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| Altered book tree courtesy Wakeland HS, FISD |
Walk around your library and look at it with fresh eyes. Pretend you're a kiddo or a teacher seeing it for the first time. Better yet, ask a student or staff member to give you feedback.
Do you have a kinder, gentler library?
*When you step in the door, does someone smile and call you by name?
*Does the library LOOK like a place you'd want to be?
*Are you bombarded by the negative or surrounded by the positive?
Negatives: NO food. NO drinks. The library is CLOSED today for a meeting. You have an OVERDUE book.
Positives: Help us keep the library looking great--please finish food and drinks before entering. We hope to see you again tomorrow--meeting in progress. Your book is due when you've read it through.
*Is the library easy to use or intimidating? (We get what an OPAC is, but do the kids? We get Dewey, but honestly, they really don't have to--they just want a book! What do you mean I can't use Wikipedia?)
*Is the library a place where it's ok to make mistakes? (Or does the self checkout system beep overly loud or whistle at you if you do it wrong? I like the ones that a mistake gets a recording of the librarian's voice nicely saying, "Oops. Please ask for help.")
*Are all legitimate requests listened to and fulfilled if possible?
*Are students inadvertently patronized (Calling them baby, honey, sweetheart; talking in a different tone of voice to kids than adults) OR is everyone treated with respect?
*Are ALL kids welcome in the library? (Not just the ones who are easy to welcome?)
The list could go on, so I hope you'll weigh in with your own suggestions for a kindness audit. Other ideas?
In the meantime, refill your wassail cup and toast to a happy holiday and a kinder, gentler library where good will to all is evident each day.
Cheers!
Just yesterday I visited a high school library and the first thing I noticed were all the "NO' signs. The space was well lit, the layout was nice, the books were nicely arranged but there were signs everywhere. UGH!
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