1children Centered Services 801

In the Service of Children

Running head: IN THE SERVICE OF CHILDREN

In the Service of Children: A Children’s Department Manager Elaine Shelburne Dr. Cecilia Salvatore Emporia State University

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Abstract This interview examines the role of the manager of the Children’s Department of the Weber County Library, Ogden, Utah. Since the first library in Ogden was built in 1903, the philosophy of its benefactor Andrew Carnegie has continued for free, equal, and democratic use of the library for all citizens of the area, regardless of their economic status. The library organization has changed hands from the Ogden Free Carnegie Library to the Weber County Library, but it still serves all of the area residents who come through its doors. The Children’s Department is vibrant and staffed with hard-working professionals, such as the altruistic manager whom I interviewed, Phoebe Carter. Programming for the minority community as well as a traditional calendar of events continues to serve the youth and their parents, in Ogden. Mr. Carnegie’s initial investment continues to reflect its original purpose, over a century later, democratically available to all of us.

In the Service of Children In the Service of Children: A Children’s Department Manager At the dedication of the new Ogden Carnegie Free Library in 1903, Mayor William L. Glasmann read aloud from a letter from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie as follows: “You establish today another cradle of democracy in the free library which knows no rank or wealth. It is the home of the best society the world knows, and the laboring man [woman and child] should be made to feel more at home there than the millionaire…” (Weber Cty. Library Website) The first building in the state of Utah that was dedicated exclusively to public library services was thereby established -- the Ogden Carnegie Free Library. At no time other than the present are the words of Mr. Carnegie truer than they are today. Although the organization and resultant name was changed to Weber County Library in 1966, and a new building dedicated in 1968, the Children’s Department reflects the at home feeling and multiple services available to all youth and adults, regardless of their financial standing. When Phoebe Carter was an undergraduate student at St. John’s College, Santa Fe, New Mexico, she wasn’t considering a career in librarianship. Her work study program was in the college library, however, and co-workers encouraged her to continue in the library field upon graduation and obtain an M.L.S. to become a library professional. With this nudge to pursue graduate work, she chose Simmons College, in Boston, Massachusetts, to obtain a Masters of Library Science. Several features of

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Simmons program appealed to her--their application process was based more on essays than scores on the GRE scores, and was organized so that she could be done in one year, which also was appealing. She is currently employed at Main Branch of the Weber County Library and is the Manager of the Children’s Department. Approximately 1400 patrons are served everyday, at this branch. The patrons reflect the surrounding community, which is multicultural and diverse, with Spanish being the dominant second language. Her job responsibilities include supervising collection development, organizing the programming, and scheduling personnel, in this department. The positions in the children’s department include two pages, two assistant specialists, and one librarian, besides herself. Out of that group, one full-time assistant specialist and one page are native Spanish speakers who help with translations and with Spanish/English children’s programs. Originally, Phoebe didn’t plan on entering the public library profession, and had not thought of librarianship as being service oriented. Today, however, working in central Ogden, Utah, with the community surrounding the Main Branch, she really feels it’s indeed a service that is continual, day in and day out, to the people who live in the area. Phoebe is a member of several professional organizations, including ALA and ULA, and she utilizes and enjoys the AMERICAN LIBRARIES publication. When it comes to maintaining the children’s department collection, she uses reviews in SCHOOL LIBRARY JORNAL, BOOKLIST, THE BULLETIN, KIRKUS,

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and PUBLISHERS’ WEEKLY. She also peruses several reputable websites to review and choose books. The patrons and users of the Main Branch include a wide range of multicultural/multiethnic people, of all ages. From her point of view, the library and the children’s department, in particular, is important for the following reasons: •

People go to the library because it’s a warm place to go in the daytime,

and that saves money in heating their homes. •

Some patrons don’t have phone service, but are able to use the library

phones in needy situations, albeit the library staff monitors the use so that the privilege isn’t abused. •

It’s a warm place with activities for kids after school, who sometimes stay

from 4-6 p.m. until their parents pick them up. Many parents in the area work – many have shift work – and they need a safe place for their kids. •

In the summer, some kids are there all day; the librarians wonder about

lunch for them when they don’t go home. •

Parents who don’t have online computers at home come in to look up their

children’s school grades and attendance. •

Translators on staff in the library are able to translate legal documents,

such as birth certificates, in Spanish. The Children’s Department has a special program that has been attended in increasing number, by the community. This is the “Bi-lingual Story Program” which is held in the library on Thursday evenings. It’s planned and carried out by the full-time bilingual assistant specialist who conducts the entire hour-long event in both Spanish and

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English. He includes music, movement, arts and crafts, and language arts, implementing the program in a seamless blend of English and Spanish. Approximately 50 patrons attend each week, and they “get a lot out of it,” states Phoebe, emphatically (Carter). Some parents send their English speaking kids in order to learn some Spanish, while native Spanish speaking parents send their kids to enjoy the stories and program in their native language, while learning some English. The programs vary from seasonal themes to topics that children enjoy, and they might even include the library assistant in costumes and performing slapstick. Phoebe’s relationship with patrons is that of assisting them and helping them find answers so that they are not intimidated in approaching her at the children’s reference desk. She strongly believes everyone needs to feel empowered to ask for help. Ethical issues that seem current in the library are those dealing with keeping an on-going balanced collection. Some books are challenged around the “Banned Book Week” each fall. In particular, books that have a homosexual lifestyle as a theme are the currently most challenged by patrons. The library has a ‘challenged book’ policy in place, and it seems to be working. There was an interesting re-organization a number of years ago, that involved the children’s and youth services. The library administration decided not to staff a separate “YA” department, but manage it under the Children’s Dept., instead. The re-organization including shelving the YA books that are for younger readers (middle school kids) in the children’s department and shelving books for older readers or teenagers (high school) in with the adult fiction. The children’s department manager became responsible for the

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collection development of both age sections of YA books. These books that form the ‘bridge’ between middle school and adult books are funded with funds labeled for YA. Current social trends have affected the library, as they affect the neighboring community. Inside the library, there occasionally are crises such as gang confrontations or inebriated patrons. The library has a security person who works from 4 p.m. until closing, and is positioned working at the circulation desk. She is dressed in normal attire, but is trained to handle physical problems. The library administration is sending her for further training shortly, as there is an ostensible need. Recent trends in circulation include more CD/audio materials checked out; these seem popular among the younger patrons. These patrons seem to be responsible, for the most part, for these materials. DVD’s are also popular, and the library is not purchasing VHS any longer. The electronic devices for e-books still seem to be too expensive for most library patrons at this branch, and there hasn’t been a slowdown in circulation since e-books or Amazon’s Kindle has been for sale. However, patrons can utilize a state ebook download, for free, but since this can be done in patrons’ homes, the library children’s manager isn’t aware of patrons using this form of books. The atmosphere in the Children’s Department is pleasant with the happy sounds of children enjoying computer games and books. There are low chairs for the young ones and comfortable seating for parents; sets of tables and chairs are spaced strategically for reading, throughout the stacks of books. The natural lighting from spacious windows encourages numerous green plants to flourish. From it’s inception to today, the Weber County Library, formerly named the Ogden Carnegie Fee Library, has served the people. Although clientele have changed in

In the Service of Children terms of spoken languages and culture since 1903, and certainly new technologies have been implemented, the services provided by altruistic staff and library services have continued to carry out Andrew Carnegie’s legacy. Above the first library building’s entrance was the following quotation, carved in sandstone, “In the education of its people, lies the safety of the republic.” It only takes one visit to the Children’s Department at the Weber County Library to see that Phoebe and her staff continue this education daily.

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In the Service of Children References Carter, Phoebe (personal interview), January 29, 2008) “Main Library History and Information.” Weber County Library (Website). 04 Feb. 2008 Roberts, Richard C. & Sadler, Richard W. (1985). Ogden: Junction City. Northridge, CA : Windsor Publications.

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