So happy to start off today’s post with some really lovely Librarian Love, thanks to Ms. Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference. Check it out.
And if you want to join in on my impromptu week of gushing and gratitudes for the librarians in the world, it’s not too late. Here’s my kick-off post from last week — along with a formal invitation to join me. I’m wrapping it up tomorrow — Tuesday, February 1st — but any day’s a good day to honor the Keepers of the Books!
Last week, I thanked the librarians who’ve tended to my daughters over the years, and I thanked the librarians who’ve supported me as an author, and I shared a truly awesome visceral book-loving poem by Mark Strand.
Today, I want to thank all the many librarians who serve as wise, thoughtful, hard-working readers on literary award committees every year. I mean, of COURSE it’s librarians who tackle these huge jobs, right? They know and love books, and they know and love young readers. They’ve got their fingers on the pulse. And they don’t seem to mind filling their offices-bedrooms-living rooms with books upon books upon books — all of which have to be read, carefully.
I’m particularly fond of a certain Caldecott committee, if you know what I mean:
But if there is one thing I learned during that experience, it was that every committee (and there are bunches of them) is made up of passionate and generous librarians, all of whom added this reading and discussion to the top of their already-daunting to-do lists. Because they wanted to! Because they think it’s fun! Because they love what they do!
That, my friends, is not a job.
It’s a calling.
Namaste.
I really, really love this post, Liz.
Librarians and libraries are two of
the best things this world holds.
Rebecca Dotlich
Isn’t that the truth! Thanks, Rebecca…