The policies that make up children's services must be guided by imagination and insight. Mae Benne covers fully the organizational policies and patterns that accompany professional services. Her discussion of purely administrative and organizational matters is comprehensive - one that recognizes client need as motivating organizational possibilities. She translates theory before organizations meet children's needs, children's librarians must recognize them into practice.

Here, one of America’s foremost experts in public library services to children cover the basics of library services for children. Jeanette Larson highlights best practices and "toolkits" that provide tools and resources to quickly implement programs and services. She includes model programs, checklists and forms, and ready-to-use examples of programs, with an emphasis on programs that are inexpensive to implement and simple to replicate. From start to finish, learn how to plan, implement, and manage public library programs and services for children, ages birth to twelve years old. Children's services are a critical part of today's library services and staff need basic background information, practical advice, and specific examples of how to perform the fundamental duties required of them. Special features of the book include: Basic information on how to implement the fundamental services and programs of library services to children Background and rationale for the provision of these services and programs Enhancements for children's programs and services that support literacy and learning Templates for successful programs Examples of inexpensive and ready-to-use programs ranging from simple to on-going and more elaborate programs Children’s Services Today: A Practical Guide for Librarians offers basic background, practical experience, and best practices necessary for the successful provision of children's services in today's public library. Whether you are a part-time children's librarian in a small, rural library, a generalist assigned to provide children's programming in a medium-sized library, or a paraprofessional working in the children's department in a large urban library, this practical guide will help you implement dynamic programs and services that meet the needs of today's children and families

This practical guide for planning and implementing children's services has been completely updated and revised, reflecting the enormous changes in our society and the library profession. Organized along the same lines as the first edition, the book covers management within the department, the relationship between the children's department and the larger institution, and community relations. Fasick addresses topics ranging from service plans, goals and objectives, policies, and procedures to special events, emergencies, budgets, funding efforts, staff, patrons, communication, and public relations. This revised edition contains new material on writing grant proposals, fund-raising, staff recruitment and training, organizing Internet services, and planning a Web site. Sections on services to homeschoolers, self-care children, and disabled persons have also been expanded. An indispensable professional guide for children's librarians, this book can also be used as a text in library and information studi

the findings are presented of 1994 surveys on services and resources for children and young adults (ages 12-18) in public libraries. Each survey was conducted with a different nationally representative sample of public libraries. Data was collected for individual buildings rather than for library systems. Findings indicate the following: (1) children and young adults represent 60% of public library patronage; (2) 30% of public librarians specialize in youth services; (3) 39% of libraries employ a children's librarian, 11% have a young adult librarian, and 24% have a youth services specialist on staff; (4) 30% of all public libraries have only one librarian on staff; (5) ethnic diversity of children and young adult patrons has increased over 40% in the last 5 years; (6) computer technologies are among the most heavily used children's and young adult resources in public libraries and are also the most scarce; (7) many library programs primarily target preschool and kindergarten children; (8) only 76% of public libraries report working with schools; (9) only one in seven libraries offer homework assistance programs; (10) 11% of public libraries have neither a young adult collection or section; and (11) insufficient library staff is a leading barrier to increasing services and resources for children and young adults. Survey data is provided in 21 tables and 14 figures. Appendices present survey methodology and data reliability, a list of tables with standard errors, and survey forms. (AEF)

Children's services are the heart of the library. This overview provides hands-on, proven strategies for librarians, addressing questions critical to the long-term success of children's library services. Experienced, new and trainee children's librarians, library administrators & trustees will all welcome this new 'bible'.