Effie Louise Power facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Effie Louise Power
Born	12 February 1873  Conneautville
Died	8 October 1969  (aged 96)
Occupation	Librarian

Effie Louise Power (born February 12, 1873 – died October 8, 1969) was an amazing person who helped kids love reading. She was a children's librarian, a teacher, an author, and a storyteller. She worked hard to make sure there were lots of great books for children.

Effie Power helped create special library services for kids in three big United States cities: Cleveland, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh. She also traveled all over the U.S. to teach students and librarians about how to best help young people in libraries. She wanted to build a strong group of children's librarians who could support each other. Her goal was to set high standards for everyone working in this important job.

Early Life and Library Start

Effie Power was born on February 12, 1873, in Conneautville, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Francis Billing and William Ellis Power. She never married or had children.

After high school, a neighbor named William Howard Brett helped her start her career. He was a librarian at the Cleveland Public Library (CPL). He encouraged Effie to take the entrance exam for the library.

First Children's Librarian Role

Effie started working at the CPL in 1895. Mr. Brett became her mentor. He put her in charge of a special area called the "Junior Alcove." This was a place just for young readers.

On February 22, 1898, Mr. Brett opened the CPL's very first room just for children. He put Effie Power in charge of it. This made her the first children's librarian in the Cleveland Public Library System.

Helping Kids Love Books

As the children's librarian in Cleveland, Effie Power wanted to make sure kids loved books and reading. She also wanted to show that children could enjoy nonfiction books. At the time, many people thought kids had to be forced to read nonfiction.

Effie believed that with a little encouragement, children would enjoy nonfiction. She took age-appropriate nonfiction books from other parts of the library. She put them on the shelves in the children's room. Just as she thought, the children loved these books!

Education and Teaching

Effie Power continued her own education to become an even better librarian. She graduated from the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1904. She earned a special diploma for children's librarians. Two years later, she also earned a teaching certificate from Columbia University.

Effie Power's Career and Impact

A big part of Effie Power's career was teaching others. She gave many lectures at schools and trained other librarians. She focused on how to best help children and young people in libraries.

Over the years, she helped create courses and taught at many library schools. These included Western Reserve University and Columbia University. Effie felt it was very important to have high standards for children's librarians everywhere.

Supporting All Young Readers

Effie Power worked in cities with many different cultures and backgrounds. She wanted to make sure all children had access to library resources. She created book lists and programs that were good for every young person.

In 1926, she started the Book Caravan. This was like an early version of a Bookmobile, bringing books to more kids.

Langston Hughes in 1936

Effie also supported the writings of Langston Hughes. He was an African American poet and author. She helped him by reviewing his work and suggesting changes. In 1931, Hughes thanked her for writing a "splendid little introduction" for his book of poems, The Dream Keeper.

In 1932, the American Library Association asked Effie to suggest someone to write an article. The article was for the Children's Library Yearbook. Effie suggested Langston Hughes. His article was about "the book needs of the Negro children in the South." Effie even wrote the introduction to his article to help share his important work.

Feminist Views in Writing

Effie Power also shared her views on girls and women in her writing. In her 1928 book, Early Days in Ohio: A story of a pioneer family of the Western Reserve, she wrote with Florence M. Everson:

"Girls can't chop anything." said James scornfully.
"They haven't the right swing with their arms," added Alonzo.
"Here's one girl that can do as much as any two boys," declared Peggy as she seized a hatchet, and she swung it with so much vim that James and Alonzo stood back and gazed at her in open-mouthed wonder."

This shows how she believed girls could be just as strong and capable as boys.

Lasting Impact

The American Library Association wanted to create a textbook about library services for young people. They asked Effie Power to write it. In 1930, they published her book, Library Service for Children.

This book was the first of its kind. It showed how important Effie Power was in the field of children's librarianship. After many years of writing pamphlets, articles, and book lists, this was a great honor. In 1943, an updated version of the book was released. Its new title was Work with Children in Public Libraries.

Later Years and Retirement

Effie Power worked for the Cleveland Public Library from 1895 to 1909. She returned there from 1920 until she retired in 1937. She also taught at various schools and worked in other libraries. These included the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, PA, and the St. Louis Public Library.

After she retired in 1937, Columbia University offered her a job. She lectured there for two years. Then she retired again and moved to Pompano Beach, Florida.

In Pompano Beach, Effie helped the local library. She worked to get money to rebuild a library that had been destroyed by a hurricane years before. She finally retired completely in 1943. She moved back to Pennsylvania, where she lived until she passed away on October 8, 1969.

Selected Works

• A List of Books for Girls (1930)
• Bag O'Tales: A Source Book for Story-Tellers (1934)
• Early days in Ohio: A story of a Pioneer Family of the Western Reserve (1928) written with F.M. Everson.
• Library Service for Children (1930)
• Osceola Buddy, a Florida Farm Mule (1941)
• Work with Children in Public Libraries (1943)

Images for kids

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  Effie Louise Power

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  Langston Hughes in 1936