Sunday March 14th, 2010 Library Library Books

Often when we think of libraries we think about books, something that library staff sometimes struggles with. We’re glad the public know that we are a great place to get books, but at the same time we want to highlight the other materials and services we offer. To this end we tell people about the CDs, DVDs, digital downloads, and programming we offer. Today, though I want to celebrate books, specifically great stories about libraries and librarians. The Children’s collection houses hundreds of picture books on all topics; but some of my favourites have library themes.

The following are just a few of the terrific “library” library books you can find at your public library:

Library Lil by Suzanne Williams

I was first introduced to Library Lil when I was in graduate school. One of our professors who specializes in the area of children’s and youth services brought in a selection of great children’s books. She read it aloud to the class and we were all surprised at Lil’s strength and determination. There’s lots of silliness, but at its core the story is about a love of books and community.


When the Library Lights Go Out by Megan McDonald

What happens at the end of the day when we shut the lights out in the library? If you’ve always wondered this is the book for you. Have you ever been to a puppet show? It’s the puppets who are playing in the library after hours. In this story someone is missing and must be found.




The Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen

The library lion doesn’t know how to behave in the library. Silence may no longer rule, but running and roaring are a little too wild. The head librarian tells the lion that if he can’t follow the rules then he can’t come for story time anymore. While it sounds like a simple story about rules there’s a lot more fun going on in the library than it might seem at first.



Please Bury Me in the Library by J. Patrick Lewis

This collection of library and book related poems, is sure to fill any book lover’s heart with joy. The first poem in the book addresses the question of book titles. It asks “What if books had different names?” Suggested titles include: Alice in Underland, Furious George, and Mary Had a Little Clam. The poet suggests we all think of fun new titles.



The Ghost Library by David Melling

One night a little girl is reading in bed when the lights go out. Someone (something?) grabs her book and pulls both her and her book away. She finds herself in the company of ghosts, in the ghost library. The ghost library is sadly empty of books, but full of ghosts who love a good story.



The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy

Miss Lotta Scales is the new librarian and she’s scary. Well at least she is at the beginning of the Library Dragon. She looks like a dragon and scares the kids with all of her library rules. Throughout the story Miss Scales undergoes a metamorphosis, or is it the children who change?



I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I have. A poem from Please Bury Me in the Library sums it up best:

A Classic
A children’s book is a classic
If at six, excitedly
You read it to another kid
Who just turned sixty-three.

Ruth Hamlin-Douglas, Children's and Youth Services Librarian