I have been disappointed by the direction of the youth services department at the City of Port Townsend Library for quite a while… but it’s only after losing yet another amazingly talented youth librarian that I am compelled to speak out.
Jeanne [Simmons] has such an incredible talent and passion for her work in the youth services department. Her presence was what brought many families back to the library after Mirandy Cook was lost in a very similar situation and we have appreciated her work and presence immensely.
My experience at the library has been shockingly different with my 3-year-old than it was with my 11-year-old. There used to be so many talented youth services librarians who not only had the gift of sharing their love of story and books but also had a calling to connect with children and their caregivers. They connected people with each other, referred them to other services when needed and were a supportive warm presence during the early phases of parenting that can be so trying and isolating.
There is no longer a youth service librarian staffing that area of the library except when storytime is in session. After school there is no one there for kids to connect with, answer their questions or be a consistent and safe presence.
Why is there not a staffed desk in the children’s department? Why are we losing our talented and passionate children’s librarians? In addition, there are legitimate concerns regarding unmonitored computer access to unsafe sites that has many parents not allowing their tween-age children to visit the library unaccompanied anymore. It’s time to start asking questions.
Abbie Little
Port Townsend