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I graduated from library school in 1997 and began my
full-time job in 1998. Through the years, I’ve learned things that library
school didn’t cover. Here are a few of the skills I think are important for
every youth services librarian to have.
1. Have Enthusiasm
This is a must. Delivering a storytime in a flat monotone
voice will immediately turn any child off. Be energetic. Show your love for
what you do.
2. Embrace Your Inner Child
Get silly. Sing and dance. Know the words to the songs. Yes,
this means you’ll know the words to “Shake My Sillies” by heart in no time and
yes, it will be running in your head for hours after. Use different voices when
you read stories. Ignore the parents and center on the children. Embrace play.
3. Know the Literature
No, you don’t have to read every single book that’s ever
been published. No one has time for that. However, you should know what the
popular authors and series are. Use databases if you’re stumped. Ask your
fellow librarians. Ask the kids what they are reading. Read the books they keep
asking about.
4. Practice Your Readers’ Advisory Skills
This takes time to perfect and everyone has their own way to
recommend a book. Ask broader questions than what other books your patrons
like. Find out what their hobbies are, what TV shows they watch, their favorite
music. For my teens, I ask two simple questions: I ask them to rate how much
they like to read on a scale of 1-10 (unsurprisingly, I usually get a 2 or 3)
and then I ask what was the last book they read that they actually enjoyed.
Based on the answer, I can usually find them a read-alike. There are also great
listservs out there. Subscribe to them.
5. Working with
Children
Not every child is an angel. We all know that. Don’t expect
children to behave all the time... they are children after all. Personally, I
rank my storytime kids into three categories: the silent one, the interactor,
and the runner. The silent one stays planted in Mom’s lap and barely blinks.
The interactor reacts to the stories & songs, sings and dances along. The
runner as the name would imply, doesn’t stop moving the entire program. Each
one of these get something out of the program. If a parent apologizes, tell
them not to worry. The only time I would say something is if the child was
completely disrupting the group.
You will have a favorite child. There are special kids that
burrow into your heart. I’ve been at my job since 1998. Some of my toddlers are
now in college. You will also have a child you don’t like. Some children are
plain terrors. There’s not much you can do about them but get them to behave as
best as you can in a program. Regardless, you have to treat them all fairly.
Treat them all like your favorite.
7. Teens
Teens can be a rough bunch. They’ll come & hang out at
the library, but getting them into a program can be hard. Food programs are
always a big hit. Who doesn’t like to eat? Talk to them and ask them what they
want. Have a survey in your teen area asking them what programs they want. If
you have a group of really interested teens, create a Teen Advisory Group.
Know the pop culture. You don’t have to watch the shows or
listen to the music, but know what it is. If you try to fake it, teens will
know. If you’re not into any of it, admit it. They’ll respect you more for being
honest.
You are going to see all kinds of teens enter. If you can’t
accept any of them, you are in the wrong job. They will be loud, they will
create havoc. They are teens after all. Make sure to establish firm, but fair
rules for behavior. In my teen area, I have a three strikes and you’re out
policy. If a librarian has to go into the teen room three times to tell them to
quiet down, they are asked to leave for the day. If it happens again, a week
and so on. I’ve never had to do it more than once.
8. Parents
They have to learn the storytime rules. Have them typed out
if needed. At the beginning of the program, emphasize that this is a special
time for parents and children to interact together and we need everyone’s
attention. No cell phones. No tablets. No chatting. I’ve stopped in the middle
of a story and waited until the parents quieted down.
As with the children, there are going to be some very
annoying parents that come into your world. They sometimes don’t understand the
basic rules of our programs in terms of registering, residency, or age. When
you try to explain, they get angry and usually try to get us to make an
exception. If they get too irate, that’s when you get your supervisor to help
back you up.
9. Network!
Create a professional learning network. Go to as many
continuing education meetings as you can and meet the other librarians in your
area. Find librarians online. Follow their blogs. Have great conversations with
them. Attend a conference, even a local one, if you can. Share your programs; borrow
theirs. Don’t be afraid to e-mail or tweet someone with questions about a
program they ran. If you are thinking of running a program and don’t know where
to start, ask the listservs.
10. Be Prepared for Anything
I found this great dream catcher craft to do with my teens a
few years ago. Once the program started, I realized the craft was far more
difficult than it seemed. We all laughed about it and made the best of it. This
has happened a few times in my career and you have to make it work somehow. I
am not a super crafty person by nature, so I usually end up learning along with
the teens and children.
Plenty of other things can go wrong. Do not take it
personally. Even if you only reach a few, those few kids are still getting a
great experience and if the program was cancelled, you know there isn’t an
interest for it at the time.
Natalie Korsavidis is the Head of Young Adult at the Farmingdale Library. She has served on the NYLA YSS Board and is the Past-President of the Nassau County Library Association. Follow her on Twitter: @bookslover.
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