Too cute! (teen boys on the library)

[mary_j_59]

Today, I had to tell two of my 14-year-olds they had to leave the library because we were closing. One boy responded. "Why does something so good have to close?" He also said, "This is the only place I can be myself." Isn't that cool?

Editing today to tell the rest of the story - I think the boys wouldn't mind.

Me: "I really want you on my teen advisory board!"
Boy who'd spoken: "What's a teen advisory board?"
Me: "We get together and share snacks and you tell me what you like about the library, what you'd like us to do, what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong."
Boy: "The library's doing NOTHING wrong."
Me" "Great! I need you to tell the grown-ups that."
Boy: "Don't they know that? Why don't they know that?"
Boy's friend: "Because they're grown-ups."

Wise words. We grown-ups need to be sure we don't forget what it feels like to be a kid, and that we don't forget to listen.

And yes, libraries rock! Just look at the young teen in my icon - she thinks so, too!

Comments

[logospilgrim.livejournal.com]

Awesome :-)

[thirteen-ravens.livejournal.com]

That's pretty cool. :)
Yes...why are supermarkets open 24 hours, but you can't stay in a library 'til late reading things. It's a shame...

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Well, as a librarian, I have to admit I sometimes want to go home! I love my job, but it's not my whole life, nor should it be. And I would argue that we are open 24/7, 365 days a year, because you can get free books, articles, music and movies from our website with a library card.

But it does make me smile that these kids love the library so much! It means I'm doing my job right.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Yes, isn't it?

[eeyore6771.livejournal.com]

That's fantastic. It reminds me of the magical feel of the first midnight release of a Harry Potter book. Granted, that was the book store and not a library, but we were all there, adults and kids, because we loved books. And that's how a library should always feel. It sounds like your library has found that particular magic.