Labour of Love

It wasn't the collection, digital piano, self service kiosks, or even the "wand" that impressed me most during today's tour of the Barbican Library. It was the people. Geraldine and Johnathan, our gracious hosts and guides showed us various areas of the facility and explained many of the library's policies and procedures with smiles on their faces. They seemed very happy to have us visit, almost as if we were doing them a favor by being there instead of the other way around.

As our tour progressed we met a the children's librarian who invited us to take a seat in the story area as she told us about services for children and youth. Jonathan took a picture of our group . I'm sure that 15 adults in the story area does not happen very often in Barbican Library!

I was particularly intrigued by Bookstart, a national program that provides free bookpacks to babies born in the United Kingdom through age five. I was also surprised to learn that Dolly Parton launched a similar program, Imagination Library, that serves children in Sevier County, Tennessee in 1996. After learning about how these literacy programs aim to get books into the hands of children at a young age, we were treated to a surprise snack: tea! It should not have been a surprise, because snacks and story corners go hand in hand. We gathered in the staff area and had tea and cakes while chatting with the librarians, a great way to conclude our visit.

We then walked to St. Paul's Cathedral where our "super" tour guide, James led us around the beautiful church. Just like the librarians at the Barbican; our Blue Badge Guides Hugh and Liz ; and Robert at the Salisbury Cathedral, it was obvious that he, too, took great pride and joy in his job as a cathedral volunteer, or "working friend," as his badge

indicated.

Throughout our time hear in London, our group has been very fortunate to interact with individuals who seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs. The majority of us are library science students and I hope that as we begin for some, and continue for others, our library careers, that we too, will share their labor of love as we serve our patrons.