Best practices can come down to two main questions: 1) What are we doing? and 2) Why are we doing it? How often do you ask yourself or your staff these simple questions? Why do we use a core three songs in our twos story times for months on end? Why do we have take-home crafts? Answering these questions can help any library staff person offer more meaningful, intentional services.
There are tons of resources to help you understand the very good reasons for providing the types of services the way you do. Think the 40 Developmental Assets, Every Child Ready to Read, Multiple Intelligences Theory… I feel motivated to leave this #ALSC12 session on best practices in youth librarianship and think critically about what we do at my branch, and why we do it that way. I am confident that our services will improve as a result.
abbylibrarian
I’m so excited to get back home and think about how we can use the 40 Assets in our programs!