Dear Reader,
Join the party!
Readers are celebrating National Library Week. Join the fun. Send me a note and be sure to enter today's daily giveaway for a "Keep Calm and Ask a Librarian" ball cap. To enter the drawing, click here.
"Suzanne, as the Outreach Manager for the Greene County Public library system I have the pleasure of requesting, then delivering books to homebound patrons. Most are seniors who can't get out on their own anymore, so they are appreciative of having books delivered to their doorstep, not to mention a friendly face to chat with for a few minutes. I'm never quite sure which part of the job I love the most, seeing the joy on the patrons faces as they look to see what I've brought, or the selection process prior to the deliveries. Making sure the bag of books holds what they would have selected, if they could wander the shelves, is the challenge I give myself for each patron.
Some seniors have pets to keep them company. One household in particular has a rather possessive cat whom I must greet before the patron, or she makes it quite clear I'm an intruder. The patron totally understands the hierarchy and doesn't consider it rude at all that I say, 'Hello' to Miss Kitty, before handing my patron a bag of books. And some of the pups on the route have come to expect a treat as the door opens. Yes, I deliver more than books, while I don't carry a bubble machine (like you), I like to think I can offer a little bubble of joy at each delivery." -- Sharon Benedict, Outreach Manager for the Greene County Public Library
"Good morning Suzanne! I think it's such a nice idea to highlight librarians during Library Week! I used to work in advertising and my hours were long and the job was very high stress. My mother-in-law's best friend told me that while I was still young, I should figure out my passions and make a pro-con list of how I see work-life balance. My list was filled with ideas about books, event planning, children (but not to teach), pop culture and some others and all of these pointed me in the direction of becoming a children's/young adult librarian. I worked in the public library for three years as a head children's librarian of a branch creating engaging story times, craft projects, summer reading daily programming and of course collection development and displays to foster a love of reading. For the last six years I have been a school librarian for nursery to 6th grade, where I continue these fun aspects of literacy in addition to teaching research to the upper elementary students.
I think that a love of reading can come from many different places, and I like my students to have exposure through many different types of opportunities to figure out what type of books they want to read, and encourage them to write and illustrate as well." -- Wishing you all the best, Francie G.
"Good Morning Suzanne, I love working at the library. I love books and I love to talk about books with the patrons who come in of all ages. For instance, the older gentlemen who will only read male authors, and just loves the books by JD Robb. I just don't have the heart to tell him that JD Robb is really Nora Roberts, but I also read those books so I try to keep him talking about the books and not the author. I love the great grandmas who come in and read the large print books. There is this one beautiful grandma, that when there is a recipe in the book, she bakes it and brings it to the library for the staff to enjoy. To Bookworm Buddies Storytime on Thursdays when I get to read to the tender ages of birth to kindergarten. I love seeing their minds grow with books and crafts. You get to see all kinds of people when working at the library and that is the best reason to be here. Thank you Suzanne for your wonderful book club. I look forward to reading every day." -- Sheri M., Wilson County Public Library, Floresville, Texas
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
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