Kid Librarians make a mark at Jaffrey Public Library
Published: 07-25-2024 12:03 PM
Modified: 07-26-2024 1:04 PM |
Kiki Duffy, 9, is faced with an empty library shelf and a mission to fill it with her favorite things from the library.
As the Jaffrey Public Library’s newest Kid Librarian, Kiki had filled out an application with a list of her favorite books, and on Tuesday got the opportunity to put them up on the shelf with her own decorations, along with Library Assistant Robin Bussiere.
“Some kids have been very excited to gather their books, and know exactly what they want to display,” said Bussiere, just before starting to gather books from the shelves for Kiki to put in her display.
So far, six children have had the opportunity to become Kid Librarians, and have their displays up for about two weeks. They’re encouraged to fill their shelves not just with books, but graphic novels, audiobooks, DVDs, games or anything else people can check out at the library.
“I was pleasantly surprised at the degree of thought and creativity they put into their displays,” said Bussiere. “You can see a touch of personality in each one. They’re very proud of their work.”
Some items get a special touch. An audiobook of “Charlotte’s Web” is accompanied by a toy pig and a spider that dangles from the shelf above on a yarn web. Next to “A Boy Called Bat,” a book about a boy who helps raise a baby skunk, a paper craft of a skunk stands vigil, made by Kiki at another library after reading the book as part of a book club.
“I really like animal books,” Kiki said. “I also really like arts and crafts.”
Library Director Julie Perrin said she found the idea of a Kid Librarian program from the Radford Public Library in Virginia, and said the Jaffrey library has taken it a step further by encouraging youths to take it beyond book recommendations and include other things they love at the library.
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Kid Librarian Holly Ray, 9, for example, included a clay piggy bank she made to represent the library crafts, and a Lego dog for the library’s Lego Club. Most of her selections, rather than novels, came from the library’s graphic novel section – both fiction and an instructional guides, such as a book on baking.
Another Kid Librarian, Katteri LeBlanc, 9, chose mostly adventure books, including the “Harry Potter” series, along with Lego figurines of the characters. Some of the “Chronicles of Narnia” books, along with non-fiction recommendations such as a book on the Navajo, were part of her display.
Katteri said the library is one of her favorite places.
“It’s a peaceful space, with plenty of time to read,” she said.
The girls’ mothers said their children have a voracious love of reading, and were all eager to apply to become a Kid Librarian.
Katteri’s mother, Amanda LeBlanc, said in the summer, their family is at the library nearly ever day. She said when the family got back from their summer vacation, the first things Katteri wanted to do were to jump into the summer reading program and put in an application to be a Kid Librarian.
“We’ve checked out hundreds of books,” Amanda LeBlanc said of the library. “And it just continues to grow, and engage kids at different levels.”
Holly’s mother, Allyson Ray, said her family comes to the library for more than just books, as her children love the STEM activities the library regularly hosts, and planted a garden from the seed library.
“They’re always coming up with new things,” she said.
Children interested in becoming a Kid Librarian should pick up an application at the library, and fill out a list of items they wish to display. The library will contact them to set up a time and date to set up the display.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.