Otaku Librarian
Sesheta is the internet alterego of a 29 year old Children’s Librarian in New York. You can check out her blog at: http://seshetastemple.blogspot.com/. She collects action figures and comic books and is consistently trying new ways to communicate with her cat.
So, a little boy strolls up to the children’s desk wearing an Avatar: The Last Airbender T-shirt and my first reaction is, “SQUEE! I love Avatar! I love Toph! Who’s your favorite character?”
Bad idea?
I don’t want to be the stuffy stereotype of a librarian with a tight bun and my lips always pursed and poised to “SHHHH” at any given moment. And while I have a fondness for skirts and cardigans, I have grown up a fan of anime, manga, cartoons, superheroes and other such items of fandom.
On one hand this can be an attribute. As a former reluctant reader, these common interests can work as a doorway to a long lasting relationship with a young patron. With many common interests, I’m looking to connect them with a great story. After all, at the root of most anime, cartoons, and comics are great stories and memorable characters.
Sadly, “SQUEE” is probably inappropriate as (sigh) I am an adult figure of authority. I am behind the desk in order to provide services and meet their needs. It would be uncomfortable for me if an 8 year old patron and their parents caught me cosplaying at a convention, but if I were to squeal, the same child may take me a tad less seriously next time I tell him his computer time is up or that he shouldn’t be running in the library.
So what is a good way to share a common interest with a young patron and avoid coming off as a silly fangirl? Here is how it went down with the aforementioned Avatar fan.
Me: Oh hey, I see you watch Avatar?
Kid: Umm yeah.
Me: Did you see the whole series?
Kid: Yeah.
Me: What did you think of it?
Kid: It was pretty good.
Me: I liked it too. I think Toph was my favorite character.
Kid: (Smiles) She was cool. I liked Sokka though.
See, he realizes I’m not BSing him and instead I have made a connection.
Me: You should check out the Five Ancestors books by Jeff Stone.
Kid: I guess.
Me: Well they have that cool martial arts, fantasy thing going for them like in Avatar.
Kid: (Looks at the books) Yeah, that sounds pretty cool.
And there you have it. A successful mix of business and geekery resulting in a reluctant reader opening up to a whole new series. Try to put as many child friendly super hero books and movies on your shelves. Know your material. Do not be ashamed to tell a young patron you loved The Transformers movie. Be proud if you spend your down time watching Spongebob or Fairly Odd Parents. You probably would be best holding off conversations about Robot Chicken but really you get the idea. We have the best of all worlds at our finger tips in a library and we can share it as long as we allow ourselves to connect appropriately with young readers. On both their level and ours, there are common grounds.
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8 Comments
Nicely put!
Agreed Bob. I really enjoyed putting this post together. I think for a lot of people into fandom/sci fi/anime there is a thin line you have to walk between peer and authority figure. Its an interesting topic.
You have a great approach here. Probably going all Fangirl would have been off-putting not necessarily because you are in authority, but because he doesn’t really know you. The low-key approach could be mimicked successful with other age groups. This interaction sounds like one with a teenager too.
And between fans age is a minor thing.
Besides why should kids be the only ones to have so much of the good stuff.
http://otakupubliclibrary.blogspot.com/
Spoke at a Graphic Novel workshop with NY librarian who has this site, you might be interested in if you haven’t seen it.
Good call! If you allow yourself to get too gushy it just comes off like that grown-up trying out teen speak/slang…no good, even if you’re sincere, because you’ll totally lose them. You’ve just become like any other adult, trying to win them over or humor them. I’ve had some great conversations with my teens about manga and anime because I do take it seriously-and I take that reader’s (or viewers’ in the case of anime) advisory seriously too. Now the problem I have is that occasionally they give me so much credit for knowing my stuff that sometimes they overestimate me–assuming I know more than I actually do! But then it just gives me an excuse to do fun research. I love my job
–fellow Otaku librarian
Thanks for the kind words everyone! I enjoy being a librarian AND an otaku in addition to a fan girl of many other things nerdy. ^_^.
As a library patron, parent and Avatar fan I really appreciate your approach with this opportunity. While you advice is targeted at librarians, I think a number of other youth service providers (teach, coach, babysitter,etc) could take the lesson to heart. Showing your humanity and interest in a subject of interest opened a gateway… CONGRATS!