Children's librarians are the superheroes of children's literature. Informed keepers of the gate, they struggle in these difficult economic times to bring books to us and our kids. Ann Wagner is no exception. I met Ann, who is also a poet, at a writing retreat in Santa Barbara this year. When I found out her day job was Youth Librarian for the Santa Monica Public Library Main Branch, I was anxious to interview her for the blog.
When and why did you become a children's librarian?
I graduated from San Jose State University with a Masters in Library and Information Science in December 2005, so I really haven’t been a librarian very long. Before that I worked in a variety of jobs—children’s bookstores, reference book publishers, a teen fan magazine, publications writer for nonprofits—and even got an MFA in writing (for adults; I won’t even tell you what my advisor said when I told him I was interested in writing for young people!)
What can parents do to help libraries in these tough economic times?
They can support the library by coming to programs, checking out materials, using its services. We keep statistics of library use, and show these to the people who hold the purse strings to remind them how much the community needs the library. Parents could also spread the word about all the services the library offers, maybe write to local papers about the value of the library to them. It wouldn’t hurt to write to a few politicians, either!
Name some of your favorite kidlit books and some of the new "hot" ones.
Hmm. I don’t think your blog has room for all my favorites. I love the book that won the Newbery Medal this year: Moon Over Manifest by Claire Vanderpool. When I read it some months back, I told my colleagues, “This should win the Newbery!” It’s historical fiction. That’s a favorite genre of mine. Karen Cushman’s books are favorites, too. I love poetry and try to get kids to love it, too. Favorite poets include Joyce Sidman, Joan Graham, Marilyn Singer, Aileen Fisher, Lee Bennett Hopkins, Alice Schertle, Kristine O’Connell George, and so many more. Also novels in poems, like the ones by Sharon Creech, Sonya Sones, Stephanie Hemphill, Ellen Hopkins. And wonderful animal books. So many of my young patrons want animal books. Did you read The Underneath by Kathi Appelt? Marvelous! Or how about the Humphrey the Hamster books by Betty Birney? There are also some great books that may not be making the PW headlines, but never stay on our shelves, like the Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan, and the Emily Windsnap books by Liz Kessler. As for classics, I could re-read Winnie-the-Pooh, The Wind in the Willows and E.B. White’s books over and over and over.
Name some of your favorite kidlit blogs
Yours is one, of course! I’m discovering more and more of them. Checking KidLitosphere Central http://www.kidlitosphere.org helps. This is not my complete list, but some of the blogs I follow are:
Lee Wind, http://www.leewind.org/
Pen and Ink, http://thepenandinkblog.blogspot.com/; http://gottabook.blogspot.com/
Being a librarian, I like this one, too: http://readroger.hbook.com/
And this one because I also facilitate writing workshops and visits by writers to the library: http://www.teachingauthors.com/
What is your favorite dessert and why?
Chocolate-dipped strawberries. Two perfect foods together. And there’s no graceful way to eat them, so you might as well just chuck the façade and be yourself.
Short bio:
Born in New Jersey on an army base. Moved around a lot but settled in Santa Monica, CA when I was 8, so I’ve lived here a long time. Lived and went to university for one year in Stirling, Scotland. Graduated from UCLA with a BA in English, U of Arizona with an MFA in Writing; San Jose State U with a Master of Library and Information Science degree. I’m now a Youth Services Librarian at the Santa Monica Public Library, Main Branch. http://www.smpl.org I’ve had poetry for adults published in a few journals, and poetry for children in magazines including Cricket and two anthologies edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins: America at War and Sharing the Seasons.
Everyone seems to recognize that Ann is a terrific librarian, but everyone should know that Ann is also a brilliant writer. Take a look at her published poems some time and I think you'll agree.
Posted by: Betsy Rosenthal | April 25, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Tina, thanks for spotlighting the talented Ann Wagner! Ann, thanks for your kind mention and for all you do to connect young readers with poetry!
Posted by: Joan Bransfield Graham | April 15, 2011 at 01:44 PM
What a wonderful, informative post about my best friend since third grade, Ann Wagner! Ann has found her niche as a children's librarian. It's great to see a friend succeed, and provide the same love and info that I found as a kid at the amazing Santa Monica Public Library. Long Live public libraries, and awesome librarians!
Posted by: Debbie Markowitz | April 13, 2011 at 04:10 PM
Ann Wagner! I can't believe she graduated only 1 year before I did! I've heard so many wonderful things about her, it's hard to believe that we are actually (sort of) peers.
Posted by: Madigan | April 13, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Jennifer, I agree with your comment about the great tip--to help libraries, use them more! That's easy to do, and having more books, documentaries and movies around the house makes life so much richer.
Posted by: Caroline Hatton | April 13, 2011 at 09:31 AM
Great interview! (Ann, I saw you at Sonya's book launch -- sorry we didn't get a chance to gab!)
Posted by: Lisa Yee | April 12, 2011 at 12:15 PM
You can see the enthusiasm as Ann starts listing favorite books! I bet that section coulda gone on for a long, long time. Thanks for sharing, Ann and Tina!
Posted by: Gregory K. | April 12, 2011 at 08:28 AM
Terrific interview - thanks to both of you!
Posted by: Robyn Hood Black | April 12, 2011 at 07:48 AM
Great interview Tina. I liked your questions, especially the one asking what we could do to support our libraries!
Posted by: Jennifer Young | April 12, 2011 at 07:04 AM
Thanks for this wonderful interview! It was fun getting to learn a little more about Ann and her journey to becoming a librarian. :-)
Posted by: Dianne | April 12, 2011 at 05:39 AM