Public Libraries in the Pacific

May 24, 2024

Note from the author: I met a librarian last year that was interested in building libraries overseas. We chatted about what we thought would be the foundation of one. I put this together as an exercise on future grant writing and children’s library work. My path is more towards YA and the academics of film archives (AKA goofing off with screenplays and hoping LA County will hire me), but this was a fun project to draft. Shoutout to Laurence Bacud who helped with his background in children’s services to build out the framework of this paper.

Public Library vs. Children’s Library

A children’s library would consist of books concentrated on K-12 with heavy programming and literature aimed at children during the first five years. A children’s library would have an emphasis on programs for toddlers and pre-K students to acclimate to a school environment before they enter school, as well as a resource center for parents.

To expand to a public library, the additions would be adult books and a computer center with Wi-Fi being available to all patrons in the building.

Physical Space

With the intent to be in the city center, it would consist of the main room where the books and reference desk would go, but if there could also be a classroom-size space for Storytime and programming; as well as a small patio area for programs that can be outdoors.

*Photo courtesy of Solano County - JFK Branch*

An example of a children’s library section with shelving units. This small area houses around 4,000 titles – so with the right shelving, space can be condensed.

Equipment Needed to Begin

1. Laptop or desktop computer for the reference desk

A laptop or desktop computer at the reference desk so that staff can quickly look up schedules and check out books for patrons.

2. Wi-Fi for the building

Having Wi-Fi access for the building

3. Tiny Cat Software

An Internet-based catalog system would eliminate the need to purchase and maintain a software system. These Internet-based catalogs are relatively inexpensive and can carry up to 20,000 titles in a database. If the titles in the library ever grew beyond this amount or if registered patrons reached the thousands – a more robust software system could be researched.

4. Craft Table and Supplies

This doesn’t have to be a special craft table, just furniture to set up the programming area

5. Book Wrap and Barcodes

It is suggested that book wrap be purchased or donated to ensure that all books that pass inspection and enter the library are wrapped for protection. All books would also be barcoded for the catalog system. This provides a daily circulation count, and reports can be created to see what materials the community gravitates towards.

PROGRAMS

A successful children’s library has heavy programming. Programs are hour-long sessions led by library staff.

For toddlers to Pre-K students, this time at the library not only prepares them for school but allows them to develop their motor skills and communication skills with peers.

To start, if the aim were 2 -3 programs daily along with checking out books, it would be a successful start. With a schedule of M-F and possibly Saturday, that would give the library 12-15 weekly program hours.

Some of the programs that are suggested:

Storytime

Storytime can be led by library staff or volunteers. A picture book or short chapter book is chosen and read aloud to children lasting about 30-45 minutes. Half of the programs for the library can be Storytimes. If a child attends 3-4 sessions a week starting their first year until they enter Kindergarten, they would have heard 1,000 books read aloud before starting school.

Arts & Crafts

Hour-long craft sessions tied around the month or the holiday that season. Fun, small projects that vary from a paint session to carving pumpkins on Halloween. The arts and crafts will depend on the amount of supplies and how easy it would be to replenish said supplies monthly.

Food Events

An hour-long program like arts and crafts where children watch a demonstration of how to prepare simple food and then samples of said food are then passed out to everyone that attended. This can range from making candy canes right before the holidays to making tortillas from scratch (like yeast cakes).

Sing-Alongs

A program that chooses a book geared towards singing or rhyming. With this type of Storytime, the children can sing along with the instructor and it’s a great practice of language and speech. It’s also a great opportunity to do sing-along programs.

BOOKS

For the concentration on reading aloud and the first five years, the books that would be beneficial to have would be:

1. Hardcover picture books – these stories have an average of 300 or less words and the pictures allow children to follow along with the story as they’re hearing it

2. Early chapter books – Short chapter books that are still picture-heavy, but start to use more language. These books would be great for children that have entered school already.

3. Sensory books – these are pop-up books and any type of book that may utilize the alphabet, numbers, and materials to convey a story without necessarily having words yet.

LIBRARY STAFF

When first opening, library staff can be at the level of administrative or clerical assistants that apply for jobs with local schools and government agencies, but who might have some background in library studies or early childhood development.

The staff would primarily need to be comfortable checking out books on the online catalog system and be able to do a program or two a day.

It would be great to have someone on the team to manage social media – this would involve having an active Instagram and Facebook account, along with managing the library’s main website. Having a strong social media presence will not only draw patrons to the library but will also create material that can be used in the future to apply for grants and funding.

Before the library opens, it would be great to have a library staff member present that can give tutorials to the staff on how to vet and wrap the incoming books, as well as catalog them in the system.

For a small library with around 5,000 books to start and three programs a day, it would involve a staff of three. One person is to be at the reference desk for the open hours, one person to walk the library, and another person to work on returns and cleaning up between programs. The front desk clerk would be a full-time hire, but all other positions could very well be done by volunteers.

An important job for staff would be culling the books. Going through purchases and donations and ensuring that books being brought into the system fit the criteria of the library and are in good enough shape to last at least five years.

CHILDREN'S LIBRARY AND SDG’S

Sustainable Development Goals for 2030

A strong foundation for a library is to have its goals and motto tied to a larger, ongoing project. For example, school libraries have their goals tied to the school’s code of conduct. A public library in the US would have its goals tied to either its county or city mission statement depending on the entity that runs it.

Looking toward future funding and grants, it might be beneficial to tie the overseas library goals to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. There are three that can fit goals to be reached over the next seven years.

# 4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The library will work to promote education for children with an emphasis on the first five years before kindergarten. The goal is to have every young patron hear at least 500 books read aloud before starting school; promoting language and communication skills.

# 10 Reduce inequality within and among countries

Providing a safe space and environment for educational and creative growth through library programs geared towards young children with resources for parents to continue learning at home.

# 17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Creating partnerships with local businesses to help the library thrive thereby strengthening the community.

These three goals over time can be simplified down to short, quick sentences that even the children can learn so that they became part of the library’s culture.

IFLA

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions is in charge of monitoring all libraries across the globe that are implementing the SDG’s. The oceanic libraries were researched and only Papau New Guinea and Fiji have one. Papau New Guinea rarely had updates and Fiji is a library that was initially funded by Carnegie out of the US. Samoa had public libraries, but they were US-funded and there weren’t any examples of them being self-sustained. University of the Pacific is the only library with existing literature on growth and stats on their circulation.

Papau New Guinea is recognized by IFLA, but they don’t have any programming and they don’t share how large their circulation collections are.

A great first step would be to start a library association to document the first year of the library’s life as it grows and to apply to IFLA to be recognized as a library that is following at least 3 SDG’s.

Library Association

The library association would initially need someone named as the head of the board that would oversee all meeting decisions. The reference staff member could act as the daily operations manager and the staff members could also be part of the committee. It would be beneficial to have at least two outside members, preferably business locals that could not only be part of the library’s growth, but possible donors for library programs.

If a monthly meeting could be held with minutes taken to document progress, all of this could go towards the application to be recognized by the IFLA, which would add the library to the world map and also allow the library to use the UN SDG logo on their media material.

QUESTIONS FOR THE BEGINNING

1. How will the collections be culled at the library prior to opening?

2. Can staff be put together to bind and catalog all materials prior to opening?

3. Will library staff be working with a carpenter or will pre-made shelving units be utilized?

4. What is the mission statement of the children’s library and can it be tied to the SDG’s?

5. Can a library association be put together to oversee progress?

Public Libraries in the Pacific

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