Columbus, Ohio, middle school librarian Karen Yingling encouraged her own children to think, act, and read outside gender norms: Her daughters mowed the lawn and played with dirt, and her son even had a doll named Bob. She found it more difficult, however, to gain the reading attentions of her male students with suggestions like Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls when asked for spy books.^[2] One brilliant idea turned the tide.

Faced with a rejection of “girly” books by the boys, Yingling gathered the popular eighth grade football players and filled them in on her secret plan. The boys agreed but could not resist some snickering at the idea of reading girls’ books. Once the football players were seen reading those materials, Boys Read Pink was born. Yingling notes that while some boys took to it with “gusto,” others were a bit shy and asked for the books to be covered.^[3]

In sparking this movement, Yingling is subverting decades of cultural norms. Journalist Adrienne LaFrance discusses this turn toward going outside gender boundaries. She speaks with a number of parents who found themselves wanting broader boundaries of expression for their children, feeling uncomfortable denying their sons the right to wear pink and sparkles or their daughters to have “Darth Vader Vs. Elsa” parties. Boys, however, face those same constraints but “tend to get less attention,” she writes.^[4]

Scottish book blogger Lindsay Quayle also discussed the trending changes in gender norms, particular in reading materials and habits. She, too, sees the turning tide, addressing a reader’s concern for her son’s current “girly” tastes. She ultimately believes it is not a matter of books suitable for separate genders, but a matter of whether individual books are suited for individual children. Allowing children to read whatever they want fosters a love of reading. With parental guidance, children should have that element of choice. “No,” she asserts, “there shouldn’t be such a thing as a girl’s book or a boy’s book. And yes, absolutely, your child should read what he likes best, however pink it is.”^[5] She ends the post by highlighting the work of Marjorie Blackman and other British authors who are taking a stand against the gendering of books.

In the end, Yingling’s Boys Read Pink movement is not about making waves, but about giving youth the freedom to read as they choose. For boys, in particular, this means taking away the shame of being seen reading a “girl” book. “It’s one thing to claim that there is no difference in what middle school boys and girls should read, but that doesn’t get readers to change their habits or challenge their preconceived notions about gender,” she stresses.^[6] Yingling hopes people can learn to extend this idea beyond books and learn to see people the same way.

Further Reading

• Allison Flood, “Campaign to end gender-specific children’s books gathers support.”

References

[1] Adrienne LaFrance, “The Princess Revolution,” Atlantic, May 11, 2016.

[2] Karen Yingling, “Challenging Gender Norms with “Boys Read Pink” Celebration,” School Library Journal, May 18, 2016.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Adrienne LaFrance, “The Princess Revolution.”

[5] Lindsay Quayle, “Bookbug Detective: Should Boys Read Pink Books?,” Scottish Book Trust [blog], September 3, 2015.

[6] Karen Yingling, “Challenging Gender Norms with “Boys Read Pink” Celebration.”

The post Boys Read Pink: Challenging Gender Norms first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

So with some input from my coworkers, I have compiled a list for you to recommend to that guy who might just try a nonfiction book if you bug him enough. These are titles that won’t disappoint. You’re probably already familiar with some of them, but maybe you’ll find a new gem to recommend (My husband wants you to know that Under and Alone is the only book he ever got out of bed to read to find out what happened next).

Adventure

• Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
• Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire  by Nicholas Howe
• Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks by Andrea Lankford
• A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins
• A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

History

• The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
• The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn
• The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman
• The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz
• Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Humor

• Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn
• Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
• Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man’s Fundamentals for Delicious Living by Nick Offerman
• Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
• The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A. J. Jacobs

Adapted on TV

• Captain Phil Harris: The Legendary Crab Fisherman, Our Hero, Our Dad by Josh Harris and Jake Harris
• Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H. G. Bissinger
• Measure Twice, Cut Once: Lessons from a Master Carpenter by Norm Abram
• On Thin Ice: Breakdowns, Whiteouts, and Survival on the World’s Deadliest Roads by Hugh Rowland
• Under and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America’s Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang by William Queen

And More…

• The Book of General Ignorance: Everything You Think You Know IsWrong by John Lloyd and John Mitchinson
• The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
• The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
• What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
• Why is the Stanley Cup in Mario Lemieux’s Swimming Pool?: How Winners Celebrate With the World’s Most Famous Cup by Kevin Allen

Leave a comment about your favorite titles to recommend!

The post 25 Nonfiction Titles for Guys Who Aren’t Big Readers first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

1. Current trends in early literacy practices and education. My school district recently began to follow the Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading. When children and their families come in looking for a “level M” book, it’s a huge cause of frustration for my circulation staff. A trained children’s librarian should be aware of developments such as this and be able to offer recommendations. Similarly, a familiarity with the Common Core can aid not just in customer service, but also in collection development.
2. The importance of the reference interview. Reference interviews aren’t just for reference anymore! They can also be helpful in performing reader’s advisory. A librarian who is able to assess exactly what a patron is looking for is a huge asset to his or her department.
3. Understanding the needs of all levels of readers. Some children read far above their grade level and are not ready for the mature content that can come with higher-level books. Others struggle, and in the words of Marie Joyce, Children’s Librarian at the Free Public Library of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, “it’s important to get them books they can read but that are not ‘babyish.’” A successful children’s librarian should be able to help find resources for all reading levels.
4. An awareness of pop culture. Just as it’s important to be cognizant of current educational trends, it can greatly help a children’s librarian to be aware of what’s going on in popular culture. Some of the highest-circing items in my library’s juvenile collection are LEGO books and Star Wars tie-ins. Similarly, we recently held an American Girl tea party that was an overwhelming success. Staying up to date on these things can help a professional relate better to young patrons, not to mention make the library a “cooler” place to hang out.
5. Management and networking skills. “Children librarians seem to be doing more and more on less available time. We are not an island…we need staff help, whether it is preparing crafts and props to marketing programs to patrons. Good management skills help rally the internal staff and outsiders who support the library with time and money,” points out Robin Rockman, Youth Services Librarian at Oradell (NJ) Free Public Library. Furthermore, many children’s librarians are also tasked with making sure their department runs smoothly. Having a good professional rapport with support staff makes this duty far easier.
6. How to talk to children. It seems obvious, but providing good service to children is far different than working with adults, or even teens. Establishing a non-intimidating but still authoritative stance with young patrons is key in a public library.
7. Technological know-how. That’s not to say every children’s librarian should be fluent in three different programming languages, but being able to leverage different resources can be a huge aid in both program development and customer service. It is also important to understand how screen time can affect our youngest patrons. It’s no longer out of place to have a parent or caregiver come into the library looking for app suggestions for their preschooler.
8. How to be a creative problem-solver. Children are unpredictable! You never know when a scheduled performer might not show up, or a kid has an accident during story time. Flexibility and being able to think quickly on his or her feet will pay off greatly during those moments of uncertainty.
9. Time management. Many children’s librarians are responsible for scheduling programming. Yet providing enough events for the public without burning themselves or their staff out can be a tricky act of balance. Similarly, most people in this position wear many different hats, from programming to collection development to community outreach and more. Being able to manage anything without being overwhelmed is vital.
10. How to promote library services. I come from a digital marketing background, and what I learned while working in that industry has helped me almost every day in my library career. Now more than ever, it’s necessary to stay relevant in the eyes of the public and elected officials. We can’t do that if no one knows about what we offer. From social media marketing to creating catchy in-house displays and merchandising, a keen sense for promoting library awareness will ensure the longevity of our field.

What other topics do you think a children’s librarian needs to know about? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Ten Things a Children’s Librarian Needs to Know first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Each year, World Book Night is celebrated around the world on April 23, which is the UNESCO International Day of the Book and also William Shakespeare’s birthday. The idea was a result of discussions during a London Book Industry Conference in May, 2010. The originators of the idea had been brainstorming ways to spread the love of reading, when they hit upon this idea – having people who love books distribute books for free in their communities.  Here’s how it works:

Each year, 30 books are chosen by an independent panel of librarians and booksellers. The authors of the books waive their royalties and the publishers agree to pay the costs of producing the specially-printed World Book Night U.S. editions. Bookstores and libraries sign up to be community host locations for the volunteer book givers. After the book titles are announced, members of the public apply to personally hand out 20 copies of a particular title in their community. World Book Night U.S. vets the applications, and the givers are chosen based on their ability to reach light and non-readers. The selected givers choose a local participating bookstore or library from which to pick up the 20 copies of their book, and World Book Night U.S. delivers the books to these host locations. Givers pick up their books in the week before World Book Night.

On April 23rd, they give their books to those who don’t regularly read and/or people who don’t normally have access to printed books, for reasons of means or access.

Our library had three staff members participate in World Book Night on April 23, 2012 and all reported great success. Each book-giver was provided with 20 copies of a title they had selected themselves. When they submitted their applications back in 2011, they listed a first, second, and third choice from a list of twenty-five books selected for the 2012 event by a WBN committee. The application form also asks for a description of the location where the giver intends to hand out their book and why the applicant wishes to participate in World Book Night.

One staffer handed out copies of Hunger Games at multiple locations (two grocery stores, two fast food restaurants, a pet store, and a Starbucks) along a commercial parkway district in the Western part of the county.  She said she was ‘stalked’ by a lady in a minivan with her 8^th grade son who was so excited when he received a copy of Hunger Games. He just kept saying “Sweeeet THIS is so Sweet.” She wore her World Book Night pin above her library name tag and also fielded questions about the library. She said she would definitely volunteer again.

Another reported that World Book Night was fun and her free copies went quickly. She went to a local restaurant and her daughter came with her to take pictures.The workers at the restaurant were as excited as the customers to receive a copy of Enders Game. She wore a library shirt and her name tag and it only took her an hour to get to the restaurant and then back home.

The third staffer’s book was Peace Like a River, so she targeted adults or older teens at the YMCA and during after school pickup. She said that a group of early 20-somethings was suspicious of her until she pointed out her library name tag.They found it hard to believe she was giving them something for nothing. She reported that when kids who were accompanying adults saw her give away a book, they asked if she had one for them too. She told them they could get just about any book from the library. She thought it would be interesting to have a Children’s World Book Night some time and felt she could have easily given away another 20 books.

A number of news articles and videos posted about World Book Night 2012 relate similar experiences from across the United States:

• Q&A: How to Give Away One Million Books in One Night [Time News Feed, accessed November 27, 2012]
• World Book Night: Millions of Free Books Donated [The Huffington Post, accessed November 27, 2012]
• World Book Night Returns to the US [The Christian Science Monitor, accessed November 27, 2012]
• ABC News: World Book Night USA – April 23, 2012 [Youtube video, accessed November 27, 2012]
• World Book Night 2012 – Phoenix Area, Arizona, USA [Youtube video, accessed November 27, 2012]
• Midwest Book Giving – World Book Night 2012 [Youtube video, accessed November 27, 2012]

The third annual World Book Night will be held April 23, 2013. I have already submitted my application to be a part of this great event and encourage you to do so as well.

The post World Book Night – What Better Way to Spread the Love of Reading? first appeared on Public Libraries Online.