Feinberg, Sandra, et. al. The Family-Centered Library Handbook. Neal-Schuman, 2007.
Imagine a library where all families with small children feel welcome, are excited to go to, and parents and children are learning skills that will help both children and families thrive.
Hmmm…sounds like a lot of your libraries! But there is something special about a youth services department, and a library as a whole, making a conscious decision to be family-centered. It is a matter of priorities, planning, staff training, partnering with other agencies. It involves examining your collections, your programming, your outreach, and your staff’s attitudes towards parents and children. It means working to make sure families of every income, education, and background is able to learn about child development and parenting in a safe, respectful, and fun environment.
If this sounds like something you would like to pursue further, The Family-Centered Library Handbook is a great choice. It addresses planning, partnerships, training, collections, programs, and working with special populations. It also gives some great arguments for focusing your library in this direction.
IFLS librarians, if you’d like to borrow the book, you have 2 options:
- Libraries on MORE can find the book on the staff side of the interface and put a hold on it.
- Libraries not yet on MORE can send a note to me and I’ll make sure it gets checked out and sent to you.