Everyday Obstacles: Cultural Humility in Children’s Library Services

Abstract

Twenty years ago, David (one of the authors of this article) was the director of a community college library in a town with no public library. The college’s teacher education program was excuse enough to maintain a strong children’s collection, and kids from the nearby elementary school would often spend the afternoon in the library. Two in particular stand out: a sister and brother who were in the library nearly every day. They were shy with the library staff, but their enthusiasm was palpable as they excitedly showed books to each other and sat reading together for hours at a time, from when school got out to when their parents got off work. Their love for the library made the work seem worth it.

And then, suddenly, they stopped coming.