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[–]Otterfan 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Here's a piece in the Times about the trend--from 24 years ago...

[–]wawoodworth 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No, libraries are not babysitting services although the argument could be made here that they are in a safe environment compared to roaming the streets. However, I have adults who come to my library and sit on the computers all day playing online games and chatting on Facebook. Why? Just like the kids: because they can. I'd hope that they (both the adults and kids here) would do more than just stare at a computer screen til it was time to go home, but alas, that's outside of my powers.

[–]librarianzrock 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's nothing new about that concern. The latchkey generation (mine) was often dropped off at the public library - we just didn't have computers to swarm around or as many behavior problems as this generation (I know...get off my lawn!)

[–]bookchaser 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's possible these kids are from poor families and this is the most functional solution for childcare the parents can afford. Assuming you're in America, well, roughly half of all Americans are low income or living in poverty.

[–]moonarcher82 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It really does depend on the area. My current location doesn't have much of a problem. There are one or two after school kids that I know and they are here first to get their homework done, maybe get in some volunteer hours. I'm in a fairly affluent neighborhood. When I covered at our smallest branch (small, poor town) we had three kids on the four computers available all afternoon. Yes, they were playing minecraft but they were also working together. Then there were the years at the main branch. Smaller kids were rarely there without older siblings who ignored them. We discouraged children being alone at the library but many of those families had no other choice. The majority of problems we had were with the older siblings of smaller kids. Even the homeless weren't as troublesome.

[–]bookchaser 0 points1 point  (7 children)

As long as libraries are redefining themselves in the modern era, why aren't libraries considering fee-based babysitting services? Only good can come from surrounding children (often from poor families, which today is roughly half of America) with books.

I can think of few other ways to raise a generation of kids who love books than to have them spend coordinated time in a library 5 days a week throughout the school year, and probably on many vacation days, too.

[–]wawoodworth 3 points4 points  (6 children)

I can give you the answer from the public library perspective: because that's what daycare centers do. There would be an outcry that the government is intruding on the private sector by offering fee-based babysitting services. Nevermind the insurance, staffing, space, and other logistics (some of which would be offset by the fee, but still require other resources to manage). It's just not within the library mission.

I don't think coordinated time at any place will foster a love for it. It takes more than just plopping people down into an environment to grow a love for it.

[–]bookchaser 1 point2 points  (5 children)

because that's what daycare centers do

The recreation divisions of the cities in my region hold afternoon activities that last several hours. You might argue they're not babysitting, but they serve the same function. I could enroll my kids in enough to have every weekday covered.

More to the point, they also hold 'parents night out' events where kids play games in a community center in the evening. In December, they even bill it as a chance for parents to do shopping.

It takes more than just plopping people down into an environment to grow a love for it.

Correct. So you design an educational program that incorporates using the books around you.

It's just not within the library mission

Correct. I believe many libraries are in need of an overhaul. Times are changing, not just in technology, but in the needs of communities.

[–]wawoodworth 1 point2 points  (4 children)

No, I'd say that the recreation department was doing exactly was it was designed to do which is provide recreational activities to the kids of the community. The fact that they offer it on an after school basis is just a bonus for the parents in the area. So, yes, you're correct in that government is doing something that the private sector is capable of handling. Good example, too. :D

However, would you say it make sense for recreation department to start lending out books, magazines, and movies? Because that's an inverse of what you are suggesting for libraries to do in taking on a caregiver role.

Yes, the times are changing and the needs of the community are changing, but that doesn't mean the library is the best entity to step in to fulfill those needs.

[–]bookchaser 0 points1 point  (3 children)

would you say it make sense for recreation department to start lending out books, magazines, and movies?

Yes, if there was a need in the community, I could see a rec department loaning books. The caveat is community need. Libraries likely already meet that need on a free basis.

Now, if families are using a library as a babysitter, we know there is community need not being fully met. There is a tremendous opportunity to parlay this situation into an after-school program that fills a community need while also utilizing the library's information resources.

that doesn't mean the library is the best entity to step in to fulfill those needs.

We disagree. An after-school program strikes me as totally appropriate for a library, and beneficial in keeping libraries as a vital community resource. I view libraries as the center, the heart, of a community. I would do everything to bring kids into the library every afternoon. But of course, I'm not a librarian. I'm sitting by the sidelines watching my library system die. Nothing about what they do makes sense to me.

Here's another diatribe about my library system. It was inspired by experiencing a wonderful children's musician/storyteller who held his performance behind closed doors in a library conference room, with 99% of library patrons oblivious that his concert was taking place.

[–]wawoodworth 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Then we definitely disagree that the library should be the entity to fulfill that need. When a library tries to be everything to everyone, then what is the mission? Literacy? Child care? Pet sitting? Community gardening?

However, an after school program is a pretty viable idea.

[–]bookchaser 0 points1 point  (0 children)

an after school program is a pretty viable idea.

An after-school program is babysitting in most cases. Parents enroll their kids because no parent is home when school gets out in the early afternoon.

Googling library missions for a minute, it seems many include something to the effect of: 'serving the research, teaching, and learning needs of its users.' An educational after-school program fits that mission even though it's babysitting.
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