My name is Bridget Wilson and if you're reading this you must know that I'm the author of the blog What is Bridget Reading?
I'm a Youth Services Librarian. Though I have worked in both academic and public libraries, my first love has always been youth services.
When I was nine years old, I decided I wanted to be a teacher. This was true until my first year of college. It seems I was always destined to a librarian.
One of the brightest days of my childhood was the day my dad got a library card for the family. I don't know why he did it, but he brought home books I didn't know. I was thrilled. My family became regular library users after that. We participated in the summer reading program and attended story times. I always checked out as many books as they would allow.
In second grade, I ran my own library. I drew date due slips in the back of my picture books and checked them out to my classmates before school started and during morning recess. My favorite book in my library was Too Many Jellybeans by Kate Gleeson.
I attended a very small K-8 school. We didn't have a formal school library until I was in sixth grade. I helped the volunteers organize our new library.
In seventh and eighth grade, I helped my art teacher, Ms. Fuller, with her kindergarten class during my recess. At Easter, I read the kids The Story of the Easter Bunny by Sheila Black and had them decorate/design their own eggs (blank egg coloring sheets). Thought I didn't realize it then, this was my first experience with planning and presenting a story time.
In high school, I volunteered at the library during the summers. On job shadow day (senior year), I chose to shadow one of the library assistants instead of a teacher.
When I entered college, I still wanted to teach (high school English). I was an English major with secondary education certification. After taking two education classes, I decided teaching wasn't for me. I still wanted to major in English. I just didn't know what career I wanted to pursue. Revelation struck as I took a children's literature class and worked at the college library. I could be a librarian, a children's librarian! In my junior year, I co-founded a student organization, Students Advocating Information and Library Studies (SAILS). I served as SAILS president in my senior year. As such, I planned and presented monthly story times for the campus and surrounding community.
Graduate school was an exciting time for me. I learned so much about my chosen profession. I especially liked the classes that dealt with public libraries, children, and teens.
This blog grew out of my Programming for Children and Young Adults class. We had to prepare booktalks for class and a blog seemed to be a good way to make them available. Since September 2008, my blog has changed and evolved. I post regularly. I review books more than I booktalk them. I've added story time themes and ideas to my picture book reviews. I've undertaken several reading projects (Ramona Quimby, Beatrix Potter, Harry Potter). In addition to blogging myself, I read many of the great blogs in the KidLitosphere. I love the connections and ideas that blogging creates.
When I'm not working or blogging, you'll usually find me reading or crocheting.
You can also find me on GoodReads and Instagram. I am a member of the American Library Association and the North Carolina Library Association.
