For this reflection blog post, I was inspired by Beyond Buzzwords: Ten Invitations to Build Library Connection and Community by @michael. Specifically, number six:
“Big plans matter. But so do quick gestures: a personalized reading suggestion, a kind reply on social media, a creative response to feedback. Sometimes a single conversation can shift someone’s view of what the library is. Sometimes a dog-eared note on a whiteboard invites a flood of community stories. Ask: What small moment will you make possible today?”
I LIVE for small moments. At a time when “big moments” (particularly joyful ones) feel scarce, boy do I appreciate the small ones. I’m talkin’ my favorite song plays on the radio, my colleague surprises me with Starbucks, or a kindergartener asks me to read one of my favorite books to them (basically any Elephant & Piggie book by Mo Willems. Or Dog Vs. Strawberry by Nelly Buchet, because to properly read it aloud, one must use their best sports announcer voice. Add it to your read-aloud rotation asap). Creating that feeling for my patrons? That’s one of my favorite parts of the job!
Added bonus of giving a read-aloud your all- the students will pick up on your joy and enthusiasm for reading! Effortless library fun.
Something I learned in a past course was that, in order for your patrons and your community to be invested in your library, they must be invested in you and your library staff. To me this means getting to know them and building a rapport, which is why I enjoy the hospitality aspect of library work. My boss is really good at this, and one reason is because she is gifted at small talk. It never stays small for long. She asks deeper, intentional questions early on and makes the conversation fun and meaningful, rather than surface-level.
I admire her skill and I have tried my hand at it too, especially when I spot a lone, new student seeking refuge in the safe haven of the library. No one wants to be the person standing in a corner during orientation, snacking on a bagel by themselves. Yes, I did witness that scenario in my library and I was very happy to introduce myself and talk to the student!
I love being able to greet students by name when they enter the library, and follow up on how they are doing. How did the test go that they studied for all last block? Are they ready for the next book in the series they are currently obsessed with? Maybe they recommend a new book we should add to our collection! I aim to congratulate as many students as I can on their great performance in the school musical over the weekend. The librarians love supporting the theatre program! All of these are examples of ways I can make students feel seen and valued at my library, and, as Stephens notes, “build connection and community.”
I enjoyed the enthusiastic read-out-loud of Dog vs. Strawberry!
This post was awesome! I teach 3-5 year olds and Elephant & Piggie books never fail to give them giggle fits.
Great post! I especially agree with your thoughts on getting to know your patrons. I work at a community college library and there are so many students who just need someone to ask about how their classes are going. Building those personal relationships helps them open up and feel more comfortable using the resources available at the library. It can also lead to unique opportunities for programming. One of my coworkers is very good at getting to know students. Through his conversations, he found out one of our students was a yoga instructor, and we now have monthly yoga sessions in the library. Starting with small interactions can lead to much bigger impacts!
Loved the inclusion of the read-aloud video!
This reminded me of something at my old public library. Our teen librarian set up a token operated gumball machine with capsules. Each capsule included a book recommendation and little trinkets (like fun erasers). Tokens were just for teens, which sometimes made their younger siblings sad. So, we started handing out fun stickers to kids who weren’t old enough to get a token when their sibling did. It definitely helped turn those moments more positive. The most popular sticker was, of course, Elephant & Piggie.