Suzanne Monroe
"Do you want to know what glory used to be on the corner of Cedar and Oak?"
"What, Aunt Chip?" Eli climbed up next to her.
"That's where the library used to be," she said.
"What's a library?" Eli asked.
"It's a place where books used to be kept, a long time ago," she answered wistfully.
"Why did they keep books in a building?" Eli asked.
"They kept them there for folks to borrow and take home to read. Look, child," and she went to a cabinet covered with cobwebs, took out a book, and opened it for him. Dust fluttered out of its pages. "Now look at this. Those are words. They tell about ideas, dreams, and feelings. They take you to places far from here. They show you how to be fair and just, and sometimes show you what happens when you're not. Books are a treasure. All you need is the key."
"The key?" Eli asked.
"The key! Knowin' these words and their meanings," she answered softly.
"It's called readin'." (Polacco 1996, unpaginated)
In this fantasy about life without libraries, Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair, Patricia Polacco creates a future world in which books are used as "doorstops, to hold up roofs, to sit on, to eat off, to sleep under, to mend fences, to stuff potholes, to prop up sagging buildings, and even to shore up the dam" (1996, unpaginated) but never to be read.
Protagonist Eli and his reclusive Aunt Chip visit almost everyday. He loves going to her home and listening to her great stories. One day in conversation, Eli discovers from his aunt that the town once had a library. It had been closed long ago and replaced by television in every home.
Through the collaborative efforts of Eli and Aunt Chip, the people of the community begin to appreciate the value of books and are encouraged to enjoy reading once again. Polacco's story is just one of many new publications which provide insights into the personal process of reading, the importance of literacy within families and communities, and the continuing influence of those libraries and librarians in our lives.
There are now available more trade books portraying nontraditional images of libraries and librarians. These selections focus on personal, family and community literacy experiences and events. Representation includes protagonists of racial, ethnic, and language diversity; and family contexts range from single parent to extended families. Images are included of both women and men as librarians, and both girls and boys are featured as library patrons. These publications also represent a variety of genre: realistic and historical fiction, fantasy and nonfictionbiographical and informational. The following selections of children's literature provide empowering images and positive messages of literacy, specifically within the context of the community library.
A popular picture book which details the services of the public library is Check It Out! The Book about Libraries (1985) by Gail Gibbons. Through text and illustration, Gibbons describes the history of books and libraries; various kinds of libraries and sizes of collections; different sources of information and services; and additional services through audiovisual media, computers, bookmobiles, special collections for the handicapped, special exhibits and planned programs for author/illustrator visits. Gibbons uses unbiased illustrations to promote equity of gender, age, race and exceptionality.
The following publications provide historical and/or specific contemporary information about libraries. In Books and Libraries (1991), Jack Knowlton provides a historical overview of symbol systems, technology, and storage as related to the development of writing, books, and libraries. In My Hometown Library (1994), William Jaspersohn introduces young readers to the many aspects of the library while highlighting its influence on his own life and career. The color photographs and unique layout make for a visually appealing tour of a local library in Guilford, Connecticut. In Librarians (1998), author Dee Ready provides informative and colorful photographs accompanied by simple text, glossary, and suggested web sites. The InsideOutside Book of Libraries (1996) by Julie Cummins includes informational text and large, colorful illustrations by Roxie Munro. The author highlights the variety of collections in bookmobiles, school and public libraries, as well as the vast public holdings of the Library of Congress and the more unconventional collections at Folsom State Prison and aboard the U.S. Naval carriers. Cummins' narrative on home libraries is significant:
Your own library needn't be fancy or neatly organized. It can be a simple shelf or even a trunk. What matters is that you have chosen the books that are there. Some people keep books in their libraries that they haven't yet readto look forward to reading. Others look fondly upon their libraries for the favorite characters and scenes, authors and ideas they've already enjoyed and will enjoy again. Few things offer the lifelong pleasures that books do (Cummins 1996, unpaginated).
Another unique picture book is The Librarian Who Measured the Earth (1994) by Kathryn Lasky. For this biography, the author completed research on the life of Erastosthenes, a Greek student of math, science and philosophy, who later became a chronologist and author of books. The doublespread illustrations by Kevin Hawkes extend Lasky's delightful and imaginative text, lending credibility to the images of largerthanlife libraries of the ancient world. Erastosthenes was appointed head librarian of the Alexandria Library in Egypt, where he helped other readers with research while supervising 40 librarians who kept 700,000papyrus scrolls in order. "For a question asker and list maker like Eratosthenes, being the Head Librarian was a dream come true. Now he could start to find answers to all of his questions" (Lasky 1994, p. 26).
A publication which describes the impact of books in the life of a librarian is The Library (1995), a family collaboration by Sarah Stewart and David Small. This unusual picture book is based on the biographical sketch of Elizabeth Brown, a librarian who bonded with books very early in her life and relished the adventure of reading.
She manufactured library cards
Then shocked them with her midnight raids
To collect the books again.
(Stewart 1995, unpaginated)
Later as an adult, she accumulated so many books that she ran out of storage space, and eventually donated her entire collection to the local community library. This became known as the Elizabeth Brown Free Library. Small's humorous and lighthearted illustrations are a perfect match with Stewart's poetic format. The couple dedicated this creative work to the memory of "the real Mary Elizabeth Brown...Librarian, Reader, Friend...1920-l991." (unpaginated)
In The Library Card (1997), author Jerry Spinelli includes four provocative stories about the influence of a library card in the lives of young adults who become belatedly hooked on reading. One of the protagonists in this chapter book is April Mendez, recently transplanted from New York City to the country. April acknowledges the importance of a library card in her life,
I loved my library card. It was all creased and smudged and spilled on, and the corners were rounded and furry. But it was the only official card I have ever had, and the reason it was so beatup was because I carried it with me everywhere, because I never knew when I might need it. My mother said it was a good thing I had it too, letting me bring books home, because otherwise I would never leave the library, because I couldn't stop reading...I still have the card. (Spinelli 1997, pp. 125-126)
Also emphasizing the empowerment possible with a library card is Richard Wright and the Library Card (1997) by William Miller. This trade book addresses one of the social issues of the 1920s in the stillsegregated South: access to literacy. Although a fictionalized account, the story is based on an important literacy event in the life of Richard Wright, who was born in Mississippi and later moved to Memphis, where he gained access to the library and use of a library card only through the assistance of a white coworker. Wright read many books during his years in Memphis and was inspired to become a writer himself, becoming internationally famous for his publications of the 1940s. Haunting illustrations by Gregory Christie extend the mood of fear and limitation perpetuated by racism and exclusion in the South prior to the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement. Richard Wright used books, libraries, and reading as his ticket to freedom!
Another recent example of empowerment through literacy is a story of the influence of one library mentor in Tomas and the Library Lady (1997) by Pat Mora, a native of El Paso, Texas. In this biography, the author has re-created the early literacy experiences of the late Tomas Rivera. Growing up in a Mexican American family of migrant workers, he later became writer, professor and, eventually, the Chancellor of the University of California at Riverside. This wonderful story supports the idea that individual librarians do influence young readers through their impact on reading values and abilities. During a summer in Iowa, Tomas is encouraged by a local librarian to read, obtain a library card, check out books, and also to tutor the librarian in Spanish. "Library Lady" respects and supports Rivera's bilingual abilities as well as his grandfather's storytelling abilities. Mora's narrative, enhanced by the warm and imaginative illustrations of Raul Colon, portrays the power of literacy in the life of a child, a family and a community!
Another story which is based on the true account of the country's first traveling bookwagon is Clara and the Bookwagon (1988) by Nancy Smiler Levinson. Soon after Mary L. Titcomb becomes the public librarian in Hagerstown, Maryland, she decides to make books available to many people who live far from the city. She first establishes small book stations in general stores, churches and homes throughout the area; and in 1905, she designs the first horsedrawn "bookmobile" to be driven by library janitor Joshua Thomas, who routinely covered 500 square miles of backroad territory. Author Levinson portrays the local librarian as an influential mentor of a young girl who wants to read, but is discouraged by her father's preconceived notions about the value of reading: "Our farm is not the right place for a bookwagon...we are too busy here." (Levinson 1988, 5455). But the librarian is persistent and eventually teaches Clara to read!
In contrast to the historical setting of rural Maryland, author Cari Best provides an urban setting for a very contemporary protagonist in Red Light. Green Light. Mama and Me (1995). In this selection, Lizzie accompanies her mother, a children's librarian, to her place of employment: the downtown public library. Illustrator Niki Daly extends the text with colorful depictions of literacy events both inside and outside the library walls. The little girl reflects,
My mama must be the most important person in the whole city...Inside Mama's library there is a Reading Room...It is so quiet that I can hear my shoes clicking across the floor. And there are millions of books. High, low and in the middle, too. No wonder Mama is so smart. If I had Mama's job, I'd look at books all day, smell them, and take home all the ones with new covers (Best 1995, unpaginated).
Other selections of realistic fiction about the library experience include Martha Alexander's How My Library Grew by Dinah (1983) and Sophie and Sammy's Library Sleepover (1993) by Judith Caseley. In contrast to these very possible stories are several improbable fantasies which capture the reader's imagination: Nicholas at the Library (1990) by Hazel Hutchins, The Library Dragon (1994) by Carmen Deedy, and Edward and the Pirates (1997) by David McPhail. And finally, the wildest contemporary tall tale of Library Lil (1997), is written by Suzanne Williams, a children's librarian of 20 years, and illustrated by Steven Kellogg. Reminiscent of Polacco's protagonist "Aunt Chip," Williams' "Library Lil" has her work cut out for her. In Chesterville, as in Triple Creek, people prefer watching television to reading. But one stormy night, the wind blows down all the power lines and cuts off the usual television viewing. Lil finally has her chance to turn the townsfolk as well as a visiting motorcycle gang into readers.
When she'd cleared the parking lot, Lil drove the bookmobile on it. Then she climbed down and headed toward the library's front door. "All right, boys," she called out. "I'm open for business." It wasn't long before every man in Bill's gang was reading away. 'Course some of them hadn't learned too well in school, so Lil gave 'em some easier books to begin on. Last time I was over to Chesterville, they'd added a new wing to the town library. Seems Lil's been busier than ever. She's had to take on a library assistant to help out. The new assistant's a big fellow. The townspeople call him Bookworm Bill (Williams 1997, unpaginated).
Recognizing the power of these words and pictures to influence our ideas about reading, I have continued in the exploration and research of children's literature for empowering images of literacy, specifically in the context of the community library. It is my hope that children and adults will recognize themselves and others in the various literacy events and experiences depicted in these selections and will appreciate the prevalence and importance of libraries and librarians in our lives. With consistent exposure to positive images of literacy, young readers are encouraged to identify with literate protagoniststhose who enjoy stories, read and write books, visit the library, and regularly use their library cards. Through our continuing support of strong literacy images in quality publications, we will influence young readers and writers and also empower developing authors and illustrators. As librarians, teachers, and parents, we can make sure that these wonderful creations of authors, illustrators and publishers are accessible to the children in our care. What better return on our investment than a new generation of enthusiastic readers, writers, and librarians!
Work Cited
Alexander, Martha. 1983. How my library grew by Dinah. New York: The H.W. Wilson
Co.
Best, Cari. 1995. Red light. green light. mama and me. New York: Scholastic,
Inc.
Caseley, Judith. 1993. Sophie and Sammy's library sleepover. New York: Greenwillow
Books.
Cummins, Julie. 1996. The insideoutside book of libraries. New York: Dutton
Children's Books.
Deedy, Carmen Agra. 1994. The library dragon. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers,
Ltd.
Gibbons, Gail. 1985. Check it out! New York: Harcourt Brace Javanovich, Publishers.
Hutchins, Hazel. 1990. Nicholas at the library. North York, Ontario: Annick
Press.
Jaspersohn, William. 1994. My hometown library. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Knowlton, Jack. 1991. Books and libraries. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
Lasky, Kathryn. 1994. The librarian who measured the earth. Boston: Little,
Brown and Co.
Levinson, Nancy Smiler. 1988. Clara and the bookwagon. New York: Harper Trophy.
McPhail, David. 1997. Edward and the pirates. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Miller, William. 1997. Richard Wright and the library card. New York: Alfred
A. Knopf.
Mora, Pat. 1997. Tomas and the library lady. New York: Alfred A. Knop£
Polacco, Patricia. 1996. Aunt Chip and the great Triple Creek Dam affair. New
York: Scholastic.
Ready, Dee. 1998. Librarians. Mankato, Minnesota: Bridgestone Books.
Spinelli, Jerry. 1997. The library card. New York: Scholastic.
Stewart, Sarah. 1995. The library. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Williams, Suzanne. 1997. Library Lil. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Suzanne S. Monroe is associate professor of reading at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.