We handle these situations on a case by case basis, depending on the ages of children, recurrence of behavior from returning patrons, and whatever else is going on in the library. We try to head off chaotic
situations by greeting people, by name if possible, when they enter the Children’s Library, and engaging them when we’re up and walking around. We also often have activities which encourage kids to interact with us at the circ desk (scavenger hunts with a
small prize), with the hope that more personal interactions will lead families to more ownership of caretaking the space. Occasionally, that seems to work.
Often we flat out bribe children, while describing the situation so that parents have an opportunity to reflect on how toy chaos impacts others, and maybe help as well. “Guess what – it’s what we call ‘Bribe
Time’ in the library! Ms. Megan needs to go home soon, and we’d like to clean up before she leaves. If you’d like to help us, we’ll give everyone who cleans up X number of toys a bribe - some candy (as long as it’s okay with your grownup)/one of our 3D printed
experiments/a squishy!” Something like that, depending on what we have lying around (usually left over from a program or summer reading or something).
And sometimes there’s no hope, and we just pick up a lot of toys. When we have new staff, we just let them know that in the Children’s Library, we have to be okay with a certain amount of chaos.
Good luck to us all.
Jenna Reed
Branch Lead, Children’s Library
St. Clair County Library System
210 McMorran Blvd.
Port Huron, MI 48060
(810) 987-7323 ext. 2515/2516
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Dear Librarians,
Do you ever have parents bring their children to the children's room to play and they just visit with the adults and let the children tear apart the room and then leave. How can you suggest
that it is a learning process to return the toys to their place.
Stephanie Daniels, Director
Vanderlyn Community Center & Hartford Public Library
12 Church Street
Hartford, MI 49057
(269)588-5103