Miss Moore Thought Otherwise by Jan Pinborough
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children
by Jan Pinborough
Someone put this book on hold at the library, and before I sent it off to that person, I read this in the library. What a lovely story about a woman who stuck up for what she believed and wasn't afraid to do more than was expected of her. Anne Carroll Moore wanted to do more in life than be a lovely housewife. She always loved reading and books, so when she found that the New York City Public Library was looking for librarians, she jumped at the chance. But she wasn't happy with the way children were treated in libraries. Children weren't trusted with books; the books were kept under lock & key and children weren't allowed to take them home. So Anne created a promise that they could all sign, and the children did not let her down. She then worked on making the children's section a fun place where children could enjoy reading. Soon her example became a model for libraries all over the world. People visited the library just to see the children's corner, including royalty! Now, libraries can be enjoyed by adults and children alike, all because of Anne Carroll Moore's vision and passion.
Her story is told in detail here with beautiful illustrations. It's inspiring and sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about her and her library. It's amazing that someone brave enough to make just a few changes in her community influenced the world AND paved the way for how children decades later use the library. She literally changed the world.