Día del libro: a field trip to the library

Am I reading this right? With more than 80 activities, all of
Chile celebrates the Month of the Book?
"My" class was one of them.

We took a field trip to the library yesterday for día del libro. 30 kids walked three blocks to the library, escorted by 5 teachers, 2 parents, and (true to Chilean form), 3 stray dogs. Given my one (odd at best) experience with the public library, I couldn't imagine that children would be welcome, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

I was very happy to discover that there is more library to be had inside the cultural center building - the only "hey! there's a library here" signage is on the shack outside the building. 

Cultural Center building
The front doors are obviously the emergency exit

There's the library ahead.
How is this going to work?

The side door to the cultural center
is obviously the main entrance

I'm not certain what roles the library staff play (but I am almost positive that there is not a designated youth services librarian position) but four staff members took care of us. The photographer did not seem to be connected to the cultural center - I suspected she was with the press somehow. Kids! Reading! Let's put that in the paper!

Library staff distributed
pins to the kids before
taking us into one of the library rooms

A woman (dressed as a clown, I think)
came in, told a very good story, and left.

There were books spread out on the rug before our arrival, and after the story the kids were invited to grab a a book and look through it on their own or read it with one of their teachers.

Storytime with the teachers

Storytime with a librarian

The selection consisted primarily of picture books published in the US (Anthony Browne isn't a favorite among chiquititos in Chile either), and board books from Spain. (I get the sense that there isn't a huge market for Chilean writers to write for children. I had asked about Chilean picture books at the bookstore awhile ago, and the clerk handed me four titles). 

Most popular book of the day.

I was happy to discover that the public library has books for children available for check out. I didn't see any evidence that any had been checked out, and as far as I can tell they are kept in boxes, but at least it appears to be an option. 

Remember this?

Alicia and I wondered what kind of presentation the library staff would do for the kids. How to find books you like? Why to use the library? How to take care of books? Before the group departed, the staff handed out chocolate suckers and told the kids not to get candy on the books as they walked on the scattered books to make their way to the exit. So...yes...they did mention how to take care of books...

Chocolate caramel suckers.
Delicious.

I know that there's more to public libraries in Chile than what I have observed and experienced this one library. I did leave the event feeling a bit sad that it was the first time I have really seen reading being promoted (books and shared reading with adults are not part of the routine in the preschool at all). And I couldn't help but wonder what, if anything, looks "random" to the newcomer to library programs in the US, especially knowing how intentional we are about what we do behind the scenes. I could go on.

At any rate, the dogs should have escorted us back to the school. They might have gotten a sucker from one of the kids.