A smile goes a long way.  Librarians should smile, not only in the library, but in the hallways, in the classrooms, in the office, and in the grocery store.  Smiling at students, colleagues, and parents costs nothing but sincerity.  And I believe it can go a long way toward building your library program.

During my masters work at GSLIS we discussed in several classes how to make the library a welcoming place.  I believe that starts OUTSIDE of the library itself.  If you are truly friendly to students it will go a long way in making them want to enter your doors. 

On the way into the school building in the morning is a prime opportunity, I believe.  It is often the students with troubled homes who show up first in the morning and stand around outside our building.  They would rather stand in the cold and/or rain than stay at home; how sad is that?  As I walk in I try to say good morning to most of the kids I pass.  I’m terrible with names, but I can say good morning to all of them.  Often those closest to the door will rush to open it for me and I’m sure to leave them with a positive comment such as, “How very thoughtful (or polite, or kind) of you.  Thank you so much.”  I’m sincere, and I hope it shows.  Sometimes I will say to a boy, “What a gentleman.”  I like to believe it makes a difference.

Some of the staff hurry by without making eye contact, dashing into the building to get their papers xeroxed or whatever… but there are some who, like me, greet the kids.  It is important.

I see over half of the district’s students as they grow from K-8th grade.  I love seeing them when I occassionally need to make a trip through the halls at our adjoining high school.  But one day as I walked through the halls over there one of the students who attended the school where I do not serve commented after I passed, “She is SO grade school.”  Why?  Was it my Santa Claus shirt?  Very appropriate at the grade school since it was December.  Too grade school for high school, I thought at first.  And then I wondered if it was my smile and greeting as they passed me.  I didn’t know them, but I said hello anyway.  Shame on me for breaking through their adolescent detachment.  How “grade school” of me.  So- high school librarians – I beg you to smile and greet your way through the halls in spite of their cynical resistance.  When they need information assistance they are more likely to approach you for help if you do.

A smiling, positive, friendly attitude is something that school libraries of all size budgets can afford.  And unlike the book budget, the SMILE quota never runs out.  So hit the doors next August with a smile, won’t you?!  We will be…

Our back-to-school theme this year will include around 50 smiley face balloons.  (The balloons are being recycled from my husband’s 50th birthday party in May!)  Hopefully it will set the tone for all that we are happy to be back to school… and happy to see you in the library!