Neil Gaiman on Libraries

Neil Gaiman, popular author of Coraline, recently had a lecture published on the importance imagination, public libraries and daydreaming is vital to our future. Definitely take the time to read the full lecture, posted on The Guardian’s website.

This lecture that Gaiman presented, is in essence, a love letter to reading fiction, using libraries, and he really focuses on how important these things are for children ow and for their future. Gaiman’s lecture really resonated with me (probably because I’m a children’s librarian), but also because he gets it. And I’m so glad he’s sharing his passion for reading with the world! I hope that people will understand the importance of finding books kids want to read, giving them access to those books, and finally letting them read them. Parents often ask me for a good book for a child of a certain age and I try and give them some great recommendations but I also let them know that if children are reading anything (even things that parents might not “get”) the import at thing is they’re reading – and that will benefit them in so many ways.

Definitely read this amazing lecture if you get a chance – it’s truly beautiful!