Founded in 2006, PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center (NBPC) actively leads social change to prevent childhood bullying so that all youth are safe and supported in their communities and online. PACER recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts the education, health, and safety of students. We provide innovative resources on bullying prevention for students, parents, educators, and others to address this need. One of the best resources librarians can utilize is the National Bullying Prevention Center Book Club, with recommended titles and discussion guides for children and teens. They believe that stories are powerful ways to learn, explore, and connect, and we couldn’t agree more. Troll (Paw Prints Publishing, ISBN 9781223188577), written by Frances Stickley and illustrated by Stefano Martinuz, has been selected as the Elementary Level Book Club selection for this year’s National Bullying Prevention Month (October) and Unity Day on October 16.

We asked PACER’s Director of National Bullying Prevention Center and Social Inclusion Programs, Lisa Elm, and Associate at the National Bullying Prevention Center, Danna Mirviss, how libraries can utilize their resources to raise awareness and help prevent bullying in their communities.

B&T: Can you talk about WHY you have selected the picture book, Troll (Paw Prints Publishing, ISBN 9781223188577, Available 10/01/2024), a tale about a loud, cranky, and mean troll who bullies, but has a change of heart, as your Book Club selection for 2024?

Troll is one of the best books to showcase kindness, acceptance, and inclusion, which is what National Bullying Prevention Month and Unity Day is all about. The book brings us along through Troll’s transformation from being alone and bullying his neighbors to becoming a good friend. It is a delightful book. We loved the story and illustrations! 

The character Troll mimics what we have all come to know in the real world as an online troll, he is anonymous and loud. He revels in being an unknown: “There beneath the bridge unseen, he found it easy to be mean. Disguised beneath the bog and bubbles, Troll could never get in trouble. No one even knew his name!”  Do you think it is easier to be mean when no one can see you? When you're anonymous or no one knows it’s you, is it okay to say or do mean things? Why does this kind of situation lead to bullying behavior? 

Yes. It is easier to be mean when you’re not face-to-face with someone. There's a sense of freedom to say what you want without the consequences of being heard or seeing the person's reaction. Adults and kids should think about who they want to be online and ask themselves, ‘Am I the same person when posting comments or sending messages that I am in person?’ Those questions are the ones we should be asking ourselves and having discussions about. Our values shouldn’t change just because we are using technology.

Our newsletter goes out to thousands of public librarians nationwide. Can you speak to the role public libraries can play in combatting bullying in the community and creating safe spaces for children and teens? What concrete things can they do right now? 

Public libraries provide a place where children and teens can feel welcome and create an environment that sparks learning. Young people can be themselves and find the support they need for issues related to bullying. We encourage libraries across the country to promote bullying prevention and awareness throughout the year by sharing our free resources. This includes our 101 documents and What You Can Do series found on our website, and our bookmarks, posters, and flyers. Right now, public libraries can join us throughout October for National Bullying Prevention Month and celebrate Unity Day on October 16. Librarians can order free Unity Day posters in English and Spanish and visit our website for creative ways to engage their community. PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center (NBPC) offers a wealth of online resources and activities that can be shared and downloaded, and we are excited to be promoting the book Troll on our NBPC Book Club page. By providing these resources and showcasing bookmarks and posters, everyone in the community will see that the library is a safe space to talk about bullying and reach out for help.

Would you mind sharing any personal anecdotes of your experiences with public libraries?  Either in your roles at PACER, as adults, or memories you have growing up visiting your public library?

“I have fond memories of my library visits as a child. It was a special time that I shared with my mom and sister where I had the freedom to choose any number of stories and adventures to explore. I remember checking to see if the Berenstain Bears had any new releases and watching very carefully as the librarian would ink the rubber stamp with a new due date on the inside cover of each book, my eyes level with the check-out table. As a parent, it’s pure joy to bring your kids to the safe space of a library and watch them take off to various sections with excitement to expand their minds.” -Lisa Elm, Director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center and Social Inclusion Programs

“My children loved library time throughout elementary school. One of their favorite parts was the quiet reading loft they could use during that time. My oldest used to gather up several books and look through them to help decide which she wanted to bring home. There was a book bingo worksheet that created excitement for each book she finished. PACER’s Kids Against Bullying bookmarks were always on hand at their school library for all the students to take home and fill out the pledge on the back!” -Danna Mirviss, Associate at National Bullying Prevention Center

“I LIVED in the library every day of every vacation that I ever had. The librarians thought of me as one of them and allowed me to check out books that weren’t processed yet and tell them my thoughts. I once read 13 books in one day and was forbidden to join any further summer reading contests. Also, the first thing I do when I move is get my library card. It’s the best thing my tax dollars go to! -Judy French, former librarian and teacher, and PACER’s L.A. Coordinator at National Bullying Prevention Center