Nancy Drew again

No one can say that children's literature is irrelevant when references to it continue to pop up in some of the most serious policy discussions. When he introduced Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor yesterday, President Obama mentioned that as a girl she had been a fan of Nancy Drew. Over the years Nancy Drew has been a folk hero to many American women, some of whom have gone on to high office while others lead quiet, busy lives in the suburbs. But somehow they all seem to remember Nancy Drew and the promise she held out for an exciting, fulfilling life exemplified by solving minor crimes in a small Midwestern city. We may have moved far beyond Nancy Drew's ambitions, just as today's children will move beyond those of Harry Potter, but the literary experience leaves a lasting mark on people's minds and lives. That's something for librarians to ponder as they go through the endless task of choosing materials for tomorrow's leaders. Our jobs truly do make a difference.