Author Archives: Kiera Parrott

Building Autism-Friendly Collections

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Kiera Parrott

Autism Awareness Month is a great time to feature books and materials on autism and ASD (autism spectrum disorders.) Displaying books specific to identifying and characterizing autism is a great start. But to build truly autism-friendly collections that will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Play Boxes: Mini Playspaces in Your Library

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Kiera Parrott

About a year ago I became fascinated with playspaces popping up in public libraries around the country. Miniature kitchens, corner art stations, neat science-themed installations. Yes! I decided to investigate and see if we could develop a playspace out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogger Kiera Parrott, Early Literacy | 7 Comments

Caldecott Secrets

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Kiera Parrott

Looking for some juicy inside gossip on the secret discussions that took place at this year’s Caldecott Committee meetings? Sorry to say you won’t find them here- or anywhere for that matter. Members who serve on ALSC award committees sign … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogger Kiera Parrott, Children's Literature (all forms), Evaluation of Media | 1 Comment

Common Core in the Public Library?

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Kiera Parrott

As something primarily affecting school curricula, public librarians may not immediately be taking too much notice of Common Core. But we are all connected- if only through our users- and the implications of the new educational standards may provide interesting … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Reader’s Advisory 101

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Kiera Parrott

“Hi, can you help me find a book?” It’s a pretty standard question in the library- one that we librarians get all the time. And yet, how we choose to answer that question, the questions we pose in response, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Three Great Creation Apps for Kids

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Kiera Parrott

Looking for some fun new apps to try with various age groups in your library? These are some of of our favorite apps at Darien Library: Doodlecast for Kids (1.99 by Tickle Tap Apps. Available on iPhone, iTouch, iPad.) This … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogger Kiera Parrott, Bloggers, Children & Technology, Evaluation of Media, Technology | Leave a comment

How Homer P. Figg Made Me a Better Person

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Kiera Parrott

We know that children’s books change lives. They show us that apologies and forgiveness can be hard; that everyone deserves a second chance; that sometimes it takes an adventure or two to wind up right back where we always belonged; … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogger Kiera Parrott, Bloggers, Children's Literature (all forms), Slice of Life | 6 Comments

What Can the Children’s Library Learn from Susan Cain’s Quiet?

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Kiera Parrott

I’ve been reading Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking and every chapter feels like an “Ah-ha!” moment. Besides being a fascinating look into the introvert-extrovert personality spectrum, Cain’s emphasis on appreciating the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogger Kiera Parrott, Bloggers | 4 Comments