Public Libraries – Books for All!
It’s been one of those days where I started the morning with a dentist appointment that started late, which made me late to a meeting, then I came back to the library for a second meeting and am now waiting for a third meeting to start. It’s one of those days where nothing will get done, yet I will have been at work for 9+ hours.
It all became worth it while I was sitting at my desk sneaking a bite of lunch when a gentleman came in looking for some books to read. He’s been in the library a few times in the past and I’ve helped him select books before. He’s roughly 30 years old, but has an intellectual disability, so he reads on a first/second grade level. Today, he came in looking for some new books to read, and in the past he’s requested “Stepping Stones Classics,” books like The Wizard of Oz, only adapted for a younger audience. Today I found a whole bunch of books that he was very happy with including a Calvin Coconut, a Frankie Pickle, and some others. He picked out two to take home and a Playaway and his aide wrote down the rest that he was interested in for the next time they come to the library. I was so happy that he found some things he enjoyed and understood his reading level as well, not hesitating to say if something was too difficult. My only concern is now trying to find something that is high interest – low vocabulary that might be a little more adult (his mom wants him to read more age-appropriate books). His Playaway choice was a Rick Riordan book, which I thought he would enjoy, especially being able to listen to it, because he isn’t able to read the novel.
This patron left very happy with his choices, his aide was happy that they had some more suggestions for the next time they visit, and I was happy because we were able to connect this gentleman with something he was looking for. That’s probably one of the best parts of my job, I love connecting people with books – it’s not always the best seller that people are looking for, they might be looking for something more obscure or they might have an idea of what they think they want, but in reality want something completely different! If I can get someone a book they looking for or even something they didn’t know they were looking for, I feel successful! Like my title says, the public library is for everyone in the community and that’s what makes it so amazing!