Yellow Pages
Despite predictions a decade or so ago that television, video games and the Internet would destroy youth literacy and render libraries obsolete, the Anacortes Public Library’s Children’s Library is still lively and relevant, largely thanks to Rae Kozloff.
Continuing to keep the library relevant for kids will be someone else’s responsibility next month, after Kozloff retires Dec. 31 after 20 years as children’s librarian in Anacortes.
“Rae has fostered a warm and caring environment, promoting harmony and positive relationships with both staff and patrons,” said Library Director Cynthia Harrison in the library’s winter newsletter. “She will be greatly missed.”
There is rarely a dull moment at the Children’s Library. The smallest toddlers sit on their parents’ laps and hear happy tales during weekday story times, and older kids love the evening pajama story time.
Teens enjoy monthly art projects designed to appeal to them, such as a recent one on duct-tape fashion accessories. Future readers paint illustrations for books such as “Little Toot” or add a handprint to a Thanksgiving display.
Kozloff said some things have changed during her decades in the library. She said today’s children are busier.
“Some of our programs don’t get the attention we’d like,” she said.
After school kids have sports and many other activities that keep them from heading to the library.
“I think they’re just so busy,” she said. “They have so much going on.”
Fewer children come in after school for help with homework. They may be turning to tutoring programs offered by the Boys and Girls Club or National Honor Society, or getting research material on the Internet. But Kozloff said they still come to the library with other issues.
“They’ve shifted from homework-related questions to personal-related questions,” she said.
While circulation of youth materials has remained about the same during her tenure, she said the mix has changed, with more audiovisual materials going out.
“Nonfiction still checks out – about pets, animals, other countries, games, jokes,” she said.
In the summer, when kids are not so tightly scheduled, they come to the library in droves for the events and to earn reading prizes.
“People who felt that books would disappear were very wrong,” Kozloff said.
Although the veteran librarian sees a shortage of good literature for those in grades 4-6, she said there has been an explosion in publishing for teens and young adults.
“I think that’s partly because of Harry Potter,” she said.
When asked if the young wizard will be enough to keep leading preadolescents to discover the joys of reading, she said there may be a number of good series for preteens, but there are fewer beginning books for them. For younger readers there are a lot of picture books, and entry-level books are much better than they used to be, she said.
“I think children’s publishing is wonderful, just lacking in that one area,” she said.
Kozloff came to work at the library after former children’s librarian Donna Rawhouser retired in 1988. She had just earned a master’s degree in library and information science at the University of Washington. She has a master’s in linguistics and is fluent in Russian, Czech and French, and before coming to Anacortes she taught English to French children.
Her arrival at the Anacortes Public Library was heralded in June of 1988, when the Anacortes American featured a large photo of Kozloff surrounded by children at one of her first story time readings.
Over the years she also has extended her expertise to other library departments. She regularly provided general reference services, managed the technical services department, acted as assistant director and represented the staff on the art selection and library planning committees. She was chief administrator who facilitated the recent library computer systems and catalog upgrade.
She has retained her interest in international and cultural diversity, and many of her youth programs focused on other cultures. She was active in the establishment of the Anacortes Sister Cities Association and visited Russia with the group.
She said she will still be in Anacortes, perhaps trying something new, interesting—and part time.
“I’m actually just slowing down. I’d rather not work full time now,” she said.
But she has enjoyed watching a generation grow up and begin to bring their own kids to the library. She knows this will be a big change for herself and the community.
“I’ll miss the library staff and all the patrons,” she said.
