Ultimate Library Road Trip - US

I had a friend of mine recently say to me: “Wouldn’t it be cool to go on a road trip to visit a bunch of awesome libraries?” Why, yes. Yes it would be cool. I started to think about what that would look like and a map started to slowly form in my head. Of course, you would have to miss out on some of them because they take you too far out the way. A few that didn’t make the list simply because of that reason were the Geisel Library in San Diego (UCSD) and the McAllen Public Library in Texas. To go that far south would have taken the road trip way off course without much to see in between.

Before you get offended that you don’t see your library on my list, every library is amazing in its own way. Libraries serve their communities and provide much needed resources in times of need. One example that comes to mind is the Ferguson Public Library. This library did not make my list below either, mostly because it is these community libraries that are too small and too busy to support visitors on a large scale. I have added mostly larger, city center or specialty libraries to this list. Should you wish to make pit stops of other local libraries along the way, that is your prerogative. There are certainly no shortage of options.

I have also added other sights and places to stay along the way. Depending on your driving tolerances, you may want to stop more often on your journey. This is a cross country journey, from sea to shining sea. If you were to take this trip, you would probably fly to one coast or the other to begin and rent a car (or drive there from where you live). Since I live in Seattle, I started the journey itinerary there. If you live in the North East, you may want to start from the bottom and work the other direction. Here it is!

My attempt at a Google Map outline of the trip.

SEATTLE

Seattle Public Library - Central Library

While in town also check out:

Pike Place Market bookshops

There are four or five bookshops in Pike Place. Half the fun is navigating the labyrinthine tunnels of the market to find them. The owner of Lion Heart Books, David, will sing to you upon request and makes excellent recommendations.

STAY THE NIGHT - Hotel Sorrento

This is a nice, old fashioned hotel near the downtown library. They sometimes host literary events.

PORTLAND

Multnomah County Central Library

Side note: This is where my husband proposed to me.

Also Check Out: Powell’s City of Books

Powell's is a giant bookstore in downtown Portland that takes up several blocks and then some. It boosts 68,000 square feet packed with books. Not to mention the sister stores owned by Powell's in Portland and beyond. 

NEWPORT

STAY THE NIGHT - Sylvia Beach Hotel

This literary themed hotel in the coastal town of Newport, Oregon is amazing. Each room is themed after a different author. Authors include Agatha Christie to Shakespeare. It has a library that looks out over the water and a restaurant. Personally, I would like to stay in the J.K. Rowling suite. 

EUREKA

STAY THE NIGHT - Abigail's Elegant Victorian Mansion

While in town: Check out the Humboldt County Library and take a tour of the Victorian homes and architecture.

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco Public Library - Main

Also check out: City Lights Books

STAY THE NIGHT - Hotel Rex

This classic hotel hosts many literary events and has it's own extensive library. Their Library Bar has many literary-themed cocktails. 

RENO

Reno Downtown Library - Washoe County

This library is pretty fascinating because it brings the great indoors outdoors. There is a large indoor garden complete with a pond.

Also check out: Unrelated to libraries, but could be fun to take a day off and explore nightlife and casinos in Reno.

STAY THE NIGHT - Whitney Peak Hotel

This hotel was selected because it is not a casino hotel. If you are feeling adventurous, there are plenty of casino hotel options.

SALT LAKE

The City Library

The main library is a huge complex that includes shops and other community resources.

Also check out: The King’s English Bookshop

STAY THE NIGHT - Inn on the Hill

DENVER

Denver Public Library - Central Library

Also check out: Tattered Cover Bookstore

STAY THE NIGHT - The Crawford Hotel

This hotel has a LoDo Literary Society Package that includes an autographed book and a gift card to Tattered Cover.

KANSAS CITY

The Kansas City Public Library - Central

This is the library that has the giant books on the building.

Also check out: Prospero’s Books

STAY THE NIGHT - Hotel Sorella

CHICAGO

Harold Washington Library Center - Chicago Public Library

Also check out: Unabridged Books, The Violet Hour for literary themed cocktails

STAY THE NIGHT - The Drake Hotel

ANN ARBOR

STAY THE NIGHT - The Bell Tower

While in town: Check out the University of Michigan libraries and department of Creative Writing. Cool town with plenty of charm.

PITTSBURGH

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main

Also check out: Caliban Book Shop

This bookshop specializes in rare and first editions. 

STAY THE NIGHT - Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center

WASHINGTON D.C.

Library of Congress - Thomas Jefferson Building

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library

Also check out: Politics and Prose bookshop

BALTIMORE

Enoch Pratt Free Library - Downtown

The George Peabody Library - Baltimore, Maryland

Also check out: Atomic Books

This is a comic book shop and cafe.

STAY THE NIGHT - Hotel Indigo - Downtown Baltimore

This hotel has a library, literary art in the rooms, and literary inspired cocktails. 

PHILADELPHIA

The Free Library of Philadelphia - Parkway Central Library

Rosenbach Museum & Library

Also check out: The Book Trader

STAY THE NIGHT - Radisson Blu Warwick Hotel

This upscale hotel has a literary design for their lobby. 

NEW YORK

New York Public Library - Main

The Morgan Museum and Library

Also check out: Stand Book Store

This huge bookstore claims it has 18 miles of books. Goodness!

STAY THE NIGHT - The Library Hotel

This hotel is library themed from top to bottom. Each guest floor is organized by the Dewey Decimal System. For instance, the third floor has the 300's or Social Sciences. 

NEW HAVEN

New Haven Free Public Library

Yale University Beinecke Rare Book Library

Also check out: Book Trader Cafe

This is a cute book store and cafe.

STAY THE NIGHT - Farnam Guest House

BOSTON

Boston Public Library - Central Library in Copley Square

Also check out: Brattle Book Shop, Trident Booksellers and Cafe

Brattle sells new and rare books in downtown and Trident has very delicious-looking breakfast items. I WILL HAVE ALL THE BRUNCH!

STAY THE NIGHT - Omni Parker House

This hotel is in the Literary District and hosts literary functions from time to time. 

THE END

Of course, you could always start in San Francisco or alter the trip an any number of ways if you decide to take this epic journey. Someday I hope to hit up some if not all of these amazing landmarks. If you do this trip or any part of it, tweet me your pictures @amandagracehua with the #LibraryRoadTrip.

Best,

Amanda

All pictures found on Flickr creative commons. For credits, click on the image.

Should Libraries be Closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

One of the perks of being a government employee is that you get federal holidays off of work. I've discovered that these holidays are a much welcome reprieve for library staff. So, sorry for what I'm about to say, but... I think public libraries should be open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (and possibly other federal holidays). I worked for a library that stays open and hosts a MLK Day celebration and the community really appreciated it. I poked around online and found three libraries that are open today and hosting events. Here is what they are doing.

Frisco Public Library, Frisco, TX

This is the library I used to work for. I helped organize this event, so I know more about it than the following two. On the website, they describe the events like this: "Explore an interactive exhibit that celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and his impact on the Civil Rights Movement." While some details may have changed, this is how it this exhibit looked a few years ago. There were banners marking the timeline of the greatest civil rights achievements around the room. There was a short documentary on loop for patrons to watch and a few other educational stations. Outside the room, patrons could write out on a paper cloud what dreams they have for the future.

Des Moines Public Library, Des Moines, IA

Most of the Des Moines PL branches are closed, but one branch remains open for a celebration. They also had an art and writing contest in honor of MLK. Here is what they say on their website:

"The Forest Avenue Library is sponsoring a student art and writing contest as part of our community event honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The students whose pieces are selected will win a gift card and have the opportunity to present their work during our annual MLK, Jr. Day Celebration on January 19, 2015 at 4:00pm.

Legacy means what is handed down from the past, from one person to another. Martin Luther King, Jr. left a great legacy for all of us. He was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, which helped bring about important laws such as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. These laws made great progress toward racial equality. He was a powerful speaker, helping people think and feel differently about racism. Dr. King believed in making changes peacefully and he earned the Nobel Peace Prize for this. Later in his life, he also worked with others to try to end poverty and war and to create world peace.

Reflecting on Dr. King’s legacy, we invite you to express yourself by creating a work of visual art (painting, photography, sculpture) or writing (poetry, short story, essay)."

Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland, OH

CPL has a wonderful community event that they describe on their website:

"Drum Majors for Change.

The drum beat for change remains strong as each new generation continues the struggle. Join the Cleveland Public Library and the Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter of the Alphi Phi Alpha fraternity (Dr. King’s fraternity) in commemorating Dr. King’s life and honoring his legacy of leadership in the struggle for civil rights.

Keynote address presented by Pastor Richard M. Gibson, Elizabeth Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH. A community reception follows the program."


While I know it is important to treat your staff well and give them paid time off, I'm not sure public libraries should be closed on most federal holidays. I accept that major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas should be left alone so people can spend time with their families, but do we really need Columbus Day off? Memorial Day? Veterans Day? The library could be open and serving the public on these days. This would open the door to all kinds of community learning events to honor the reason for the holiday. Instead, why not give employees extra floating holidays?

I know I just suggested that we take away what is a glorious day off of work for many of you, but think of how you could truly embody the spirit of MLK by bringing the community together to celebrate his dream.

Best,
Amanda

Seattle Story Time Tour - Douglas-Truth Branch

Welcome to a new recurring series of posts that I am calling 'Seattle Story Time Tour'. I was challenged by my WLA mentor to visit all 27 Seattle Public Library branches by April of this year. As I thought about this, I decided to make my mission to visit a story time from each branch. Here is my very first visit.

Branch: Douglas-Truth
Storyteller: Ms. Lynn
Age/Type: Toddler Story Time

Right away I know this story time is going to be fun. The kids outside the door are all repeating to one another: "Ms. Lynn, Ms. Lynn!" We go inside and Ms. Lynn asks all the caregivers and toddlers to take off their shoes because today we are trying out a new activity-- a parachute. I've always wanted to try out a parachute in a story time and today I get to see it in action. It sits in the middle of the room, big and colorful. Waiting. For those of you unfamiliar with the playtime parachute, here is a little girl using one:

Photo by: Lance McCord

Ms. Lynn starts the story time traditionally with a Hello Song. She points to a little girl and asks everyone the color of her shirt and then they sing a song that goes like this:

"Mary is wearing her green shirt, green shirt, green shirt. Mary is wearing her green shirt all day long."

She repeats the song with a number of different children and then moves on to the first book, which is "Bounce" by Doreen Cronin. All of the kids stand up and bounce along.

Next Ms. Lynn puts on a modified version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" that involves counting and a fast rhythm.

They read the classic Keith Baker "Big Fat Hen" big book next. Lots of great counting and movement.

The next activity is a song to the tune of Frere Jacques that goes like this:

"Walking, walking, walking, walking. Hop, hop hop. Hop, hop hop. Running, running, running. Running, running, running. Now we stop. Now we stop."

Finally we get to the part all the toddlers have anxiously been waiting for: the parachute! Everyone gathers around the outside of the parachute and holds the edge. They sing a few verses of "Ring Around the Roise" while walking and spinning the parachute.

The next parachute activity is waving it like ocean tides. It gets faster, then slower again. Then Ms. Lynn puts on the Elevator Song and they take the parachute up and down.

By far the best part (as far as the toddlers were concerned) comes next. Ms. Lynn puts clear plastic balls on top of the parachute and they make the balls bounce. The children help put the balls away afterward.

They said goodbye by letting the children underneath the parachute and singing the goodbye song. A few adorable little girls have mad scientist hair as the static takes over. Kind of like this kid:

Photo by: Marcus Nelson

After the goodbye song, some of the toddlers and caregivers choose to stay for a while longer playing with toys and mingling.

It all looked very fun. Thanks for letting me sit in and observe, Ms. Lynn!

Best,
Amanda

Incorporating Technology in Early Leanring

CC Credit: Jody Roberts

The public library has become a destination for many families to engage their children in early learning. Whether they come for story time, library material, or access to early literacy computers/tablets, these families are trusting the expertise of youth librarians at public libraries with their children's development. One of the things library professionals need to do is educate parents on technology use for children.

The biggest concern about incorporating technology into the life of a preschooler is that the child is not developmentally prepared to digest digital media and/or that too much screen time can be harmful to their early learning. In her article "Too Soon for Technology?" from the July 2014 School Library Journal, Annie Murphy Paul suggests that librarians and caregivers be more discerning when selecting technology for young children. She cites the American Society of Pediatrics as suggesting that children under age 2 should have no screen time and older children should be limited to 2 hours. The page that recommends this is talking specifically about television, but I think we can extrapolate most kinds of computing and gaming from the term 'screen time.' Children under 2 should have little to no screen time because it distracts from developing basic motor skills and impairs their understanding of physical objects/space. Children older than 2 can develop poor fitness/health habits in addition to impairing their ability to process physical surroundings if they are exposed to too much screen time.

Thinking about this, I have a few suggestions for libraries and parents. Firstly, I would recommend putting time limits on early learning stations for both computers and tablets. You may already have time limits due to popularity, but it would also help to put up signage to educate parents about reducing screen time to improve mental and physical health. Make sure there are play areas with physical toys nearby to encourage active play. Things like puppet theaters and felt boards are good examples. When you do pick apps or games for the child to play, make sure they are engaging and require decision making like matching, reading, drawing, and writing.

While screen time needs to be limited, there are many ways to incorporate technology into early learning that is not related to the sedentary activity that most parents fear. Librarians and parents should embrace technology to help do other activities. Story time programs, for instance, often have music. Why not get high tech and embed the digital music file in a PowerPoint that displays the lyrics for the parents? This way parents will see the lyrics and get more involved, making the child enjoy the activity at a higher level. Why not give your kid a pedometer and challenge them to take so many steps? They can practice counting and get exercise. Or, you could use an app to help identify different kinds of plants on a nature walk. There are tons of ways you could use technology to aide early learning.

Need ideas? Here are some examples for using technology for each of the 5 reading readiness practices. Librarians, feel free to steal and tell this to your parents.

1. Talking

Talking to your child does not normally require much in the way of technology. It's just something you do every day. You ask your child questions and listen to their answers. You talk about the objects in the world around you and about how you feel. A fun way to incorporate technology in talking would be to record your conversation with your child and play it back. Show them how to use your phone or the recorder and let them set up the recording (if possible). Once you play it back, talk about the talking. Do they sound weird on the recording? We always think our own voices sound weird on recordings. Why do think that is? This would encourage critical thinking.

2. Singing

I think a fun thing to do here is to set up a karaoke station. YouTube has many karaoke versions of Disney songs and so forth. You can practice reading the lyrics together on the screen or if you aren't there yet, you will at least have some nice background music as you belt out "Let it Go!" Repeat as necessary.

3. Reading

I know we discussed avoiding screen time, but the occasional eBook or TumbleBook (interactive eBook, often with sound and a read-along feature) is a perfect example of the good, engaging kind of screen time. Make sure to use the same principles of dialogic reading for eBooks as you do for print. Discuss the illustrations and ask questions as you go.

4. Writing 

Writing is super important in early learning. Children get the idea of how letters and numbers are formed by physically writing them out on paper. It's also important that children learn how to type, because, moving forward, the QWERTY keyboard still seems to be the dominate method for communication. Have your child right out their name and then have them find the letters on a keyboard (or a drawing of a keyboard). It might even been a fun activity to have them write in all the letters on an empty keyboard worksheet.

5. Playing

Playing is when a child puts into action what they've learned. It's their job, as kids, to take what they discover about the world and test out theories through play. It means movement; it means creativity. A fun idea could be to ask your child to come up with a puppet show while you record it on video. You can watch the show afterward and talk about the characters and the plot. Ask them where they got the idea and correct any misconceptions.

Incorporating technology in early learning is important because our children are growing up in a technology rich world that is constantly updating and expanding. It's good to know the limits of screen time and to make sure children are engaged in other activities, but that doesn't mean that we should throw out our modern devices. I feel some librarians and parents go a little too far here, taking pride in their willful ignorance today's technology. Not me. I'm always trying to better my understanding of these tools, because that's what they are- tools. They help us on our journey to understand the world and better ourselves. Let's just make sure we are using them wisely, especially as we foster the early learning of the next generation.

Best,
Amanda

Friends of the Library Shops in Libraries

Friends of the Library organizations are a library lovers best friend. They are the non-profit organizations that provide an extra monetary boost to local libraries. The funds that the Friends raise often subsidize the library collection, go toward library supplies, and pay for beloved community programs. Friends organizations raise money by collecting membership dues and donations from patrons and by coming up with any number of other fundraising strategies. One strategy is the massive, weekend book sale.

CC Credit: Topeka Library

Some libraries have moved away from this labor intensive event and literally set up shop. My favorite way to support my local library in Seattle, for instance, is to shop at the FriendShop at SPL's Central Library. Many other libraries across the country have similar shops in their main library branches to raise money. These shops sell anything from socks to postcards and (naturally) to books. You might wonder, isn't it confusing to sell books at a library? Doesn't it defeat the purpose of the library? Well, no. And no. The idea of the Friends Shop is genius, as long as you do it well. Here are some tips for running an excellent shop.

Have a dedicated space.

Seattle Public Library, FriendShop. CC Credit: Susan Smith

This may be tricky for some of the smaller libraries where space is already an issue, but you need to make sure there is a spot set aside just for the shop. The front of the library works best for visibility. Ideally, you would have a sectioned off area where a volunteer or Friends member could man a separate cash register. Otherwise, you will need to train your circulation staff to take in Friends of the Library money (which they might already be doing for memberships and donations).

Make sure books and other sellable items are clearly marked.

Agave Library. CC Credit: Ellen Forsyth

Large, yellow price tags, for instance, will clue the patrons into noticing that an item is for sale and not for check out. So will all the signage that says "Friends of the Library Shop!"

Have a used book section.

Alameda Library. CC Credit: Gwen Harlow

I would suggest that you also have new books and other items like book bags or flash drives to attract buyers, but a used books section is easy and free. Donated books and weeded items are already at the library's disposal. However, make sure to vet these items carefully. Just like with the library collection, the Friends Shop needs to a have a clean, relevant, and well maintained selection for buyers.

Sell bestsellers.

CC Credit: Christopher Penn

I am an avid library user, but sometimes I can't wait three weeks to read a book. I'm in three book clubs and if I strike out at the library, I'm going to buy the book. If I see it at the Friends Shop right after I check the catalog computer, how convenient would that be!? As a side note for the technical services librarians out there, SirsiDynix ILS has a Buy it Now feature you can add. My process for searching for a book club book involves me sitting on my couch at home looking at the online catalog. If I the eBook nor the print book are available, I go to Amazon and purchase a kindle copy. The Buy It Now feature would allow me to do that through the library catalog and would give a percentage of the purchase BACK TO THE LIBRARY. It's kind of amazing.

Sell fun, local products.

CC Credit: Tiffany Wan

Get the local businesses on board to sell fun, knickknacks. Locally made soaps, chocolates, notebooks, socks (one can never have too many socks), etc. Send out surveys and see what patrons would like to buy. Just make sure to remember that the Friends Shop is designed to raise funds for the library. Have a solid business plan and keep good sales records.

So there you have it! This is something all libraries can be doing, even the small ones. I know this because I used to work at a smaller library that has already been doing this for a while (yay, Friends of The Colony Public Library!). I want to give a big thank you to Friends of the Library organizations all over the country. You are awesome and we love you. :)

Best,
Amanda

P.S. Here are some adorable post cards I bought at the SPL FriendShop. Follow the library gnome!