Fundamentals of Children's Services

This comprehensive guide serves as an essential professional development resource for anyone building or maintaining children's library services, offering practical strategies for both daily operations and long-term planning. Michael Sullivan provides a thorough overview of children's programming, collection development, and community engagement techniques that have proven effective in real library settings. The book addresses critical questions about sustaining quality children's services through changing times and budgets, making it particularly valuable for library professionals seeking to future-proof their programs. Its hands-on approach transforms theoretical concepts into actionable plans that can be implemented across different library systems and community needs.

What distinguishes this resource is its universal applicability across experience levels, serving equally well as a training manual for newcomers and a strategic refresher for seasoned children's librarians. Library administrators and trustees will find invaluable insights for allocating resources and advocating for youth services, while practicing librarians gain concrete methods for improving storytimes, reader's advisory, and literacy initiatives. This volume effectively becomes the professional standard for children's library science, offering the foundational knowledge needed to create vibrant, sustainable library experiences for young patrons. Its comprehensive coverage ensures that libraries can develop children's services that not only survive but thrive in their communities.