Friday, February 6, 2015

Picky Readers


My busy week is continuing. I've moved on from the painstaking computer purge of departed library patrons to making a book display for World Book Day on March 5. We've been asking students to name their favorite books and tell us why they like them, and you would think from their reactions that we wanted to pull their front teeth. They are so reluctant to participate! We finally got enough responses to put together a display.

I'm printing out an image of each book's cover, and including the student's review beneath it. We'll then hang these reviews in the library. Pretty straightforward, right? I think it's going to look good when it's done, but it's taking a bit of work, especially when I keep having to drop everything to check out materials.

There's a gang of fifth-grade girls who come into the library every single day and want book recommendations, but when I make suggestions they either don't want to read what I suggest (and no, I'm not always pushing "Misty of Chincoteague") or they check out a book and return it five minutes later, saying plaintively, "I didn't like it." I guess I finally hit my limit with this group yesterday because when they came in and asked me if I knew any good books, I said, "Off the top of my head, no!"

That got a laugh from one of my co-workers, and my boss chose that very moment to take a picture of me, which she tweeted on the library Twitter account with the caption "Decisions, decisions." Don't I look annoyed?

Fortunately, these kids like me, and I took them back to the shelves where we successfully scrounged up some reading material that they no doubt will return today, unread. I think they mostly like the attention. I'm sure they never sensed that I really wanted to get back to building my book display.

(Top: Bleak February, in front of a bleak house under renovation.)

9 comments:

Elizabeth said...

God, that photo -- that house. So very bleak!

And I love the photo of you and fifth grade girls. That's a weird age for girls.

Ms. Moon said...

Yeah. Those little girls are just trying out their skills on you, wanting some male attention. You're so cute, Steve! How could they not?
I would have done the same, only I'm sure I would have read the books you suggested.

utahDOG! said...

Headline: "Gov Rick Scott Volunteers at Local Library, Cuts Budget"

e said...

Nice photo...Why don't you turn the tables a bit and ask these girls about the most interesting thing they've read about...you may be surprised.

ellen abbott said...

at least they come to the library. one of these days they may actually start to read.

Linda Sue said...

That photo of you and the girls made me choke on my morning cup of joe! Perfect! Girls at that age are ridiculous, it is an awful age, I remember it like it was fifty years ago...

Sarah said...

Keep going with it, one day they may read one! Is your school an academy? Just wondering as you have a library with yourself and other librarians, and seem to have a lot of students. I met the librarian at the school I was at today. Normally she works on a Monday so I have never seen her. I don't know how common librarians are in primary schools but I think every school should have one. My old school used to have two very well organised libraries but both were got rid of years ago which was a shame.

The Bug said...

I love both pictures. Better you than me dealing with those girls. I didn't even like my OWN self at that age :) Although I was a voracious reader - I would definitely have read whatever you recommended!

Lynne said...

You look totally p-o'd. :)