'Miss Mandi' Harris sparks literary love in young readers

Meet Mandi Harris, youth services librarian at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. Mandi can think of no happier way to spend her life than learning from kids and books. Mandi is often the loudest person in the library and has been shushed more than once, but has never shushed anyone.

Generation: I probably embody all of the millennial stereotypes, but I am OK with that! Since I work with children, I'm less concerned with my own generation and more concerned with what I and my fellow millennials can do for the generations behind us. How can we leave a better world? What skills can we pass on to help them navigate a world that moves so quickly? My goal is to help children discover the world around them and the worlds within them. I believe in multiple literacies, and through the library, I want to foster traditional literacy, information literacy, health literacy and social-emotional literacy for children and families.

Career and community involvement: I have been at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library for six months. Prior to that, I was a youth services specialist at the Hayden branch of the Community Library Network for six years. I graduated with my Master of Librarian and Information Science from the University of Washington in June, where I received the Ruth Worden Award for Student Excellence in Library and Information Science. In Coeur d’Alene, I lead programs for ages birth-12. I love everything about what I do. I read to babies, dance with toddlers, talk about shapes and colors with preschoolers and do computer coding with elementary-schoolers. I adore helping each child find just the right book. There is a reader for every book, and a book for every reader. The library belongs to the community — I want children and families to see their library as a welcoming place of joy, laughter, creativity, exploration and imagination.

1. Why did you decide to build your career out of kids and books?

As a kid, I was a bookworm and would alphabetize and organize my books for fun. When I was 12, I asked my parents to drive me to our local library in Roseburg, Ore., so I could apply to volunteer in the children’s section. Kids and books were a natural career choice for me. Story time is my happy place. I consider myself lucky to live in a community that loves and supports its libraries. It is a privilege to watch kids and families learn and grow. Being a children’s librarian also appeals to my many interests. In addition to books, I get to be involved in art, math, science, writing and sports — all through kids library programs.

2. How do you motivate children to be enthusiastic about reading?

James Patterson says, “There's no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.” I agree. Any reading that sparks a love of books is good reading! Audiobooks and graphic novels are a great way to bring a love of reading to reluctant readers. Another way to motivate kids to be enthusiastic about reading is to expand on the topics we are reading about. Science experiments and art projects spark kids’ curiosity and imagination. I also believe in kid-led programs. I have two book clubs this summer, and what the kids talk about drives what we do for the next week’s discussion and activity time. One week the kids had questions about why things sink or float in water, so we discussed relative density. They still had questions, so the next week we built miniature boats and tested them. Also, it's never too early to start reading. Babies love books! The more a child is read to, the more they will grow up to love reading, especially if they see their caregivers enjoying books.

3. What is a story that inspired you or influenced you when you were a kid?

"Anne of Green Gables" was my favorite book growing up. It is still one I turn to over and over. Like Anne Shirley, I talked too much, read too much and daydreamed too much. Reading about her shenanigans always helped me feel better about my own too much-ness. I'm not sure if I related to her because we were so much alike or if I tried to make myself like her because I admired her so much. In the books, Anne grows up to work with children, so she inspired my eventual career choice.

4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I’ve been to libraries in six countries on three continents! When I was studying libraries in the U.K., I toured the home of author Lucy Boston. Her daughter-in-law described Lucy’s entire life as a work of “passionate patience.” I found those words so inspiring that I had them tattooed on my arm. Anything worth doing in life is worthy of both our passion and our patience.

5. If you could spend a week with any literary character, who would it be and what would you do together?

My favorite book of 2018 was "Circe" by Madeline Miller. It is about the character from "The Odyssey." I would spend a week with Circe as she is written in Madeline Miller’s novel: a brave, kind, loving, thoughtful woman who is flawed but driven to do her best for those she loves. We would travel around the Greek islands described in the novel while she tells me tales from her life. We would eat good food, soak up the sun, enjoy the turquoise seas and maybe have some adventures worthy of Greek myths.

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Email Devin at dweeks@cdapress.com