Crash Course in Children's Services - 2nd Edition by Penny Peck (Paperback)

About the Book

"Useful for newcomers to the children's library staff as well as longtime children's librarians, the second edition of this popular handbook provides easy-to-follow instructions to make innovations in children's library materials work for you"--

Book Synopsis

Useful for newcomers to the children's library staff as well as longtime children's librarians, the second edition of this popular handbook provides easy-to-follow instructions to make innovations in children's library materials work for you.

Addressing everything from the basics of reference to the complex and highly specialized duties of program development, this handbook is perfect for both librarians and support staff who are assigned to the children's department of a library. This second addition of Crash Course in Children's Services covers many of the new issues facing children's library staff, including eBooks, using apps in programming, other online reading options, book trailers, nonfiction and the Common Core curriculum. It also describes expanded programming options such as makerspaces, gaming, dog reading programs, and play at storytime.

Ideal for new children's librarians as well as experienced library staff who have not worked with children recently and long-time children's librarians looking to add new skills to their tool kits, the book familiarizes readers with all the new developments of the past few years, from online reading options to the wealth of new programming aimed at youth. You'll learn about subjects such as pop-up and passive programming, offering online homework help, and outreach and services to special needs children, and then quickly implement new practices into use at your library.

Review Quotes

"Penny Peck's "Crash Course in Children's ServiceS" offers guidance on the whole range of service to children, from collection development to crowd control. Though the book is geared toward small libraries, there are tips that can be put to use in larger settings as well." -

American Libraries

"Aimed at those utterly new to the field of children's services, this nuts-and-bolts guide by a San Leandro PL, CA, senior youth services librarian covers reference, readers' advisory, homework help, book selection, story time, and other types of programming and ongoing issues in children's services, such as latchkey children, behavior problems, and computer and Internet access....[p]araprofessionals and others new to this field will find this book to be a valuable starting point for achieving competency in the field." -

Library Journal

"Peck offers those working in small public libraries a quick overview of services for children. Seven chapters focus on the practical aspects of (for example) homework help, readers' advisory, storytime, and programming. The final chapter deals with special issues such as latchkey children, non-English speakers, and Internet access." -

Reference & Research Book News

"Aimed at those utterly new to the field of children's services, this nuts-and-bolts guide by a San Leandro PL, CA, senior youth services librarian covers reference, readers' advisory, homework help, book selection, story time, and other types of programming and ongoing issues in children's services, such as latchkey children, behavior problems, and computer and Internet access....[p]araprofessionals and others new to this field will find this book to be a valuable starting point for achieving competency in the field."-Library Journal

"Peck offers those working in small public libraries a quick overview of services for children. Seven chapters focus on the practical aspects of (for example) homework help, readers' advisory, storytime, and programming. The final chapter deals with special issues such as "latchkey" children, non-English speakers, and Internet access."-Reference & Research Book News

"Penny Peck's Crash Course in Children's Services offers guidance on the whole range of service to children, from collection development to crowd control. Though the book is geared toward small libraries, there are tips that can be put to use in larger settings as well."-American Libraries

?Peck offers those working in small public libraries a quick overview of services for children. Seven chapters focus on the practical aspects of (for example) homework help, readers' advisory, storytime, and programming. The final chapter deals with special issues such as "latchkey" children, non-English speakers, and Internet access.?-Reference & Research Book News

?Aimed at those utterly new to the field of children's services, this nuts-and-bolts guide by a San Leandro PL, CA, senior youth services librarian covers reference, readers' advisory, homework help, book selection, story time, and other types of programming and ongoing issues in children's services, such as latchkey children, behavior problems, and computer and Internet access....[p]araprofessionals and others new to this field will find this book to be a valuable starting point for achieving competency in the field.?-Library Journal

?Penny Peck's Crash Course in Children's Services offers guidance on the whole range of service to children, from collection development to crowd control. Though the book is geared toward small libraries, there are tips that can be put to use in larger settings as well.?-American Libraries

About the Author

Penny Peck is a part-time instructor at the School of Library and Information Science at San Jose State University, CA.