Librarian leads Lynn Valley Storytime

Alison Campbell brings children’s literature to life

ALISON CAMPBELL does
not wear her hair in a bun.
Nor does she suffer from a
lack of fashion sense or
social skills, She is physi-
cally fit and enjoys a very
active lifestyle.

By Tina Gilbertson
Contributing Writer

“We have lives,’ asserts the
27-year-old librarian, who cur-
rently works part time at the Lynn
Valley branch of the North Van-
couver Distriet Publie Library on
1280 E. 27th St. in Lynn Valley.

Coincidentally, Campbell work-
ed at the same library when she
was a student at Sutherland Sec-
ondary, shelving books. Her
aspirations at that time did not
include library sciences.

“In fact,’ she says, ‘‘at one
point | swore I would never be a
librarian.”’

However, in a twist of fate,
Campbell ended up in the Master
of Library Sciences Program at
UBC.

And believe it or not, she never
intended to become a children's
librarian either. Again, destiny
prevailed.

“I took one course in children’s
literature and it reminded me of
all the books I enjoyed when [
was young and introduced me to
all the new children's books that
have been written since.

“I had a wonderful professor
— Judith Saltman. She was very
enthusiastic and inspiring."’

Campbell’s responsibilities in-
clude conducting storytime for
young children and facilitating
Super Readers (a sort of book

chib) for Grades 4 ta 7.

“fo remember thinking that if
someone had told me three years
ago that Id be singing songs and
telling stories to children, 1 would
have said tyou're crazy,’ she
says of the first dime she con-
ducted storytime, adding,
“especially the singing part."

Another part of the job for
Campbell is recommending books,
which is not always easy for
children.

“PE conduct a mini-interview,”
she explains, ‘finding out what
their interests are and what was
the last book they read that they

FOUR-YEAR-OLD Rachel
Storytime.

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really enjoyed."

hi order to please the hordes of
children who use her department,
Campbell keeps up to date on new
books being published, and carries
an ever-burgeoning fist of titles in
her head for all occasions. How
many? She reflects carefully be-
fore replying “A lot! with an air
of modest surprise,

As for reference books, which
are in constant demand
throughout the school year,
Campbell has an encyclopedic
knowledge of the Dewey decimal

See Reads page 46

listens attentively during

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beginning at...

NEWS photos Cindy Goodman

NORTH VAN librarian Alison Campbeli entertains her Storytime

audience.

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