What Happens When Your Kids’ Favorite Librarian Calls in Sick
We have been going to storytime regularly three times a week at two different branches for 2 1/2 years. My two little boys LOVE one particular children’s librarian, Miss Allison. I bow down to her awesomeness. She is FANTASTIC. Very energetic, engaging, lots of songs, rhymes, reading time, and play time. She remembers all the kids names, gives lots of hugs and knows that my little boy loves the librarian mouse. She always accommodates him by taking him out of his cage. She even holds new train books as they arrive to give to K. because she knows how much he loves them. Miss Allison is everything I think a children’s librarian should be.
Today, she called in sick. The nerve. Can you believe it? You mean librarians actually have the right to get sick? This translates into a disaster for my three year old. He pouted during the entire storytime because it wasn’t just “right.” Her absence at our library rocked his world. He was upset for a very long time. When daddy called on the phone several hours later and asked how he was doing, the first thing he said was “Miss Allison is sick.” Too cute and a true testament of the power of librarians in the lives of children.
Thank you Miss Allison for making a difference in my little boy’s world. And please, I hope you feel better. Don’t you know you’re not allowed to get sick? My kids need you!
Do you have a special librarian in your life? Or somebody who made going to the library special?
Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!
Tags: discussion questions, library
 |
| or | 
|
Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.
Oh thats so cute. I hope Ms. Allison gets well soon too, I bet she cannot afford to make cute kids unhappy
on January 16th, 2009 at 1:54 amThat is too cute. I hope Ms. Allison gets better soon. We have a librarian like that at our library that my son loves and he feels the same way your son does about her. They are so few are far between.
on January 16th, 2009 at 7:03 amHow sweet – I’ll try to be a librarian like that
on January 16th, 2009 at 7:15 amThat is so cute. I agree with Janssen: I’ll try to be a librarian like that too!
on January 16th, 2009 at 8:07 amMy son’s elementary school librarian was a lot like Miss Allison – she instilled a love of books in tons of children.
on January 16th, 2009 at 8:16 amYou are so lucky to have a librarian like that and to live in a place that supports the library enough to hire her, and keep her, and give her a sick day when she needs one.
I hope she is back on her feet, or rather in her storytelling seat, soon.
on January 16th, 2009 at 8:21 amThat is such a cute story!
on January 16th, 2009 at 8:35 amIs it too vain to say that I hope that I am that kind of librarian?
Right now I don’t work with the very young kids, but I have a Science & Stories for 4-6 yr olds that is very popular. I totally love the program concept – which mixes non-fiction, fiction, and mini-experiements – and I love the kids who are so curious and excited about everything we do in the program.
I’m glad that you have a special librarian in your life.
on January 16th, 2009 at 9:48 amI want alibrarian like that
All of our librarians are gurmpy old women who wear their hair in buns and wear tweed skits and button up shirts with ruffle blouses. I usually send my daughter to the reference librarian if she is having trouble finding a book. The woman always has this exasperated look as she looks up to me that just says, “can’t you do this yourself.” I could…but the whole point is to teach my daughter how to use the library.
I want MotherReader to come work at our library. We have nothing for older kids. I think I want Miss Allison as well. Do you think she wants to move to California? It’s sunny here. Almost 70 degrees yesterday.
on January 16th, 2009 at 10:29 amI had an awesome librarian when I was in middle school. I’d come in early and stay late to help re-shelve books or whatever needed to be done.
on January 16th, 2009 at 12:40 pmSo, Natasha, you want an “it’s a small world moment”? The librarian that your son loves, I’ll bet, hands down, that it’s my cousin. I’m glad she’s taking good care of you and your kids.
on January 16th, 2009 at 1:28 pmI am a “special librarian.” Literally. I work in a hospital library.
My middle school librarian and I had a secret special book club just for the two of us. She died a couple of years ago and I drove 200 miles to attend her funeral.
Librarians really can make all the difference!
on January 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pmYAY! I’m so glad I read this! It makes the looming library science grad school paper that’s due this afternoon semi-worth it.
on January 16th, 2009 at 1:50 pmThis woman must be truly incredible,it’s so cool that your kid loves her so much!
on January 16th, 2009 at 2:22 pmOh my goodness, Natasha, that is just too sweet for words! I sure hope Miss Allison is feeling better soon!
on January 16th, 2009 at 5:39 pmViolet – My kids are cute, if I say so myself.
Cindy – They are few and far between, but the ones that are stand out because they are so wonderful.
Janssen – I can tell just from your blog and photos that you would be that type of librarian.
Vaslily – I’m sure you will be too!
Kathy – That’s wonderful. I don’t remember any librarians from my childhood. I don’t think I ever went to storytimes. I was the fifth child which means my mom was tired by the time I came along.
CB James – We are lucky. Even more so because we literally have dozens of branches to choose from in the valley, all with storytimes as well as the bookstore programs. If we wanted to we could hit several every single day.
MotherReader – Not vain! That means that you care about what you do! When the librarians are no longer excited, it shows in their work. What a great concept using science, and mini-experiments. I would love something like that around here.
Jenn M. – You are so mean to mention your temps. Sounds wonderful. I’m sorry you don’t have any librarians that you like.
Ladytink_534 – Hanging out in the library is a lot better than what I’m sure the other kids were doing!
Melissa – How funny! I don’t know her last name and to tell you the truth I’m sure she doesn’t know mine. She knows my kids names though. If she works at the South Jordan library, than she is the one and the same! I’ve never even told any of the librarians that I see that I even have a book blog. She’s probably be surprised that I even have this whole site and that I’m talking about her behind her back!
Chartroose – A hospital library! That must be so cool and so hard at the same time. And what a special relationship with your librarian. I wish I had one in my life when I was younger.
Danielle – Just semi-worth it?
Good luck with that paper!
Valentina – They’ve always come to expect her there and when she wasn’t it literally threw them.
Debi – I hope she feels better to. I don’t think we could handle another storytime with a different librarian.
on January 16th, 2009 at 10:31 pmThere is actually 2 or 3 very nice and helpful Library employees. I just don’t like the lady at the reference desk. If you are too disgruntled to help a 7 year-old find a book she wants then you shouldn’t be a librarian.
Sorry to all the good librarians!! I had awesome school librarians growing up and one of my best friends is a school librarian. I could not live without my library so grumpy or not, i will take the grump. Maybe she just needs some chocolate…hmmm…maybe she will be nice if I bring her cookies. No, she’d be the one to yell at me for bringing food in the library. She already yelled at me when my cell phone rang once.
I’m so naughty.
on January 16th, 2009 at 10:48 pmThere is one librarian at my local library who is brilliant because she always remembers my reservations. I rarely get to the library (no public transport, too young to drive) so I reserve almost all my books and have my mum pick them up or pick them up myself if I can get her to give me a lift. This wonderful woman processes the reservations as they come in and often dashes off to get me another book that came through for me but which they haven’t even told me they have yet!
on January 17th, 2009 at 6:20 amJenn M. – I told my oldest today that we were going to the library today (different one than I mentioned in this post) and the first thing he says is “Candy?” Yeah, she has crackers sometimes but I don’t know why he would think candy.
Fern – That’s wonderful. Librarians are the best!
on January 20th, 2009 at 9:53 pm