 |
| I started reading at an early age. - DD |
Today's activity was walking to the local Children's English Library, choosing some interesting and colourful picture books, sitting in the air conditioning and reading the books together. We left home at 4pm in the cooling late-afternoon. We arrived at the library at 4.10pm and I expected to stay for about 40 minutes. We love books and some of the librarians are friends of mine. It's usually a lovely place to go - although I have never taken DD there before.
There were four other people in the library: two staff members, whom I know, working on a computer in one corner and discussing whatever it was they were working on. A teenage boy with a pile of books and earphones in his ears listening to I don't know what. And a librarian, who I don't know and have never seen before, sitting at the main desk covering new books with sticky-backed plastic. That was it apart from one woman who came in to browse for a few minutes and then left, and a family of three children who dropped off some books, asked a question and also left.
One of the computer ladies got up to show me where the picture books are and we had a short conversation in normal voices. I chose four books - one about a cat, one about the toilet (very topical for us at the moment), one about a pesky fly, and one about, erm, can't remember. We went to sit at the little pre-schoolers' chairs and table in the opposite corner to the two people on the computer. DD chose the first book and I started to read it to her. I got a disapproving look from the librarian but I ignored it.
Then one of the computer people, the one I hadn't exchanged greetings with when we came in, looked up, smiled and waved to me. This is when I made a mistake. I admit I was wrong to have addressed a few words to her across the room. I know I should have gone over to say, 'hello.' As soon as I got a loud, 'shush!' from the librarian I apologised and went over to greet my friend.
After that it was downhill all the way. I was reading softly to DD but every so often she would point at one of the pictures and exclaim, 'cat!' or, 'cuppa tea!' And every time the librarian gave us another loud, 'shush!' At one point she told DD to look at her and she gave her a lecture (in Hebrew) about how we don't make a noise in the library. Funnily enough it went right over DD's 2 1/2 year old head. Really, who were we distrubing? The boy with the earphones? The two ladies on the computer who were talking anyway? Or maybe she couldn't concentrate on her sticky-backed plastic with the occasional delighted exclamation from a little girl enjoying the books. Silly me - I thought that was the point of the Children's Library.
Then I made my second mistake. DD's nose needed wiping and I opened my bag to get out the muslin. DD saw the little bag of crackers I had brought with us and she wanted one. So I gave her two small, dry crackers. The librarian came straight over to recite the no food, no eating regulations. Now I'm not stupid. I brought dry crackers and DD had two of them. They're not wet or sticky in any way and we weren't setting a bad example for other library users - because there weren't any.
What would've/could've/should've happened was that DD could've eaten her two crackers and that would've been the end of it. Instead I had to try to take them away from her and she obviously resisted, loudly. At that point I decided that we were leaving. It was 4.20pm. When a grown up librarian insists on playing jobsworth with a 2 year old delighting in the books at the Children's Library, what is the point?
When my cousin got her library science degree, I asked her why librarians are so mean. She mumbled something about them being underpaid. I don't know if that's the reason, but it seems to be an international problem.
ReplyDeleteI am a professional librarian. I am not mean. I am kind and helpful and want to make sure people get what they want-info. books, films, etc. My colleagues are not mean either. They are friendly, warm, kind, helpful professionals. My sense is that generalizations about any one field or profession is detrimental to creating relationships in the world. The offended mom may want to consider a phone call or visit to speak with the supervisor about her experience as a patron at the library and how it made her feel. I live in Los Angeles and I am the former Director of the Jewish Library of Los Angeles. I was just in Israel last week for a visit and met and spoke with colleagues there.
ReplyDeletei think if it was a children's library, then DD's noise should have been perfectly acceptable. However, your feeding her (even dry crackers) was not, and I agree with the librarian on that one. When I take my DD to the children's library, she knows that you can't eat or drink in the library, and if she wants something, we go outside and have it, and then come back in again afterwards. I think that no food in the library is a rule that should be followed by everyone except for breastfeeding.
ReplyDelete@Abigail - I made a point of mentioning that the other librarians (who were not on duty) are my friends. I won't go back and complain/discuss it. It's over. Next time I'll call first and only go if this particular woman isn't there. Btw, my first comment on fb about this post said: I know that woman (she described her) and she's always mean to the children.
ReplyDelete@Nicole - I actually aqgree with you about the food. In another few m onths DD will be old enough to reason with more and I will do as you do. I admit that at the moment I sometimes compromise with the rules for a quiet life when I consider it to be harmless.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. What's the point of having a children's library with a reading area if you can't use it happily?
ReplyDeleteThis sort of thing is obviously not just confined to librarians. There are plenty of people out there unhappy with their jobs - it's just that the public will feel it when the unhappy employee is in a service industry.
And don't forget, jobsworths everywhere delight in making others' lives difficult, no matter where they work.
How very sad. Reading and sharing books is a fantastic activity, and so important - I don't understand why there is such a stilted atmosphere in some libraries.
ReplyDeleteWe love our local library and go weekly (in fact we leave shortly!). It is very child focussed and has a large area for children with special tables, beanbags and toys for the younger ones. They regularly run special sessions for the children too.
When I took Kieran for the first time I remember saying "Shh!" to him and a lovely lady on the desk piping up and saying "Oh don't worry, libraries aren't like they used to be, we love hearing our young visitors". A great attitude, and Kieran loves visiting.
Sorry you had such a rubbish experience x
@NickiCawood - how refreshing to hear about your local library. In truth our library also runs great programs for kids, including storytime and an ice-cream party at the end of the summer for children who have read (or have had read to them) 10 books )of any length). I think it was just this one librarian who was being over zealous and spoile dit for us.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, that wasn't nice...at all. And really unneccessary. I thought we'd moved past all that complete silence craic? We certainly have here in Ireland Librarians are friendly but quite strict when neccessary. Talking isn't frowned upon at all. We do it quietly enough and as for reading your child a story and not allowing her excited INTERESTED retorts?? Ridiculous! We have story tellers in our libraries every so often...the librarians themselves do it usually!!
ReplyDeletexx Jazzy
Thanks Jazzy. And here is the end of the story: One of the other librarians read this post and rang me. Turns out that this particualar librarian is indeed rather strange in her views about the library's function. There were no hard feelings (24 hours later, after I'd calmed down) and we will go back - when DD is 21 ;).
ReplyDeleteUK kids' libraries are very relaxed about noise volumes, You'll have to squeeze in a visit when you are over ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think that Librarys need to not be the stuffy places that they can be. We are lucky in that we have a relatively small library, but they welcome children and noise with open arms. I also grew up next to the main library and it had a wonderful childrens section with amazing displays and activities. With libraries being so endangered in the UK, they need to get people through the door on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteMy local library is really friendly and has toys and colouring tables etc for the visiting children. The layout helps as its away from the computers and adult books so it gives them more freedom to make some noise. My librarian will often come over and read books to children who are looking for books.
ReplyDeleteThat's really sad. As others have said, our local library has a children's section with toys, little tables and chairs, jigsaws and floor cushions.
ReplyDeleteThey also hold storytime sessions although these are usually on the days I work so we can't go.
I think it's important to get children to love & respect books and the library should be a big part of this.
I sympathise, but please, please, please don't let this experience put you off taking DD to the library. We are in danger of losing our little local libraries here so that the Council can spend more money on Councillor's 'allowances'. The more libraries are used, the less danger there will be of jobsworths deciding to get rid of them. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteA sorry tale...I have been volounteering over the holidays in our local library and it is full of children, who are alowed to be as noisy as they like, as far as I can tell. There is a strict "no food" rule, but I have never heard a cross word there from anyone, evn when applying this rule. Practically everyone who works there is a volounteer, so I don't think pay has much to do with it - like you said - you were unluky enough to go there on a day when this particularly unpleaseant woman was there. If you'd like DD to experience a real child-friendly library, come to visit in Bet Shemsh! xxx
ReplyDelete