Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore patronage and usage of the children’s section of a public library. Patrons of the children’s section of a public library in a small Northern Arizona city were observed for a total of 24 h over 12 sessions. Analytic induction was used to formulate categories based on field notes made during these observations. An observation of a story time session was also conducted. Data from an interview with a librarian was triangulated with observational data. In terms of patronage, the clear majority of parents/adult caregivers accompanying a child or children to the children’s section were observed to be female and speaking English. In terms of usage, the following three categories of early learning were identified from the data: early literacy learning; learning how to use a library; and other developmentally appropriate learning. Study results offer insight into both the role of females in the intergenerational transmission of literacy and the rich learning young children experience at the library. At a time of library cutbacks and closures across the United States, this study speaks to the continued relevance of the children’s section of the public library in providing free early learning experiences during the pivotal birth to five age range.
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Appendix: Librarian Interview Questions
Appendix: Librarian Interview Questions
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1.
Can you tell me about what it’s like to work as a children’s librarian?
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2.
Can you tell me a little about the children’s section of the library?
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3.
Can you describe who visits the children’s section of the library?
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4.
Is there a particular age range of child you observe visiting most often? If yes, which age range would you say?
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5.
Do you note any particular caregiver/child relationship most often? (For example, an older sibling and a younger sibling, or a babysitter and a child, or a parent and a child?)
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6.
How common is it to see entire families here together?
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7.
Do patrons visit often enough that you get to know them personally?
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8.
Can you describe what patrons do in the children’s area?
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9.
When parents or caregivers are with their children in the children’s area, can you describe what kinds of activities you see them doing together?
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10.
Which types of activities do you observe most frequently?
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11.
When you observe children interacting together, can you describe what kinds of activities you see them doing together?
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12.
Who do you observe choosing which materials to be read or borrowed?
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13.
Can you explain how the computers in the children’s area are used?
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14.
Which materials are borrowed most often? Least often?
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15.
Can you describe any other different ways you have observed patrons using the children’s section?
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Becker, K. 24 Hours in the Children’s Section: An Observational Study at the Public Library. Early Childhood Educ J 40, 107–114 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-011-0499-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-011-0499-0