Peck, Penny. (2014). Crash Course in Children's Services, 2nd Edition. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. 978-1-61069-781-1.
A basic explanation of children's services for persons working in small libraries with limited staff. Tips include conducting reference interviews, handling homework centers, building collections, and planning storytimes. Sources of help are provided with age-appropriate themes and activities. Working with parents and teachers can be a major assignment for the children's librarian. Programming information includes how to conduct tours for school groups and summer reading programs. How to partner with others to share ideas for summer programs is suggested. Providing book discussion groups for students is one method to keep them reading. Issues in providing children's services are detailed.
Children need public library services. Even in small rural libraries managed by small staffs, children's services are critical. This handbook gives practical advice on performing essential duties in the Children's Room of the public library. The tone is how to with little theory, but providing the fundamentals of day-to-day services. Tips are given on reference service including the reference interview, a simple overview of child development, and tips for assisting parents and teachers. Hints are given for managing children who are in the library to do homework or to wait until they are collected by a parent or caregiver. A chapter is given on how to help children find recreational reading, how to market the library, and useful Web sites.
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