Last week I had the privilege of attending the annual conference of the Association for Rural & Small Libraries in Wichita, Kansas. Now, Kansas may not seem like the most exciting location for a national conference. Especially, if like me, you assume that all of Kansas resembles the sepia-toned portions of The Wizard of Oz. Of course, Wichita is the capital city of Kansas, so logically I knew that it was not going to look like the Gale's neighborhood. However, I am from near Lansing, the capital of Michigan, and you can be in the middle of the city and see corn fields within a ten to fifteen minute drive.
All joking aside, I had a fantastic week in Wichita, Kansas. The conference had inspiring speakers, educational, beneficial break out sessions, and I got to network with other rural librarians from around the nation. I even managed to see some interesting things in the city such as the Wichita Advanced Learning Library which was pretty phenomenal (of course, librarians like to visit other libraries wherever they go).
The theme for ARSL 2023 was Unite & Ignite, which may sound hokey (but that is true of most slogans). Despite the cheese factor, I found the slogan to be particularly relevant to the present standing of small public libraries and how we attain future success in our communities.
Libraries, especially in rural areas, have long struggled with securing funding, justifying their presence, and raising awareness about their services. Even when people have not been regular users or supporters of their local libraries, though, they still have positive feelings about libraries as a whole. Sure, they may not be big readers or they prefer to buy books, or, maybe, they assume libraries are the stereotypical old buildings filled with dusty books and women in glasses who shush people. Whatever their reason for not being library patrons, they are also not actively against libraries. That has begun to change in recent years as libraries have suddenly found themselves at the center of controversy. Let's be honest, attempts to ban books have occurred since people invented writing, but there is no denying that there has been a significant increase in book banning since the American Library Association first began tracking censorship in libraries 20 years ago. Of course , many of these bans are focused on school libraries (which is a whole different can of worms) but in 2023 49% of challenges were focused on public libraries compared to only 16% in 2022.
Now, I am not going to go into the whole book banning issue in this post. I have written about it before, and, to be clear, I am against book banning and censorship and am a firm proponent of the ALA's stance on intellectual freedom. So, what does this have anything to do with ARSL or Unite & Ignite? Well, libraries are suddenly facing actual opposition rather than just indifference. In order to resist acrimonious campaigns against libraries we need to prove our worth and establish ourselves as a necessity. In other words we need to "unite" our communities and "ignite" people's enthusiasm and support for libraries.
How do we do this? Former librarian turned educational speaker, Will Stuck, really summed it up with this statement: "Make the library a part of the community, not just a place in the community."
One of the ways small libraries can do this is with our customer service, which can be even more important than a library's collection. Librarians in small communities are in a unique position because we can get to know the majority of people who come into our libraries. We know their names, their kids' names, what they like to read, what they are probably going to ask for help with, etc. Small and rural libraries may not have huge collections or massive buildings with tons of cool stuff, but we can be more personable, positive, and helpful. I know that having good customer service seems obvious and easy to do. Just smile and say thank you, right? There are definitely ways that the staff at my library (myself included) can improve on customer service, though, and we need to incorporate concrete policies, strategies, and expectations that help us to do this.
In addition to having more patron friendly service, small and rural libraries can build community relationships with our programs and community outreach. My library already has the regular story times, book clubs, arts and crafts, a summer reading program, etc. and we go to schools, local festivals, farmer's markets, and participate in parades. The ARSL conference gave me some new ideas for ways to connect with current patrons and hopefully gain some new ones.
I found it particularly interesting that some librarians are getting grants from the AARP to help fund telehealth booths in rural libraries. As we know, since covid zoom meetings and telehealth sessions have become the norm and "Shush booths" are a wonderful new service that could be a huge benefit to people in my community. Not to mention they look really cool, like something out of Star Trek.
All of our programming, outreach, and daily interactions with people in our community lead to personal relationships and wonderful stories that we can use to build trust and goodwill. Librarians need to share those stories, and we need to get our patrons and supporters to share them too. Who helps the senior citizen learn how to use their new iPhone, where do teens go after school, where can you get free winter hats from a crocheting club, who is hosting a parent play group at the park over the summer? That is how we will stay relevant and be part of the community not just a place.
Just as important as listening to speakers and attending break out sessions was the opportunity to connect with other librarians from around the nation. There were many other programs, books, events, etc. that I am now looking into adding or implementing at my library because of simple conversations I had over lunch. "Uniting" with fellow librarians "ignited" my passion for this career that I have chosen or chose me (honestly I am in my forties and have no idea). All I do know is that ARSL 2023 gave me a much needed boost and I feel excited and reinvigorated about moving my little library into 2024.
As you can see, I also managed to have a little bit of fun in Wichita with my fellow librarians!
And I got to meet Adib Khorram, the author behind Darius the Great is Not Okay, which was a huge honor! If you have not read the book you are missing out. And did I mention that the Khorram is a huge Star Trek nerd and his book's main character speaks Klingon? Swoon!
Hooray, May is Mental Health Awareness Month! The comics above are by the fantastic Gemma Correll, whom I do not know and have never met but still feel like I have a deep connection to. As someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression their entire life, Correll's work makes me feel like I am not alone. Her comics perfectly combine poignancy and humor to depict the reality of living with a mental illness. If you want to feel seen and have a laugh I highly recommend checking out her work.
So, let's talk about some other amazing books to read and/or share this month (and any month really for people struggling with mental illness, it isn't like it ever goes away). I am going to start with picture books, and I know you are probably thinking "why would you need picture books about mental health?" Well, kids (even ones not in school yet) can have anxiety, stress, sadness, or they may have an adult in their life dealing with these issues which, let's be honest, means they are dealing with it too. There may be incredibly serious issues such as abuse or trauma a child is dealing with, but there could also be more common fears like going to the doctor or dentist, the dark, or going to an unfamiliar place. People are wired differently, and in my opinion that is a great thing, but it also means that all people react in different ways. What one kid doesn't think twice about, might incite nightmares in another. Currently, my first grader is absolutely terrified of fire, tornado, and lock down drills. As this is his first year in public school, I understand that it is something unfamiliar and changes the routine, and they also are drills meant to deal with scary problems. Books provide the perfect segue to a discussion about fears, worries, and how to deal with those feelings.
The first book I want to share with you is The Don't Worry Book by Todd Parr. If you are unfamiliar with Todd Parr he is the author and illustrator of over 60 children's books and I guarantee that once you read one to your child you are going to want to get more. His bold and vivid illustrations and simple text are guaranteed to delight and engage toddlers and preschoolers. I always think of Todd Parr picture books as the Muppet books. You probably think that this is due to the way he depicts his characters with simple features, crazy colored hair, skin, and clothes. This is definitely a big part of it since I feel like all of Parr's illustrations could exist on Sesame Street. However, I also think of Parr's books as the Muppet books because they are all happy and endeavor to make the world a kinder more loving place to live. In my mind that is the epitome of what Jim Henson stood for. The Don't Worry Book explains what worry is (thinking too much about something that may be scary), what are some things you may worry about (the weather, doctor's appointments, etc.) and what you can do to feel better (hug a stuffed animal, sing a song, or wear underwear on your head). I love that Parr gives concrete examples of what worry is and what kids to do alleviate those feeling all in language that they can understand. If you have a little one that is dealing with that awful W word this is a perfect book to read together so that maybe they can give words to what they are feeling and to work out some strategies to making that worry go away.
The next picture book I want to highlight is probably more for preschoolers and up. Ruby Finds a Worry is part of the Big Bright Feelings series written and illustrated by Tom Percival and published by Bloomsbury out of Great Britain. If you go to the Bloomsbury website they not only have a list of all the books in the Big Bright Feelings series, but also downloadable activities for each book. I confess that I normally do not enjoy picture books with a very specific "message" or "lesson". Don't get me wrong, they can definitely work to prompt discussion with children, but usually the story telling is bit stilted and dull for general audiences and read-aloud sessions. The Big Bright Feelings series definitely deals with very specific topics but the gentle and enjoyable text combined with enchanting illustrations make these books winners for me. There are a number of topics that these books address (fitting in, jealousy, starting school, etc.) but for this post I want to mention Ruby Finds a Worry which, of course, deals with worry and anxiety. As you can see, Ruby is absolutely adorable and I love the way the worry is actually portrayed as a physical being. The colors of the illustrations particularly make the worry stand out and grow in prominence until Ruby learns to deal with the worry and reduce its prevalence in her life. In the story, young Ruby discovers that a worry has attached itself to her. I love that the worry has taken a physical form and also that it doesn't seem to have any specific cause or association with an event in her life. As far as the reader is concerned, the worry just shows and grows each day until Ruby can't focus on anything but the worry. As you can probably surmise, Ruby's attempts to ignore the worry just make it grow bigger. It isn't until she talks about her worry with a friend that it starts to shrink. I think that it is important to note that the worry does not completely disappear, it is still there, but it no longer interferes with Ruby's daily life. Some people (and I happen to be one of them) are just worriers. I remember my family referring to me as a Nervous Nellie when I was a child. It could be about specific things. I particularly remember a time period where I was petrified of acid rain, but often it was just anxiety that seemed to be about everything and nothing at the same time.
A book that just came out in 2023 is
When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left! written by Marc Colagiovanni and illustrated by Peter Reynolds. This is the debut picture book for Colagiovanni, but the style of the illustrations will probably look familiar. Reynolds is the author and illustrator of such classics as Ish and The Dot, as well a being the illustrator of the I Am picture books by Susan Verde (I Am Love, I Am Yoga, I Am Peace, etc.).
This may be a picture book, but I recommend it for readers of all ages. Colagiovanni has written a charming story about hope and perseverance that is only made better by Reynolds's delightful artwork. The story is simple enough to entertain young children, but the wit and whimsy will be appreciated by adults. We all have been troubled by doubt, worry, and fear at some point of our lives. Colagiovanni reminds us that during those times we can turn in a different direction and leave those burdens behind us
If you want to reach out to an older elementary age student struggling with mental health you cannot go wrong with The Worry (less) Book: Feel Strong, Find Calm and Tame Your Anxiety by Rachel Caine. Graphic novels, of course, are hugely popular with young readers and this one gives solid advice alongside entertaining illustrations and a large dose of humor.
Rachel Caine has also written and illustrated Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of You, which is a must-read book for all young people. Both this book and The Worry (Less) Book are well-researched and deliver important, age-appropriate information in a format that will engage young people.
Speaking of consent, Rachel Caine is one of the creators of the viral tea consent video which has been promoted by police departments and played by on campuses and to young people around the world. As with her books, Caine employs humor to expertly and concisely convey vitally important information to young people. Seriously, if you have teens or young adults have them watch this video. It is funny and everyone will laugh but it has an imperative and easy to understand message for viewers.
Let's move on to some chapter books that deal with mental health. The first book I want to talk about is OCDaniel by Wesley King. As you may have guessed, the main character in this book is a middle school boy suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. Daniel just wants to be a normal kids and hopes that no one ever finds out about his "zaps", what he refers to his as obsessive need to do certain things such as turning lights on and off a certain number of times.
King does a remarkable job of writing about serious mental illnesses while making the characters relatable to all readers. Every middle schooler wants to fit in and may have parts of themselves that they wish to hide from their peers. As a coming of age drama, OCDaniel is a great novel, but what makes it exceptional is that King has also threaded a mystery into the story. A fantastic read that will shed light on mental illness for some readers and make others feel seen.
Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand is another juvenile fiction novel that revolves around a young main character coping with mental illness, this time depression and anxiety. Eleven year old Finley is spending the summer at her grandparents' estate while her parents finalize their divorce. In order to cope with her intense emotions, Finley retreats into a fantasy world that she creates. Legrand magically combines fantasy and drama into a beautiful story about, not only juvenile mental health, but also family dynamics. This is definitely a unique novel that will help young readers see that they are not alone and that reaching out and making connections can help alleviate feelings of overwhelming sadness, fear, or self-doubt.
There are probably an overabundance of young adult novels that are about depression and anxiety. Trust me, I have served on the Michigan Young Adult Award committee (the Thumbs Up) and there is a lot of angst, depression, and trauma in popular books for teens. One that I have found to be particularly memorable is Rainbow in the Dark by Sean McGinty. I am warning you that Rainbow in the Dark is a bit weird (and that is probably why I liked it so much). The main character is a teen named Rainbow whose parents' recent divorce has resulted in moving to a town and home that he hates. Failing in school and feeling isolated and disconnected from his family, Rainbow suddenly finds himself in a video game like world with other teens. Rainbow is now on a quest to discover where he is and how to escape to reality. I warned you that this was an odd book, but McGinty brilliantly deals with serious issues of depression and suicide in a way that will appeal to teen readers. I hate to classify books as being for girls or boys, but many young adult novels that deal with depression and mental health tend to be realistic dramas with female protagonists. Rainbow in the Dark stands out for its incredibly unique storytelling. There are kids out there dealing with depression that will never pick up a drama or nonfiction book about mental health. However, if you offer those teens a novel about a teen who finds himself trapped in a video game...Well, you just may get them to pick it up.
I have already mentioned one graphic novel, and if you are familiar at all with tween and teen readers you know that they gravitate towards this format. As a librarian I get so frustrated with parents who tell their kids that they cannot get a "comic" they have to check out a "real" book. Personally, and professionally, I vehemently disagree with discouraging any child from checking out a book that they want to read. First of all, if you forbid something they are just going to want it more, but if you tell them that certain books do not "count" and they need to read something different they are just going to hate reading. Graphic novels can educate, inspire, and entertain just as much as traditional chapter books. For children that are more visual learners they may even have a greater impact by sticking with them longer. I want to mention two graphic novel memoirs that deal specifically with anxiety, depression, and identity that teens struggling with these issues may find particularly encouraging. The first of these is Everything is Okay by Debbie Tung. Based on the author and illustrator's own struggles with anxiety and depression, this book is beautifully written and illustrated. This quick and easy read will hopefully encourage young people battling with similar afflictions while also making them realize that they are not alone.
The second graphic novel that I want to mention is The Fire Never Goes Out:A Memoir in Pictures by ND Stevenson. Stevenson is a graphic novelist and artist who achieved huge successes right out of the gate. His first graphic novel, Nimona, went from web comic to best selling and Eisner-winning graphic novel. Stevenson then went on to the reboot of She-Ra on Netflix which was a huge success. In The Fire Never Goes Out Stevenson depicts in a series of comics and essays how they have always struggled with self-confidence, anxiety, and identity. I do want to note here that ND Stevenson (professionally) now goes by the name, Nate, and chooses the pronouns he/him. Anyone who has struggled with who they are, who they want to be will be able to relate to this stunning memoir.
I know that I never even got to adult books about mental health, but this post has already gotten quite long. I guess for now we will just keep it to teens and younger. I hope that you find some books in this post that will help and encourage whoever you are reading or sharing with them.
On Monday, March 27, 2023 there was a shooting at an elementary school in Tennessee. Seven people died: three children, three school staff members, and the shooter. According to reports, the tragedy in Nashville took less than 14 minutes
and was all over before 10:30am. It didn't take much longer for news
channels and social media platforms to blow up with details.
Why am I reiterating information that you are already familiar with? Well, it was later in that same day that a parent came into the library to lodge a complaint. Specifically, this mother wanted to speak to our library director about Drama, a graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier, that her nine year old daughter had recently checked out.
For those of you unfamiliar with the world of kids' graphic novels, Drama is an incredibly popular graphic novel recommended for readers 8-12 years old. The story revolves around a group of middle school students involved in putting on a school play. It is a sweet coming of age story about friendship, working together, pursuing your passions, and, yes, first crushes. I am quite sure that many of you have already guessed that there are gay characters in Drama. Full disclosure, there is also a boy-boy kiss but not to give too much away this occurs on stage as part of the play. So to be clear, there is zero salacious content in Drama. It is all very sweet and, in my opinion, actually delivers an extremely important message to young people about the importance of maintaining friendships and how those can be even better than romantic relationships.
However, on an afternoon when I, like so many others, was mired in horror, grief, fear, and rage a mother in my community was more concerned about the fact that her nine year old daughter learned that gay people exist. The mother's exact words were that she thought "the library was a safe place" and was unprepared to discuss "serious adult issues" with her daughter. First off, to hear someone say that they think the library is not a safe place for children is preposterous. It would be funny if vilifying libraries and books was not so pernicious to children and society as a whole. Last I checked, reading never resulted in the death or even the harm of a child. Reading books just leads to imagination, empathy, and thinking and why would we ever want to encourage those qualities in our children?
The library is not just a safe place it is a sanctuary for ALL children. No matter their background, home life, interests, popularity, faith, gender, etc. I have often admitted to being a nerd and a Trekkie so it is probably no surprise that I follow Wil Wheaton on social media and read his blog. For those non-Trekkies, Wheaton played Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Wheaton recently wrote a beautiful post titled "The Library is a Safe Place" detailing his own childhood experiences at the public library and how they continue to be essential places for today's youth, especially those that identify as LGBTQ+. please, read this post. Wheaton is a superior writer and I don't think I have read a better tribute to libraries and the impact that they can have on vulnerable young people.
Growing up books were my escape and the library was my "safe" place. Now that I am a Youth Librarian it is my mission to make sure that every child and teen who walks into the library feels welcome and seen. I can lead them to books that allow them to escape, see themselves, or learn more about the rest of the world. However, they do not even have to be readers to be welcome in the library (even though I will not quit trying to find them the perfect book). The library is a safe place that they can simply be themselves and not have to buy anything or fulfill any special requirements.
Now onto the the second half of the complaint, that Drama dealt with "serious adult issues". I already gave you a synopsis of Drama. It does not contain violence, swearing, sex, nudity, mortgages, life insurance, or retirement plans (seriously, aren't those last three the real adult topics?). There are relationships in Drama, but those exist in every book. Was this mom concerned because Drama dealt with childhood crushes? I have read about those in picture books or even younger chapter books. Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren deals with a kindergartner having a crush on a new boy in her class. I could go on and list hundreds of chapter books and picture books that deal with crushes or depict romantic relationships between characters like parents or older siblings. And let me stop here to say that people need to stop conflating
relationships with sex, which can exist separately. After all, how many
books for kids show parents as a couple without going into detail about
how their children came to be? Are those inappropriate? No, it is only deemed inappropriate when the relationships occur between characters of the same sex. I hate to burst your bubble, but gay people exist and, let's be honest, they have always existed. They deserve to live their lives in the light without fear of discrimination, judgement, or violence.
These parents who are so horrified that their kids will read about LGBTQ+ people in books, how do they want their kids to treat LGBTQ+ people that they will meet in their classrooms, neighborhoods, and communities as they grow up? Do they want their kids to look away in disgust, vote to have LGBTQ+ people have their rights stripped away, spit on them, call them names? These are human beings that adults are teaching children to fear and abhor and it enrages and terrifies me at the same time.
Unless you live under a rock, you are aware of the divisiveness that plaques our country current. It's hard to miss and, unfortunately, libraries and books have become a frequent target of far right political groups bent on using bigotry to stir up their base. There were a
record number of demands to ban books in 2022 and it is already looking like there will be even more in 2023. You may have guessed that the majority of the recent challenges and bans pertain specifically to books that deal with the LGBTQ+ community or race relations. Whatever, the politicians say, banning books is not about protecting children. If they were really interested in child welfare they would care about the high suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth, gun violence, healthcare, poverty, climate change, etc. This is about consolidating power and as the Zinn Education Society puts so eloquently:In truth, what concerns the right
is young people learning to ask critical questions about our society,
how to organize for social change, and about the power of interracial
solidarity. As I have already stated, reading leads to empathy. When you read a book you inhabit the mind and soul of the characters. You don't just view their actions, like a television show, you are inside their minds and hear their thoughts and feel your emotions. It is hard to despise someone when you have experienced their pain and joy, their triumphs and failures.
Books and libraries have always been an important part of my life. When I was struggling during my youth I needed the escape of fiction and the safety of the library. As a stay-at-home mom, the library was a free place for me to connect with other parents and educate and entertain my children. Now it seems like my life has come full circle and I am a youth librarian. It just so happens that my goal as a parent is the same as a youth librarian. More than anything, I want kids to be kind. If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, citizen longing for a better world please encourage people to read books and support their local libraries. Run to serve on the boards of libraries, vote yes on millages, attend library programs, check out books, tell everyone you know how important libraries are, and, most importantly, READ READ READ!
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