Librarians have influenced generations of children to enjoy reading. As a young child, I have fond memories of Story Time at the Cypress Hills Library in Brooklyn. With all the dire predictions that books will not be around much longer, it's great to hear Tiffany James' story about the work librarians are doing and the enjoyment young children still get from books. Tiffany is a librarian at the Mosholu Library in the Bronx, New York.
"There are many joys to being
a librarian, especially a children's librarian. From children's hugs to say
thank you, laughter when you read aloud a silly story, dancing and singing to
songs such as "Shake Your Sillies Out" or "If You're Happy and
You Know It." There's the excitement of a child who gets their first
library card or the child on a class trip to the library who exclaims
"wow" when they are introduced to the many wonderful resources one
building can hold.
And of course I can't forget
the lovely parents who bring me flowers, cookies, and chocolate. These simple
joys make being a humble librarian worth it. Yet sometimes there is someone who
goes the extra mile to say thank you and I appreciate what you do. This came
recently when a patron who has been coming to the library for several years
presented me with a lovely gift. A beautiful handmade quilt was given to me,
perhaps one of the best gifts I have received. Along with the quilt was
something even more beautiful, a hand written card to say "thank you"
along with the following quote,
"At the moment that we
persuade a child, any child, to cross the threshold, that magic threshold into
the library, we change their lives forever, for the better."
—President Barack Obama
(then Senator Obama)
What a pick me up! Perhaps
my work is not in vain. The perks of being a librarian range on so many levels,
but this was the icing on the cake.
Thank you to everyone who
appreciates what librarians do.
The quilt now proudly hangs
in the children's room at the NYPL, Mosholu Library."
Photograph by Tiffany James
