Make Your Point-Her Name Is 'Jo'

Hi, my name is Jo. One day the boss came to me and said, "Jo, are you busy?" I said, "No." He said, "Make sure the shelves have the best books on them. Keep it quiet, and make sure everything is orderly. Keep reading the books, buying the best, and helping each child find the right book." Start twirling your right hand, and keep it up.A few years later, the boss said, "Jo, are you busy?" I said, "No." He said, "We need some programs that will attract children and families, that will nurture their love of reading and books and make them lifelong library users." Start twirling your right hand in time with the left.

A few years later, my boss said, "Jo, are you busy?" I said, "No." She said, "We need to make better connections with the community. I want you to contact schools, literacy organizations, and health organizations, and see how we can work together." Start your right foot going in sync with your hands. Don't stop.

A few years later my boss said, "Jo, are you busy?" I said, "No." He said, "We really need to advance our use of technology in the library. I've ordered some computers and modems and printers and some other stuff. We're going to need to know how it all works and be able to help the patrons. I have some ideas about programs to go with them." Now, add the left foot to the right and keep your hands going, too. Whatever you do, don't stop.

A few years later my boss came to me and said, "Jo, are you busy?" I said, "No." He said, "It's essential that we learn to market our services to be competitive in today's world. There's no money for a public relations person, but I'm certain you're going to do your best to make sure there's a bibliography and display every month, a column for the paper every week, and a float for the Fourth of July parade. I know the way the Internet has taken off has got you busy, but make time to put together some statistics for me evaluating our collection, programs, partnerships, and use of technology." Start your head bobbing now and don't forget to keep every appendage moving.

A few years later, my boss came in to me and said, "Jo, are you busy?" I said, "YES!" Keel over and remain totally still. Breathe deeply. Think.For some reason, children's librarians have a hard time saying no. Over the years we've added more and more to our job descriptions. It isn't enough to do a preschool storytime, there must also be a toddler storytime, a babytime, and family times as well. There are programs for school-age kids, teens, and those who are bilingual. There are book discussion groups for parents and children and, as I write this, I'll bet there's another need being identified that we are the ideal folks to fill.

What happens when we continually add to our duties and tasks? Burnout. People who started out enthusiastic and high-energy leave children's services for other library jobs that start at nine and end at five. Or they move up the ladder and away from serving children directly. At one library where I worked, I realized that as long as each children's librarian did the work of two, there would be no further staff provided to see to the growing needs of the department. Still, it's one thing to realize that and another to decide when to say no.

Maybe it's time to take a serious look at what we do. I work hard and read like a maniac. I passionately discuss children's books whenever I get the chance. I work at home preparing programs and creating the flannel boards, puppet shows, and displays that make the library fun and exciting. My library has no plans to add staff. It's time, I think, to define what I can do—and do it well.

So, can we talk? What are we doing that we can dispense with? Is there any consensus about what we need to emphasize and what is lower in priority? Is there any hope of getting more staff if we just continue making sure everything somehow gets done? I want to be the best librarian I can. More than that, I want to remain a children's librarian working directly with kids. But I sure don't want to be Jo, with head, hands, and feet spinning madly. We have some of the best minds in the world in this profession. I think it's time we use them to start solving this problem.