Dear Readers,
Before I let you meet a bonus Super Librarian today, I have a request for all the authors and illustrators (and famous people). I started a new school this week. I would like to do something cool for my school and classmates. Would my author and illustrator friends & readers please, pretty please, send notes to my school encouraging my classmates to read? If you would like to, please email us at bridgetandthebooks at gmail.com and my assistant (aka Mom) will share my school address with you.
Thank you!!
And now Meet Deni Buendorf
Super Librarian
Name of Library: Buckham Memorial Library (Faribault’s public library)
http://www.faribault.org/library http://www.Facebook.com/BuckhamMemorialLibrary
What kind of librarian are you? Children’s Librarian
How long have you been a librarian? Since May 9, 2013
What lead you to wanting to be a librarian? I had a fantastic librarian when I was in elementary school, Mr. Kemmer. I loved it when he would read aloud to my class because he was able to books come to life in a way that I had never experienced before. He was also the smartest person I knew because he could always find the answer to anything that we asked him. I wanted to be just like him when I grew up.
How do you pick books for your library? Lots of ways. I read several review journals, like Horn and School Library Journal and VOYA. I also read blogs and check bestseller lists. Most importantly, I pay attention to what children and youth are looking for, what is getting checked out the most, and I try to keep up with what is currently popular. My nieces and nephews keep me well informed as do all of my library friends. I take recommendations very seriously. And I also read a lot of children’s books and juvenile fiction of course.
Do you have a favorite author? Just one?! Okay fine, Beverly Cleary. Nope, I can’t do it. I also adore Judy Blume, Lois Lowry, Mo Willems, and Ann M. Martin.
How do you decide what book to recommend to a specific kid? I talk to the kid and find out what they like to do, what they want to learn more about, the places they’d like to go, the foods they’d like to eat, the sports they like to play, what their favorite animals are, and what they want to be when they grow up. Knowing these things makes it a lot easier to help a kid find the book that is just the right one for them.
You are such a special person. My mom just turned 90 last week and her best friend since 4th grade turned 90 the day before. Her best friend was a librarian, my librarian in K-6th grade. We still talk about the good ole days of reading books at the library and her ability to pick the most fun books to read out loud and really play through the story!
Thank you for keeping reading alive, as I venture into my first book being published by the end of the year – your ability to engage children is priceless. Thank you – thank you!
Wow! Thank you for the kind words. 🙂
Such a great librarian and person. Years from now some will say “Ms Deni Buendorf inspired me”.
Aww, thanks Uncle Jim! 🙂