Monday, July 13, 2009

Return Visit

Looking up over my computer screen, I saw a woman approach the reference desk with two young boys. She introduced herself as the mother of Edmund, who had visited the library earlier in the week with his daycare. She smiled and said that Edmund had been "bugging her" to bring him back to the library. Edmund's class had come to the library for a storytime which I had conducted 4 days earlier. His class had been very attentive, enthusiastic, and well-behaved. I had urged the children to return to the library with their parents so they could get a library card and borrow books. I explained that the library was open at night and on Saturdays and Sundays, when their parents might not be working and could bring them. I told them that I worked almost every Sunday and would be delighted to see them if they came back to visit the library. And Edmund did. And I was TOTALLY delighted. It made my day. And it was a great way to start another intense work week, knowing that I had truly connected with a little boy and had made him feel welcomed at the library. I let Edumund know just how excited I was to see him again. And everyone in his family got a special bookmark to keep.