Dewey Decimal only covers non-fiction, leaving fiction to be shelved by Author’s last name.

Not actually true. Dewey Decimal has categories for various types of fiction works. That said, almost no US libraries use them, and put fictional works in a different physical location entirely, usually sorted by author's name. But it is absolutely possible and legitimate to file fictional works by Dewey Decimal number.

Our child is at a very well reputed DMV school where the one thing that gave us pause is the library is pretty lackluster. The school is great, but they should step it up on the library. It sends a not great message.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not referencing the classics. I'm just suggesting that if there are ways that I can get my kids to read more (I'm even happy when DD reads Jenny Han books), I'd love to hear them. They were both great readers until Covid and I can see the lack of reading for enjoyment affects their ability to write and their test scores.

Neither of my kids goes to library class anymore (middle and high schools).

My child is only 6yo so take this with a grain of salt, but I limit screens a lot. They are not an option other than regularly scheduled TV times (totaling about 2 hours a week, with family). Other than playing and her two weekly lessons, DD spends the rest of the time reading.

Most books are Not even in your local or school library. If it’s even in the library system, a courier brings it from A partner library and it’s sitting in the holds section to be picked up.

If you’re depending on browsing the shelf to “discover” a book, you’re missing out.

Our private has very qualified librarians. Even at the lower school level, there's one with a master's and her full-time assistant. Our kids love it.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not referencing the classics. I'm just suggesting that if there are ways that I can get my kids to read more (I'm even happy when DD reads Jenny Han books), I'd love to hear them. They were both great readers until Covid and I can see the lack of reading for enjoyment affects their ability to write and their test scores.

Neither of my kids goes to library class anymore (middle and high schools).

Do you read around them? to them? Visit the public library often?

Sometime when they’re with you, go to the library to pick out books for yourself. They’re welcome to pick out something or not (and it doesn’t have to be a book, it might be a movie, TV show, etc.), but they’re stuck there while you get your books. Don’t drag it out unless they get into it.

Pick a fun book that you think they’d enjoy (not a classic - you’re looking to grab their interest and entertain them, not enlighten and educate). Depending on their interests, something with cliffhangers or a lot of humor might be a good choice. Focus it toward their interest, but something you enjoy too, and them say that you found a great book that you want to share with them and then read it to them when there’s time (over dinner if nothing else). You can even start with sharing magazine articles and blurbs, quotes from books you read, etc. Just get them used to reading being so great that you’re excited to share it with them.

Do they have special interests? If they’re not into reading books right now, would they be interested in a magazine subscription?

What actually gives kids a “leg up” is instruction in how to use the library (any library) to locate books, articles, and quality authoritative online information, take careful notes from those sources, record the sources, cite those sources in correct MLA (or other) style and then be capable of writing a paper without the crutch of AI or copying and pasting. (Adjunct prof here)

troll post. No need for libraries. There's ChatGPT.

I'm not referencing the classics. I'm just suggesting that if there are ways that I can get my kids to read more (I'm even happy when DD reads Jenny Han books), I'd love to hear them. They were both great readers until Covid and I can see the lack of reading for enjoyment affects their ability to write and their test scores.

Neither of my kids goes to library class anymore (middle and high schools).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand this post. Are you suggesting that kids from schools where the Librarian doesn't have a masters in library science will not be able to successfully locate a book on a shelf once he/she looks it up on the computer?

Librarian here. How do you think the books get into the little computer? Also, you have acquisitions, budgets, collection development, reading, and class support. And yes, most of us have MLS degrees.

I love the library; honestly I can't get enough of books. I love the idea that if the librarian puts out books, it might spark an interest in kids. But kids today, I don't know what it would take for them to read more books. I'm from another age it feels like. It makes me incredibly sad. How can you be a good writer if you don't read works by good writers? How do you gain knowledge?

Also, OP indicated that kids from elite private schools with librarians might have a leg up in using the LOC book cataloguing system, which is a curious thing to suggest.

NP and it sounds like you're referencing reading "the classics". A good librarian is going to be able to help point our kids towards more modern books that are also worthwhile reading. In addition, especially in a strong private, our kids are going to be introduced to more classical genres via English classes. Maybe not an entire curriculum built on old European men, but good solid literature.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand this post. Are you suggesting that kids from schools where the Librarian doesn't have a masters in library science will not be able to successfully locate a book on a shelf once he/she looks it up on the computer?

Librarian here. How do you think the books get into the little computer? Also, you have acquisitions, budgets, collection development, reading, and class support. And yes, most of us have MLS degrees.

I love the library; honestly I can't get enough of books. I love the idea that if the librarian puts out books, it might spark an interest in kids. But kids today, I don't know what it would take for them to read more books. I'm from another age, it feels like. It makes me incredibly sad. How can you be a good writer if you don't read works by good writers? How do you gain knowledge?

Also, OP indicated that kids from elite private schools with librarians might have a leg up in using the LOC book cataloging system, which is a curious thing to suggest.

Most of the research they will do will be online. However, that still requires database acquisition, curation, and research skills. If your kids aren't learning now about how to research correctly, then they are going to be at a disadvantage -especially if they move on to law or medicine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand this post. Are you suggesting that kids from schools where the Librarian doesn't have a masters in library science will not be able to successfully locate a book on a shelf once he/she looks it up on the computer?

Librarian here. How do you think the books get into the little computer? Also, you have acquisitions, budgets, collection development, reading, and class support. And yes, most of us have MLS degrees.

I love the library; honestly I can't get enough of books. I love the idea that if the librarian puts out books, it might spark an interest in kids. But kids today, I don't know what it would take for them to read more books. I'm from another age it feels like. It makes me incredibly sad. How can you be a good writer if you don't read works by good writers? How do you gain knowledge?

Also, OP indicated that kids from elite private schools with librarians might have a leg up in using the LOC book cataloguing system, which is a curious thing to suggest.

As a follow-up, how many independent schools teach proper buggy-whipping techniques?

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand this post. Are you suggesting that kids from schools where the Librarian doesn't have a masters in library science will not be able to successfully locate a book on a shelf once he/she looks it up on the computer?

Librarian here. How do you think the books get into the little computer? Also, you have acquisitions, budgets, collection development, reading, and class support. And yes, most of us have MLS degrees.

I don't understand this post. Are you suggesting that kids from schools where the Librarian doesn't have a masters in library science will not be able to successfully locate a book on a shelf once he/she looks it up on the computer?