Family Reading Roundup 2007

[altivo]

With the Director
Originally uploaded by Altivo

As promised back in November, here's a photo from the library's Family Reading Roundup presentation last November 15. Although dozens of photos were taken that night, most were portraits of children posing with me and I dare not post them without signed releases from parents. So here I am with Library director Harriet.

There are a few more photos here.

Comments

[lobowolf.livejournal.com]

Cool! ^_^

"Hello, I'm not coming to work. I'm a little horse tonight."

Thank you, thank you...I'll be here all week ~.^

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Argh. I should have thought of the "little horse" line to explain to the boss why I don't speak.

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Whinnyhi.

Why the long face? ;(

Oh, yea, you are a librarian, and librarians always have that stern, longface look. Either that or you're a horse.

Perhaps a bit of both?

Steed

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I think I was just horsing around, actually. ;p

[schnee.livejournal.com]

*pets the horsie* :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*makes horse noises* All the little kids run away.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Murf? Why?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I dunno why, but they do. I guess something like 90% of them have never been around any animals other than maybe a dog or cat. Even living in a small town in the middle of what is still a farming area, it's easy for people to have no contact with horses or cows or any other animal that isn't kept as a house pet. In fact, the number of kids (and adults) I see who are absolutely terrified of ordinary dogs and cats seems to be increasing. Obviously, this is not good, but it's a huge social problem that is hard to do anything about.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

*noddles* Yeah... I've been observing that as well. I suppose it has to do with the human mind's tendency to be afraid of everything unknown; the less contact you actually have with animals and the less familiar you are with them, the more likely you are to fear them.

Unfortunately, we then led those who're afraid make laws that will further separate them (and everyone else) from animals, thus turning the whole thing into a vicious circle.

But I'm not sure what to do about it, either.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Paffers on the prowl?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

We'll save that label for the (censored) barroom scene with the drinks that have tiny umbrellas in them. ;p

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Ooeer, I had no idea :D

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Are the childerns parents comfortable with
having their kids around someone in costume
like that? Someone with questionable politics
and that goes out to strange venues?

How long has this Harriet been allowed around
children?

*ducks*

^_^

[altivo.livejournal.com]

None of the parents present seemed to object to their children interacting with me. Many tried to encourage it, sometimes without success. One little girl about 3 years old maybe was fascinated and kept standing around staring at me but wouldn't come closer than eight feet away even to have her picture taken.

As for Harriet, well, she's fond of children and I don't mean fried for breakfast. Having raised three of her own and now actively helping with six grandchildren, she does know the practicalities of when to say "no" and how to enforce it, thank goodness.

As for politics, I'm already notable as a non-republican in a very republican county. Frankly, I think some people are more concerned that I might actually get their children to read books than they are about my politics. After all, reading is un-American. It promotes thinking instead of just sitting in front of the boob tube and believing whatever drivel it shows you.