After I left full time work in 2024 to save my mental well-being, I knew I wanted to use some of the time I gained doing other professional work that I hadn’t done before. I was lucky enough to get accepted to write a book chapter (still forthcoming) and a journal article, the latter of which is now live and available (full issue: my article).
Every piece is an incredible addition to further and highlight the work of readers advisory, which is one of those library services that often gets short shrift as Library Futurists get caught up in AI or Eccentric Reorgs or Do More With Less or We’re More Than Books or Please Like Us We’re So Needy. Readers and the collections they use are the core of library service, and we need to remember that more than ever.
For my article I really wanted to address how those who say that they promote the freedom to read still insist that when it come to youth, adults are the final decision makers. I don’t agree. I don’t think any adult has the right to unilaterally decide what a child reads. Did you know that children are people, with thoughts, feelings, senses, and preferences? Did you know that, with developmentally appropriate guidance, you can include them in participating in every aspect of their own lives?
This article took me on a long journey to finally get to some nuts and bolts RA advice for librarians working with youth, but I think it is an important history to reflect on, and crucial context for how we see and work with youth. (I didn’t even get everything in there that I wanted to, so there might be some supplemental blog posts coming.) From the history of child welfare to exploring parenting styles to getting some digs in on Nixon, it was a wild ride, and I hope it opens a lot of eye to how we in America frankly treat kids like shit so much of time, and need to start doing a whole lot better.
So many thanks to Robin Bradford and Becky Spratford for reaching out to me to participate, helping me through the process, and for being awesome in general.
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