Librarian on the Roof! a True Story

October 1, 2010

Gr 1-3-When RoseAleta Laurell arrived at the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart, TX, she found a beautiful old building rich in history but short on patrons, particularly children. Attendance improved as she updated the collection, pushed for computers, and addressed the needs of the Spanish-speaking community, but she needed substantial funding if she was going to provide an attractive and appropriate children's section. What does any dedicated librarian do in such a situation? RoseAleta elected to pack a tent and supplies and be hoisted 50 feet up to the library's roof, and to remain there until the town raised enough money for the children. She remained on the roof for one week, braving severe weather at times. When she descended, the town had raised almost $40,000, twice her original goal. King's writing is clear and often witty, and she does a credible job of capturing Laurell's determined and forthright personality, as well as the drama and excitement of this unusual approach to fund-raising. Gilpin's hand-drawn, vibrantly colored cartoon illustrations enliven the story, particularly the spread that depicts the woman being hoisted to dizzying heights. Librarians will enjoy sharing this tribute to one of their own, but so will anyone wanting an inspirational tale of a committed and ingenious professional.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2010
A laughing new librarian with "eyelashes as long as bird feathers" arrives at the creaky, almost-100-year-old library in Lockhart, Texas, and, to her surprise, the children do not use it because they say it's for grown-ups! Though RoseAleta buys new books and magazines, makes sure the library is buzzing, even leads a Christmas parade through the town square with a sign ("Come to the library!"), the children do not visit. She decides to create a space just for them, but nobody will contribute to the $20,000 required for the new space. "We need more than a bake sale," she says, and without further ado, she decides to camp out on the library's roof until the money is raised. Her meals are delivered via the electric company's bucket, and she even weathers a storm in her little tent, but the town rallies and the money is raised. Energetic, if slickly unsubtle drawings match the text and take advantage of the rooftop perspective with two vertically oriented double-page spreads of RoseAleta ascending and descending. Based on a true story, this will be popular with librarians and their readers. (Picture book. 6-9)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

August 1, 2010
Grades K-3 This is the true story of how librarian RoseAleta Laurell brought the oldest public library in Texas into the twenty-first century. To raise money for a childrens section, she stationed herself on the roof of the library, declaring that she would stay there until enough money was collected. Vibrant cartoon-style illustrations depict RoseAletas weeklong vigil on the roof of the stately domed building. Caution: dramatic perspectives depicting the 50-foot drop from the roof are not for acrophobes. An authors note sets the stage for the telling of this story, but additional details would have been helpful, such as whether RoseAletas tent really blew off the roof (as is depicted) and how she managed bathroom issues. Nevertheless, this will work well with groups, whether they are children, legislators, or future librarians. Pair with other works about notable librarians, such as The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq, by Jeanette Winter (2005), or The Storytellers Candle, by Lucia Gonzalez (2008).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2011
In 2000, Texas librarian RoseAleta Laurell climbed to her library's roof to raise awareness--and funds--to help rehab the building. Ultimately her attention-getting stunt was rewarded with money for a new children's room and many new patrons. Humorous dialogue conveys Ms. Laurell's larger-than-life personality. More photographs of the real deal would have been a nice addition, to tone down the cartoon-zany digitally colored illustrations.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)