Reflections from Claudia Quigg
 On Library Lapsits
Dear Friends,
In 1985, before Baby TALK began, a survey was conducted by the Decatur Public
Library (DPL). The question was asked: "Does the library contain materials for
children younger than three?" An overwhelming 95% of citizens answered "no,"
even though the children's department was already equipped with board books and
nursery rhyme books and a number of families of very young children had
discovered these resources. Even the retired Library Director had commented,
"Why, children that young don't even know how to read!"
In 1987, Library Lapsits began, funded by DPL and led by Baby TALK. In the years
since, the library has grown to serve many infants and toddlers and is now
recognized as one place in the community delivering services to young children.
Lapsit attendance is close to 200 each month, and many families visit the
library at other times as well.
The change, of course, is in neither the children (babies are pretty much the
same from age to age) nor even so much the materials (although DPL has
faithfully built its toddler collection). The change, instead, is in the
perception on the part of parents that the library is not a forbidding sanctuary
demanding silence, but rather a learning place where children's developmentally
appropriate behavior is not only tolerated but expected.
For example, we know that a thirteen-month-old who has just learned to walk will
probably never sit throughout the whole Lapsit (calling into question the
accuracy of the program's name!), but rather will probably toddle around during
the entire half hour, listening to the sounds as he compulsively practices his
newfound skill. This behavior is entirely appropriate for this child, and
therefore accepted as such by Baby TALK and the library. To the uninstructed
observer, this behavior may appear problematic, but parents take their cues from
the professionals and relax.
The real key to the success of the Children's Department is not just the Lapsits,
however, but the warm welcome given to every young family when they visit at any
time. Families with little ones are given the red carpet treatment by these
professionals who stop whatever they're doing to "ooh and ahh" over the babies
and interact with the toddlers. A Polaroid photo is taken of every little one on
his first visit and then proudly displayed in the Baby TALK section of the
library. This relational approach is powerful and brings families back again and
again--even families who historically might have been considered non-traditional
library users. Some of the greatest humanitarians in this city work in the
Children's Department of the library.
If you have not yet found a way to work with the public library in your
community, give it a try. And if you are a children's librarian, think about who
else might be connected with infants and toddlers that could benefit from
collaboration with you. Thousands of families have yet to reap the library's
benefits. They are waiting to be welcomed by us all.
Best wishes,
http://www.babytalk.org/creflectslapsits.html
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