What Adrienne Thinks About That

Congratulations! This sounds like something I would have wanted to do when I was a tween. You guys rock (especially with the black clogs with the silver flowers on them)

Congrats!You have a long history of creating innovative,child centered library spaces for kids.Sigh.And many fine shoes as well!Did the staff writer seem a bit smitten with Jason?The article slants that way.But kudos to Jason too!I hope he learned a valuable lesson about bike riding!

Thanks, Pat! Honestly, we have as much fun as the kids do.

Momster, Thanks! In truth, I tend to let Jason handle the media because he doesn't mind it at all, whereas it makes me kind of nervous. I was just glad to see that all the quotes from me were coherent and positive. :) (Sometimes I blather, which doesn't make for the best quotes.)

Sigh. Sigh. Oh sigh.

Reading about your library and the work you and Jason and everyone does there makes me happy. Really. But it also makes me insanely jealous -- not in a stabby way, promise -- but in a very real way that you are not--I repeat, NOT--the local librarian for my children. Seriously, you guys have it goin' on. I LOVE the idea of letting them make suggestions for collection development. And then the notion of taking children seriously...well, sigh. ALL librarians should do this, but alas, they do not.

Anyway, congrats! I trust your black clogs with the silver flowers were fab.

Jules, It really is a team effort, and I do think I would have a hard time convincing EVERYONE to move to Tennessee. Part of it's our community--people are very child-oriented in Webster, they tend to be very positive about the library, and we get a fair amount of support. My boss is also very supportive of children's services and really encourages us to try stuff out. I mean, among other things, she's let us basically dismantle the summer reading incentive program, do storytimes in the park, start Library Club, and buy a purple diner booth. Also, every time I start to think that maybe I'm being ridiculous about not buying the Madonna books, she reminds me that I'm not. Plus, just WAIT until I post about what we've done with the magazines.

We get his cap AND beard AND his scar, and NOTHING ABOUT THE CLOGS!?

No wonder the newspaper industry is folding.

I once interviewed for a school library position at a private school. Now, I'm a not a big fan of using reading programs like AR in schools. (I see how, depending on the situation, they can be good---maybe---but generally I don't like them.) This director of the elementary school at this sprawling, private campus had interviewed a whole bunch of librarians who had sung the praises of AR, and she promptly dismissed them. I didn't say a word about it during the interview, seeing as how I don't like it and all, and she eventually asked me about it with a raised eyebrow and a smile, and I nervously told her the truth. And she revealed that she doesn't like AR, thinks that it just gets. reading. all. wrong. And she proceeded to talk about all the things I believe in -- the other ways librarians can get kids excited about reading without silly quizzes and promising them trinkets in the end.

And I thought, is she for real? Really, she was dreamy that way. She was a dime-a-dozen. At least here in the South, it's very, very hard to find someone who doesn't look at you like you have a bad scalp infection when you say you aren't in love with things like AR and that---gasp---there are other ways---even simpler, less high-maintenance ways---to get kids zazzed about reading.

THAT sounds like your director/boss. Sounds like it's rare to have someone as supportive as she is for you all.

And, come on, Tennessee has MoonPies. You know you all want to relocate for the MoonPies.

I find it so easy to supervise amazingly talented and creative people - just give them what they want and stay out of the way! Oh, and besides what Adrienne mentioned, they also wanted sabbatical weeks where they can wear yoga pants to work. And candy at the reference desk - preferably dark chocolate peanut m&m's!

Tanita, Even Jason said I'm pretty much always wearing something more interesting than he is, but, of course, he's been working with me for quite a number of years now and probably knew that was what he was supposed to say.

Jules, I would like some MoonPies, no doubt about that.

Terri, Aw, and this is sadly true about the candy. Everyone in the place gets testy when it runs low. Well, except Greg.

Come on, Tanita, beards are seriously underrepresented in the media, unless they're on serial killers. We need more positive beard coverage in the news these days. Can I get some backup here? Chuck? Jeffrey? I know you're out there somewhere...

I'm afraid Jeffrey's too busy being in the future to help you out, Jason.

Cool! I love it. I am guessing that a male children's librarian is such a novelty that the newspaper was dazzled beyond belief. I shall now officially clamor for a photo of the black clogs with the silver flowers.

You know, I'm so used to him that I forget he's kind of unusual, at least in that way. I guess I'm more focused on his other oddities.