The New York Public Library is located at the intersection of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. It needs to climb the stairs where the stone lion is stationed in front of the door, enter through the revolving door and pass the security check. Go through the hall until you come to the end. You will see the bookstore first, then turn right to the stairwell, walk down the basement, and after you turn around, you will see the sign of the children's library. After the silence and darkness, a room of light appeared in the corridor and a hole was opened in the sky.
The children's library arranges many reading activities, which are also very vivid. In addition to holding regular story time for readers of different ages, we often publish new books in the name of "children's literature salon", visit authors, or hold amateur adult reading parties to study children's literature on weekends.
New york has the largest number of publishers in the United States. At the same time, it has the busiest children's book "production line" and "marketing network". In addition to the annual book week, book fair, book fair and other large-scale publishing activities, there are book activities all year round, taking advantage of the geographical position. In addition, many writers and painters live in or around crowded cities. The children's library notifies the activities and story time of the week by email in the name of "childrenscenter42" every week; Publish publications introducing children's activities carried out by branches of the New York Public Library, and occasionally issue special issues for readers.
Children under the age of 14 were once forbidden in the library? !
Parents now take their children to the library, which is considered as natural as breathing fresh air, but a century ago, not every child was free to go in and out of the library. Just as some restaurants that sell alcohol now prohibit children from entering, many libraries at that time also prohibited children under the age of 14. Some librarians think that children are too noisy and dirty to go in; There are some books that children don't want to read, so children had better not go to the library. Even new york, the first capital and the largest book city in the United States, is no exception. However, the New York Public Library opened the history of children's libraries because of a special librarian-Anne Carol Moore.
Librarian who started the history of children's library: Ms. Moore
Ms Moore 187 1 was born in Maine, and her father is a lawyer. As the favorite little daughter, her dream is to work in a law firm when she grows up, because women at that time were rarely able to engage in legal-related work; Two days later, her parents died of epidemic disease. She was heartbroken, her life was completely chaotic and her dreams were shattered. So, she stayed at home to help take care of her brother's children. At that time, public libraries were in the ascendant, and the iron king Andrew Carnegie (Mr Carnegie) also promised to subsidize the cost of building libraries nationwide, and library science became a brand-new and fashionable field suitable for women. Ms Moore went to the Pratt Institute of Art in new york to continue studying library science. She also entered the school's children's library with a very basic knowledge of children's literature.
The personality of fully participating in things of interest enables Ms. Moore to read children's literature, study children's behavior and even observe street children's play in a few years. She went deep into the field of children's reading in libraries, and with many years' experience in promoting reading in large and small libraries and streets, she was hired to operate and develop the children's book branch of new york Library. At that time, the Children's Library was located on Fifth Avenue in midtown new york, guarded by two lions.
Her collection, selection, comments and research on the influence of children's books on adults and children have become an important indicator in the history of modern American children's literature. The standard she set, called "four respects", has become an indicator for readers. At the same time, this is also the follow-up of mutual respect between people.
1. Respect children
2. Respect children's books
3. Respect employees
4. Respect the professionalism of children's librarians
The Children's Service she founded opened another door of library service-Children's Book Department. Her greatest contribution to children's literature is to set high standards for children's books, promote them with strict book reviews, and clearly explain her expectations for children's books. The comments and recommendations of children's books that we see in the library now are the ethos and system that she initiated.