundabout, long meeting begins again.