The kids that participate are the same ones who check out a bunch of books during the school year. They just don’t get prizes for it. They do it because they want to.”

The sad truth is that we pat ourselves on the back for our incredible participation numbers for summer reading, when the truth is we are luring the kids in with prizes and no darn well that many of them are simply filling in their logs without actually reading. Do I really believe the Young Miss has read 3 chapter books since yesterday to complete the first level and get her incentive prize to keep going? Heck no. Do I give her the prize anyway? Of course. Do I believe that Junior, who just signed up for summer reading earlier this week, has really completed all the program requirements and is now eligible to spin the wheel for his fabulous finishing prizes? Of course not, but “spin away kid, spin away”!

In the end, the kids who like to read will. The kids who don’t, won’t. The kids who have parents that encourage them to be readers will be encouraged. Other kids will simply never get that encouragement. The reality of librarians making a difference for those kids is pretty unlikely.

I am going to ask for a pay cut so that the AL can have a raise. I am unworthy and think that the AL deserves much, much more than I do.

me too, I would think some basic spelling skills should come before basic research methods in your case. Oh, did I say that aloud?

I find is amusing — this discussion about the great piece of research from Dominican. One of our professions most highly regarded twopointopians teaches there.

Maybe they need a few less classes about gaming in the library and a little more basic research methods.

Let’s destroy the profession from within while it is being destroyed from the outside by the Internets, budget cuts, etc.

A good strategy.