Continuing our theme this month, I had the pleasure to connect with Jennie Mayfield, a Children's Librarian, currently working on the Children’s Programs and Services team at The New York Public Library. With so much changing in the children's literature landscape, we are thankful for Jennie's insight and expertise! Check out her interview!
I have been a Children's Librarian since 2021. I started at NYPL in 2019 as a Children’s Librarian Trainee in the Bronx and completed my MSLIS degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
-Q2: What inspired you to become a librarian and tell us what you find the most rewarding
I came to libraries a bit circuitously, as my undergraduate degree was a BFA in Acting. After being on the audition grind and working a million part time jobs I decided that I needed to take space and decide what came next by moving to Paris, France to be an au pair. While in Paris, I thought a lot about what drew me to acting, and I realized I loved sharing stories and experiences with people, and another great way to do that is by sharing books. From there I became a volunteer in the Children’s Department at the American Library in Paris and realized I wanted to become a Children’s Librarian.
I find our work within the community incredibly rewarding. Getting to know children and helping them develop their reading tastes is such a great feeling. One of my favorite memories from working in the branches was handing a copy of Stella’s Stellar Hair to a parent and their child after they had asked for books similar to Hair Love. They brought the book back three days later, and I asked if they enjoyed it and the parent said, “Oh we loved it so much that we bought a copy, so we’re bringing it back so other kids can enjoy this one.” Truly, there is no better feeling than nailing a book recommendation.
-Q3: In your opinion, what role do you think libraries play in supporting education, equality, and access to information?
Libraries play a major role in supporting education, equality, and access to information, and we do so holistically, supporting our communities from birth through adulthood. One major way we support education and equity is by supporting parents and caregivers. Parents or caregivers are often a child’s first and most important teachers, and the library supports these teachers. We offer storytimes to introduce books and early literacy strategies that grown-ups may not be aware of, we introduce concepts that are really important to a child’s development like playing or singing. We provide resources like toys, third spaces for socializing, and information on other community initiatives and resources.
We also continue this support through school with our free, drop-in tutoring service NYPL After School, allowing kids to access high-quality homework help regardless of socioeconomic status. We also offer KidsLIVE programming, introducing kids to authors, so they can learn from the creative people that shaped the stories they like to read. These programs are hybrid (meaning they are in-person and livestreamed online), to create equity so the talks aren’t just limited to the children that are able to show up to a particular branch. Our KidsLIVE talk this month was attended by children in Staten Island, the Bronx, and Manhattan, and focused on the anthology You Were Made for this World: Celebrated Indigenous Voices Speak to Young People. We not only provided access and equity to kids throughout the system, but we were able to celebrate and amplify Indigenous voices.
-Q4: As you are well aware, there is a growing trend of book bans and challenges that is sweeping the nation. Would you share some thoughts about this and how you feel it impacts our community and readership?
I feel like the homogenizing of literature will have negative impacts on kids and their interest in and ability to read. Kids need mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors when they are reading! They need to see their own experience reflected back at them, a mirror. They need to read about what others experience, a window. They also need to read about what could be possible for them to experience, a sliding glass door. Making sure children have access to all three types of reading experiences is important for creating well-rounded, empathetic, global citizens. It also helps children develop their own taste and interest in reading because every child is different. If we are banning books, we’re providing less options. You never know exactly what will get a kid to become a lifelong reader and library user, so having a multitude of high quality options is important. Think of all the times you were told, “everyone should read this book” and the book wasn’t for you? If we are limiting options, children may give up the hunt for their next favorite book.
-Q5: What would you like to say to those who want to fight back against the freedom to read? How have you kept your hope up during this time?
Keep on fighting! For every book challenge that I hear about, I remember the joy that kids find when they find the right book for them. I am also doing my best to uplift and empower authors whose work I’m excited about. That comes in many forms, whether it’s recommending new books to children, inviting authors for author talks, or supporting the purchase of a title for our collections.
-Q6: If you could share one message with people who may not visit libraries often, what would you want them to understand about why libraries are still vital in our society?
Libraries are a great equalizer. Information used to be reserved only for the elite, but public libraries take information, and make it accessible to people from all walks of life. Whether it’s a service you use or not, having access when or if you need it is imperative for an equitable society.
Jennie Mayfield is a Children's Librarian, currently working on the Children’s Programs and Services team at The New York Public Library. She is a slime enthusiast and you can usually find her participating in community theater or reading a middle grade or mystery novel.
