The Places You Will Go

Space to Read

From Tots to Teens, StarMag

LAST Sunday I visited the public library in my neighbourhood. I like libraries - I used them a lot when I was a poor student in Singapore and England - and I think they and librarians play an important role in encouraging children to read, and nurturing those who already love books. I'd heard both good and bad things about the neighbourhood library and wanted to see for myself. I'm still finding my way with the library I've set up and I wanted to check out this library's collection, and the way it is run.

Dislike These? Well, Your Daughter Probably Loves Them!

Are books like Gossip Girl, A-List and The Clique the sort you want your kids to read? Should such books be included in libraries? Would parents like young adult books to come with warning stickers?

You can read what I think in today's Tots to Teens, which I've so helpfully reproduced below ... ;-)

Do also read Roger Sutton's comments in his blog, and try the link to Naomi Wolf's article and Q&A. You will have to register (if you haven't already) to read it but it's FOC.

Off to the Library

My bookcases are once again bursting at their seams (or equivalent). I have to have another clear-out. Soon.

It's difficult to choose what books to remove from my collection but at least I know that they'll be going to a good home: I can't remember if I've blogged about the library I'm helping set up. It's in Section 17 Petaling Jaya and when it's up and running it's going to have a rather good collection of children's books - if I say so myself.

Anyway, I'm going to spend a few hours this evening going through my books and choosing titles to "retire". I will ask myself the following questions to help me decide:

1. Have I ever read this book?
2. Did I know I owned this book?
3. Will I ever read this book (again)?
4. Do I want my children to read it someday?

To justify keeping a book, I need to say yes to at least three of these questions., but it's not like I'll never see the ones that have to go ever again cos they'll be right there in the library.

My old Puffins are definitely staying though. I write about them in today's Tots to Teens and I've pasted the whole article at the end of this post.

Puffin celebrates 65 years this year and Kinokuniya is offering a 20% discount on one Puffin per cutout of the column.