The future of libraries as we know them is up in the air in our increasingly digital world, and in many settings their identity is shifting from a physical collection of books to a virtual portal housing high-tech media.
Thanks to a new library kit toy, however, pretend libraries are looking stronger than ever.
Little Librarian, a toy created by a mother and daughter team from Madison, WI, lets children play librarian by giving them library cards, classic-style book pockets, bookmarks and more. They could also use the toy to supplement their allowance by slapping family members with exorbitant overdue fines for books checked out from their Little Library.
Kids who attempt to insert batteries or plug the kit into an electrical outlet will likely be shocked that it does not require power and may have to have this concept explained to them by a parent.
The supplies in the kit are meant to be combined with an existing collection of books, and using the toy will teach children valuable skills relating to organization, record-keeping, sharing, and creativity. It also contains a journal that chart reading progress and has awards to give out for their achievements.
The toy was named a finalist in Disney Family Fun Magazine’s Toy of the Year contest.
Little Librarian, you are tickle city!
(Also, for the record, real libraries aren’t going anywhere. The question is only how they will continue to re-invent themselves as we move forward. They’ve done a fantastic job so far!)
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on October 20th, 2010 at 9:20 am
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Karen Neves and Roen Janyk, Meghan Radomske. Meghan Radomske said: RT @rjanyk: Who ever said librarians were going out of style? Now everyone wants to be one 'when they grow up' http://bit.ly/dqlFdi […]
on October 20th, 2010 at 10:52 am
This is awesome! But it looks really boring for a kid… But I can see some families really liking this. At least it’s not some game where you shoot someone dead like so many games are now these days.
on October 20th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Was any one else reminded of that scene from the Tom Hanks movie ‘Big’ where there’s a toy that transforms into a building, and Tom Hanks is like, ‘who wants to play with a building?’.
I imagine that discussion should have taken place between the mother and daughter team who made this toy.
on December 1st, 2010 at 11:29 am
Has anyone evaluated Little Librarian for educational value, or whether it is anything more than a “toy” before endorsing it as inspiring future librarians? Wonder what ALA thinks.
I tend to agree, who wants to play with a passé paper library? Where’s the computer and searching and social networking? Don’t most “kids” like that stuff these days? Seems a bit like coming out with an abacus toy in the 1980s when home computers were hitting the market.
Walsh Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 11:58 pm
I think is definitely has educational value, but in the sense of teaching kids skills like organization and sharing, not accurately depicting the library profession. It’s also a great way to promote reading.
The problem is, it’s being released at a sensitive time for many librarians as they strive to demonstrate their value in a changing world, and just don’t like some of the language that’s used. ALA’s opinion would certainly be interesting.
Just because libraries are turning high-tech, should we forget about the fun we can have with books? This toy isn’t going to completely shape kids’ perceptions of libraries.