One of the traits of a really great librarian is the ability to listen well. From “reference interview 101”, we know that end users often do not ask for what they need, but rather, by listening carefully, and leading them through a series of questions, we discover what they want. So, it is key for our communication skills to be great!

Did you know that there are things we do as we speak to children that may increase or lessen the likelihood that they will be active listeners? We include a great blog post here for you to evaluate how good your skills are in this area. Not only does it tell you what NOT to do, it also includes suggestions for improvement too!  Six ways you are telling kids not to listen

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