There is a need to reach out to parents of all children living below the poverty line, particularly pre-schoolers. When library budgets are formulated, youth services are often the last to be considered . With the lid legislation, competition for money will become even more fierce. While children's programs are featured prominently in library public relations efforts because of their appeal to the public, many libraries have no budget item for children's programming. At least one library reports that their budget for children's materials has been cut in half.
Some libraries rely almost entirely on donations for their children's collections.
Many children's librarians are paid little more than minimum wage. Maintaining devotion to children is a daunting prospect in the face of the difficulties described. Explore the possibility of SCYP as a political voice for children's services 3. Some communities have such a strong emphasis on athletics that there may even be a stigma attached for children who do have an interest in reading and books or other more thoughtful pursuits. Recreational reading tends to fall to the bottom of preferred activities for most children unless they are strongly encouraged, year-round , to read for pleasure by having adults who model a delight in reading, free time to read, quality reading material and stimulating programs or presentations that motivate reading.