Have libraries had their day?

Author Terry Deary

Recently Terry Deary, a successful British author, argued that public libraries should be closed. This has sparked a rather interesting online debate about libraries and their relationship with authors, communities, and the public's money.

Deary, who writes quite fun and interesting history books for children, said that the whole concept behind public libraries is obsolete and damaging. He said, “We've got this idea that we've got an entitlement to read books for free, at the expense of authors, publishers and council tax payers. This is not the Victorian age, when we wanted to allow the impoverished access to literature. We pay for compulsory schooling to do that."

You can read Deary’s argument here. In it, he condemns libraries for injuring the publishing industry, closing bookstores, and taking money out of authors' pockets.

Several other authors have responded to these comments, usually in ways that are heartening in their support for libraries. Science fiction author John Scalzi wrote lovingly about his lifelong relationship with public libraries in this article.

Alan Jacobs, who writes for The American Conservative (not exactly a bastion of support for publicly-funded agencies) wrote an essay that specifically counters Deary’s argument that compulsory education has made libraries obsolete. “I was not the beneficiary of a very good education in the Birmingham city schools,” he writes. “Most of what I now know that I consider worth knowing I learned not at school but at these libraries.”

(An aside:  no matter how you feel about this issue, you must check out some of the priceless dissenting comments to The American Conservative article. I especially like the one that says, “As far as I can tell [libraries are] mostly crappy government bureaucracies that provide work for the unemployable whackjobs who come out of Universities. Welfare for half-educated feminists.” I beg to differ: I am a highly educated unemployable feminist whackjob.)

Both Scalzi and Jacobs emphasize the importance of libraries in developing the reading habits of children, and they’re right. Library storytimes and programs emphasize to kids that reading is fun, not just homework. Reading is not a thing that you have to do in order to get a good grade; it is not always educational in an obvious way. Let us put a Captain Underpants book in your child’s hands, and you might end up with a student who likes books - even school books.

There are plenty of other things in Deary's argument that I would challenge, including the idea that libraries "give nothing back" to authors. (Does he not realize that we buy all these books?  With real money?)

But that's enough of my opinions.  If you have thoughts about this issue, now’s your chance to let us know. Do libraries cost more than they give back? Are they obsolete? Are there things libraries should be doing differently? Join the debate; tell us what you think in the comments.

In praise of Summer Reading and Mrs. Frisby

On June 1, Summer Reading signups began here at the Newport Library. That means kids of all ages can sign up to earn prizes for reading. It’s a no-pressure situation: children are rewarded for reading how much and whatever they want.

It’s a fun time, and the enthusiasm of the young participants is always exciting to see. It’s also a reminder of how wonderful children’s books can be.

One of my favorites, when I was a girl, was Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien, a book that I surely read a dozen times. I recently picked up Mrs. Frisby and read it again, and it’s just as good now as when I was ten.

 It’s the story of a field mouse, Mrs. Frisby, who lives with her children in Farmer Fitzgibbon’s garden. (Quick - how many other kids’ books can you think of with a mother as the protagonist? Zero? Me too.)

The story starts out with a very simple problem: one of Mrs. Frisby’s children is sick. In a seemingly unrelated incident, Mrs. Frisby rescues a crow from a cat, and gets a ride on the crow’s back. The crow advises her to seek advice from an owl about her sick son. The owl tells her about the rats of NIMH, who are strange beyond anything that Mrs. Frisby has ever known - or are they? Mrs. Frisby learns that she and her family have a hidden connection to the rats.

I love the way this book unfolds, starting simply and expanding to encompass new insights and realizations. Every time the book’s scope changes, the reader gets a whole new perspective, just as Mrs. Frisby gains a new perspective on her garden patch when she first rides on the back of a flying crow.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a great story for readers of all ages - good for reading aloud to little ones, and good to curl up with on a sunny afternoon by yourself, too. (I do not particularly recommend the cartoon movie, The Secret of NIMH, by the way.)

And if you know any kids who like to read and want to earn loot for doing so, send them along to the library for the Summer Reading Program.

It's Toddler Time!

Many years ago, the Newport Public Library began providing programming for toddlers and their care-givers. Each Tuesday and Thursday morning the library echoes with little voices, as children aged birth to 3 years (with older siblings and friends) gather to listen to stories and songs. Sometimes those little voices are unintelligible. Or wailing.

So, what does a toddler learn at Toddler Time? How much does a baby absorb in a whirlwind of sounds, colors, and movement?

When children first come to Toddler Time, most only sit in wide-eyed wonder. Some don’t make it through the 15-20 minute session – there are many more exciting things to explore. (I take second fiddle to the trains a lot.) They usually don’t participate in the activity songs at the beginning and end (“Open and Shut Them” and “Blow Kisses to Friends”). They are tentative about participating and interacting with each other. The flannel board is a lesson in listening; a few have the courage to come up and add to the growing collection of pieces on the board.

Sometimes it only takes a few sessions, sometimes it takes months or even years. In the end, children become more comfortable with their surroundings, with the program, and with their own abilities. It’s exciting to see young minds grow and engage the world.

If you have a toddler, please join us! And thank you to all the families who have participated in Toddler Times over the years…we enjoy watching all “our” children grow, and invite you to let us know how your “once a toddler” is doing.

--Jan

Summer Reading sign-ups begin

Newport Public Library has summer programs planned for children of all ages. If you have a preschooler, a young reader or a teenager, we have a program for them to enjoy this summer. The theme for this summer’s reading programs is Be Creative @ your library and features programs with creative people creating art in many different ways.

The Read-To-Me Club is for children ages one to five years old and their families. The family keeps track of every fifteen minutes that they read together by filling in a reading wheel available at the library. Small rewards are provided for the children whose families read to them. Toddlertime and Storytime programs for preschoolers will continue at the library during the summer, June 16 – August 7. Toddlertime is at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Storytime is at 1:00 p.m. on Friday.

Children ages 6-12 can earn a Be Creative @ your library t-shirt by setting a reading goal for the summer and keeping track of the titles they read. When that goal is reached a t-shirt is awarded. There will be programs for this age group in Literacy Park every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. beginning on June 17th with juggling comedian Curtis Carlyle. This program is sponsored by the Umpqua Bank, Newport Public Library Foundation, and an Oregon Legislature Ready-To-Read Grant from the Oregon State Library (including additional funding from the Lincoln County Library District)
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The Teen Summer Contest, Express Yourself @ your library, is for youth ages 12 to 18. Teens signing up will receive a booklet for keeping track of their reading. For every 150 pages read, one hour of volunteer work given, or every hour spent reading to someone else, the teen will receive a raffle ticket. Raffle drawings will be held every Friday, beginning June 24th, for prizes donated by Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport Book Center, Panini Bakery, Cafe Stephanie, Oregon Maid Ice Cream, Arctic Circle, Canyon Way Bookstore, Mo's Enterprises, Abby's Legendary Pizza, Coca Mocha Joe's, McDonald's Restaurant, Sea Towne Books, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., Newport Performing Arts Center, Pizza Cucina, Mariner's Square Attractions and Newport Candy Shoppe. Art and craft programs for teens will be held every Thursday, 2-4 p.m., beginning June 18th.

Sign-up and schedule information for all programs is available by calling the library, 265-2153, or online at http://www.thecityofnewport.net/dept/lib/srp2009.asp.