Message to Children in D cuments and Literature on Children’s Libraries and Librarians

Abstract

Libraries for children and young adults are social, cultural, and educational organizations that provide the widest range of educational services for this delicate category of users. These services include the provision of information on the basis of which ideological and ethical principles are formed, as well as scientific and cultural knowledge from various fields, in written, electronic, and audiovisual forms. A good children’s library becomes friend to children during the process of acquiring primary education and literacy skills enabling them to participate and contribute to the development of the community in the future. Based on the UNICEF Convention on the Rights of the Child, IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines for Development 2001, IFLA Guidelines for Library Services to Children aged 0–18, documents and papers presented at IFLA congresses, and a number of sources dealing with these issues, the paper discusses the mission, vision, goals, resources, and the role of children’s libraries, as well as inclusive services and the needs of children that they can meet. It also attempts to answer the question of what is expected of children’s libraries and librarians who work with children. The aim of the article is to show the librarians the path and ways to traverse and change their ways of handling the library resources and services in the future.