Saturday, February 12, 2011
Just thought I would share...
Today I was at my local public library. I was in the children's section looking for concept books for one of my other LT classes. I found it very interesting that there were not many kids in the area at all. I live in a very busy town, and it truly shocked me that there were not more children looking in books in the section. I figured on a Saturday that there would be more kids at the library. When I was a little kid, my mom used to take me to the library at least once a week. I LOVED it, and I can say that that is probably where my early love for literature began. My fear is that the children of today are not being exposed to books the same way we were as children. Have any of you other Librarian wannabees noticed a downturn in children's interest in books and reading??
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I had the opposite situation during an afternoon visit to the San Marcos public library. The kids far outnumbered the adults there. Many of them were there to play games on the computers. Perhaps kids need a place to go after school but on weekends the family is home and they are busy with other types of activities. Most schools have libraries and kids might not need to check out books at the public library if they are finding books they like at school.
ReplyDeleteIt is scary how fast things are changing in the library world! Everyone needs to stop and smell the roses more often, so to speak. . . especially children!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you EWF. The only thing that worries me is that the children at the San Marcos library were playing on the computers. Yes it is great they are in a library environment, but I personally think that they should be exploring the books. Too many children these days are so wrapped up in video games that as they get older, they will not voluntarily pick up a book.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have noticed this trend too, especially having a thirteen-year-old son. The trick for us, and for many of his friends that I've helped, has been finding something they'll like that may not necessarily be the current trend. When the Twilight series was on display in every public library, Kaileb wasn't interested. Though other parents and teachers didn't approve, I introduced him to anime at the age of nine and he's been an avid reader ever since! He now goes to the library about three times a week and averages 20 books a month!
ReplyDeleteI really think you did the right thing. It doesn't matter so much what he is reading, just so long as he is. Its the love for reading that we are trying to foster.
ReplyDeleteGraphic novels, comic books, if it gets a kid to read-Amen! Our public library always has a steady stream of young readers and my library at school is always filled with kids wanting to read. Graphic novels are a big hit with several kids and I wish I had more to offer them. As long as there are good books that interest kids, reading will never go out of style.
ReplyDeleteI think a huge factor in this is that schools are either no longer offering library time or only very limited time slots to classes. That was how many of us learned to use libraries and fall in love with them. Kids today are not even getting the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Sarah, that is a problem. I can't help but wonder why schools have done this.
ReplyDeleteMany kids have schedules that are so full they don't have time for pleasure reading. Maybe if it was a sporting event the parents would support it more.
ReplyDeleteHAHA Your right Cathy, I think you hit the nail on the head there.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child the public library was a place I constantly visited. I took my three children to the public library on a regular basis when they were preschool and elementary age. Now that they are young adults only my oldest reads for pleasure. My son is more interested in sports in his spare time. My youngest only reads what she needs to for school assignments. I think parents need to expose their children to the love of reading and hope for the best!
ReplyDeleteThere tend to be plenty of children at my local library branches (Poway and Rancho Bernardo) on the weekends. And while the internet competes with books as a way for kids to fill their free time, internet fandom has also contributed to the success of books that are popular among children and teenagers, like the Harry Potter series.
ReplyDeleteI think the place to find out what kids are reading (or not reading) would be school libraries. In junior high, my school library (tiny as it was) fortunately made it possible for me to get the books I wanted even though my parents might not have had time to drive me to the public library. My parents now order a lot of books online for my youngest brother and sister, but I expect they use their school libraries as well.