Foundations of Library Services and Programming for Children

Foundations of Library Services and Programming for Children This book provides required foundational practices, both theoretical and practical. It gives students and working librarians the nuts- and- bolts foundation in providing programming and services for children. The book covers critical important elements needed for today’s librarian, thereby benefitting even the seasoned youth librarian.

Chapter coverage includes:


The Value of Library Services to ChildrenProgram Evaluation: Planning for Desired ResultsChildren’s ProgrammingServices and Resources for ChildrenThe Library as a Safe Space for AllAdministration of Children’s ServicesLooking Ahead: What’s Next in Library Services for Children?
An Appendix provides practical resources such as a storytime format, programming planning outline, and program assessment tools.

Special topics include issues of censorship attempts, the importance of providing library services to a diverse population, and the need to examine evaluative techniques for program offerings.

Each chapter in this text includes multiple opportunities for learning and reflection as well as case-based learning that facilitates problem-solving and experiential learning opportunities.

Lisa Houde has been a librarian for over 15 years; 10 of those years were spent creating and implementing programming for youth from birth to age 18. She has been in education for over 30 years, and is currently teaching Programming and Services for Children, Materials for Young Adults, Graphic Novels for Teens, and Resources and Information Services in Professions and Disciplines - Topic: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTIQ) Resources and Services in the San Jose State University’s MLIS program.

Lisa Houde is the Assistant Director at the Rye Public Library in Rye, New Hampshire. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Seattle University and an MLIS from San Jose State University. Whenever possible, research in her MLIS program focused on historical and current trends in library service to LGBTQIA+ teens. She is a member of the American Library Association and the New Hampshire Library Association. Past committee work includes New Hampshire Flume Teen Readers’ Choice Award and the Great Stone Face Book Award Selection Committee. She has served on the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Roundtable Advisory Committee and was a contributor to the GLBTRT Toolkit “Open to All: Serving the GLBT Community in your Library.” Finally, she is the author of Serving LGBTQ Teens: A Practical Guide for Librarians contributed the chapter on services to children and young adults to Public Libraries and Their Communities: An Introduction by Kay Ann Cassell which focused on services to children and young adults.