Libraries aren’t just for quiet time: “Wonderful Ones”

| Delridge | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

Time to toss out that old mental image of your local public library as a hush-or-else quiet temple of bookshelves. Today’s libraries have a lot more going on. Last weekend, for example, we told you about an adult Wii-gaming class at Delridge Library — nice turnout, we’re told, and now we have another activity at that branch — one of four Seattle Public Library branches in West Seattle – that we want to tell you about: “Wonderful Ones.”

For the next four Thursday mornings, children’s librarian Shannon Schinagl invites parents of 1 year-olds — 12 months old through 23 months — to come spend half an hour in a room at the Delridge branch set aside just for them, their little ones, and any siblings they want to bring along. From 11 to 11:30, Shannon will read books designed just for that age group. Here’s a quick demonstration, and her explanation of what the book offers:

Click To Play

She also will offer other activities as breaks between short bursts of reading — songs, rhymes, etc. — and she is quick to say, the kids are NOT – repeat, NOT – expected to just sit still and listen. And if parents need to get up and leave during the presentation so they can change a diaper or get something, no problem with that either. She stresses that expectations are absolutely realistic, knowing the never-idle nature of life with somebody so small. But there really is something they can get out of it besides the sheer entertainment value:

Click To Play

There are toddler storytimes and baby storytimes at other branches at other times, but this is the first time “Wonderful Ones” is being offered at Delridge Library. Shannon says she’s planning to keep the room open for a while after the storytime ends at 11:30 am, so that the kids can continue playing with the scarves and toys she’ll have set out, while the parents talk with each other if they choose.

This is free of charge, no pre-registration necessary, and will be offered at Delridge Library at 11 am Thursday for the next four Thursdays – again, siblings are welcome; unless they are truly old enough to supervise themselves, though, she recommends they stay in the story-time room with everybody else – they can bring or get their own book to read or whatever else they want to do.

If you want to find out more about this before showing up Thursday morning to check it out, the Delridge Library website is here; that includes its location, or you can call 206-733-9125.

RS February 12, 2008 (2:14 pm)

Know what I would like to see more of in our WS libraries? Books! There are about nineteen “community spaces”, eighty-seven computers, acre upon acre of open airy space and a grand total of about ten books. Maybe eleven on a good day. Lame.

Adult Wii sound pretty cool though. :)

WSB February 12, 2008 (2:46 pm)

Have you been to the High Point branch? We took a quick look around while there interviewing Shannon (though the program in our story is at Delridge, she was at HP the day we talked to her) and it looked pretty book-riffic to me.

m February 12, 2008 (2:51 pm)

King County libraries have an upper hand on Seattle libraries. I like that Seattle remodeled/rebuilt the buildings, but book selection could be better and hours longer. I’d rather be in an old building with better selection myself.

I like that the libraries offer these types of activities for little ones though; when I was a kid my mom had us at the library all the time, getting books and listening to stories. We loved it!

RS February 12, 2008 (3:00 pm)

I’ve been to High Point and it does, at first glance, look pretty book-riffic (nice word!), but when you dig deeper it seems like about one row of fiction books, one row of large print, one row of mystery/sci-fi and then movies mixed in. so it doesn’t really amount to that many good or interesting books. Maybe I’m just spoiled from being in university setting for so long. Oh well!

Huindekmi February 12, 2008 (3:25 pm)

The Wii class was great. Mrs Huindekmi and I had a blast!

NaSw February 12, 2008 (3:27 pm)

RS- I concur. Unfortunately, our much beloved libraries have become de facto playpens, afterschool care and amusement rather than places to nurture the intellect and celebrate the written word. Community centers are community centers. Libraries should live up to the name. More shelves with books please!

Don’t even get me started on the noise and respect factor.

WSB February 12, 2008 (4:43 pm)

Aha, Huindekmi, YOU’RE the ones who went! Shannon told me that a couple of the people who showed up said they’d heard about it on WSB. I am really impressed with the librarians’ enthusiasm and energy. I wish something like this storytime had been available way back when ours was a year old; always loved reading aloud but to have someone else do it for a half-hour would have been a fun break …

Raineedaze February 12, 2008 (7:05 pm)

Having events like this for young kids creates future readers/library patrons. They learn to feel welcome at their public library. Since our children are our future – maybe these little one year olds will someday be responsible for ensuring our libraries are funded and updated.
I access our local libraries all the time and am not disappointed. I go online ahead of time and pick out books I’d like, have them reserved and waiting for me at the library. I’ve even requested the library order a hard to find book which they did not own. The book was waiting for me at my local library in less than two weeks. You know, it’s all what you make of it.

JumboJim February 13, 2008 (9:54 am)

I access our local libraries all the time too – and *am* disappointed. Even the librarians admit there is a real shortage of materials. I used to live in Renton and their downtown library kicks butt over any Seattle library I’ve been to, excepting Central, in the amount of BOOKS.
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We have done a great job of improving buildings, now let’s get more books. I’m tired of being 450th in line for a hold on a book and not finding much when I browse the shelves.

Gina February 13, 2008 (8:04 pm)

Renton’s library system has only two branches. The downtown Renton library is Renton’s main library. Of course it has more books than a branch library would have.

The Seattle Public Library system owns over 6 million items. And 95% of what borrowers ask for more of is DVDs. So if you want more books, write to the City Librarian. Write to the City Council and tell them you want more books. What members of the public ask for is how purchasing is allotted. If you do not write it down, or send a comment through the library website the powers that be won’t know. If you tell a library worker to pass it on, well, a library worker’s comments equal nothing to the powers that be. You as a taxpayer need to be heard by the City Librarian or the City Council.

JB February 14, 2008 (11:41 am)

It is unrealistic to compare Seattle and King County libraires. The King County system is 1 of the richest in the nation due to high taxes. Seattle Library is like most city libraries, underfunded. If you want more books in the libraries, donate $ for books, dontate your old books for the library foundation sales, and/or ask the city council to increase the library materials budget. Did you see in the newspaper that the materials budget was increased this year because people went to the city council meetings or wrote the city council and asked for it!

As we all know money does not grow on trees, I am sure the libray would love more books. It is our job to make sure they have the money to do so. Oh, and be happy that our city uses the system so well, true there are lots of holds but that = lots of readers which = equals lots of educated citizens.

Cassandra February 14, 2008 (11:53 am)

I work for SPL and I agree with many of the remarks above. The library does *NOT* own enough books or other materials, especially compared to King County Library System. As Gina rightly emphasizes, if you want to see that changed, you as a taxpayer need to let the City Librarian and City Council know that you want the Council to increase the library’s budget for books. Your voice has much more weight than our voices as employees of SPL. So don’t delay, write a letter today!

Gina February 14, 2008 (3:10 pm)

Cassandra-I’m Gina from BRS. Every day I tell patrons to write it down! Sign their name. And the patrons think I’m just not wanting to pass along their message.

When you, as a library user, fill out a comment sheet, or make a comment on the spl.org site and sign your name, the chain of command knows that staff did not make up the comment. Comments without without names are deleted, or placed in the round file. And if an address is included from inside the city limits of Seattle, your comment has much more weight.

I have no idea why the administration thinks staff would make up comments about needing more books, I think we would comment that we need free cushioned sole inserts for our shoes!

Joplin January 9, 2009 (12:13 am)

I know this is an old post and perhaps I’m shouting into a void but after being asked to “quickly leave” the Admiral library because my 1 year old was being “disruptive” in the CHILDREN’S SECTION, I feel compelled to take issue with NaSw and thank Raineedaze. Libraries absolutely positively should be a place that welcomes children, not asks them to leave.

I understand the librarian’s situation, this particular library is not conducive to children, it is an echo chamber, and I’m guessing the nervousness they displayed at getting me out of there was a direct result of complaints received from those who can’t tolerate children. I try my best to respect others when I take my kids in there, we put our things on hold and try to get in and out as quickly as possible because I do realize that yes my one year old can be a rowdy one year old.

But I feel unwelcome and frankly the whole experience has me angered, I should not feel a nervous urge to hurry in and out of a place that is for the general public AS A WHOLE, not just for complaining adults, and the once-a-week children’s hour. I’m not trying to claim a sense of entitlement, nor am I looking for a “daycare”, “playpen” or “amusement center”, and I do not think most parents are. I have a 5 year old who was practically raised in a library, he consumes piles of books a week, he loves books above everything else, he was always welcomed and encouraged in the library system we were in before. I am looking for a place to open up my kids eyes to all the amazing choices the library has to offer, I want them to have time to pick out their own books, make their own choices. I want my one year old to love books as much as my 5 year old.

Kids are around. Kids should read books, they deserve them as much as you do. So, next time you shake your heads at the drop in literacy rates, or grumble at the teenager more interested in their phone than a novel, reconsider the intolerant adult who can’t stand the toddlers and kindergartners and pressure the library staff to usher them out.

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