A lot of things have changed around here since we started homeschooling a few months ago, but one thing hasn’t changed. We still make weekly trips to the library. It was already part of our routine, so the only thing that has changed is that we can go on weekday mornings now. We also pick out books the same way we did before, with my oldest’s arms overflowing with science books. We usually pick a topic to focus on in science or history for two or three weeks at a time, and while I love owning books as much as the next person, we could never afford to buy all of those books nor could we find that wealth of information from any textbook. Plus, it offers us the opportunity to try out books, videos, and cd’s to see which ones we do want to purchase and which ones aren’t all that useful to us. Needless to say, we heart our library. Big time. Unfortunately, we’ve encountered a little snag in our library visitations. A little snag that happens to be about three feet tall, louder than a howler monkey, and overflowing with energy.
Books? We have those at home . . . I want to run and jump and climb and scream!
Ah, the joys of an active toddler. Instead of whining about how she has ruined library time for the rest of us, I’ve spent the last couple of months streamlining our trips and making the most efficient use of our time there. The following are a few library tools and strategies we utilize to make our lives easier.
- Library Elf – Link all of your family’s library cards to one account and receive emails when items are due, overdue, or when your holds are ready. I have no idea how I kept track of items before I signed up for this. Bye-bye late fees!
- Online catalog – I can browse the library’s holdings as long as I want in my pajamas with a cup of coffee. Can’t beat that! Our online catalog doesn’t offer a lot of information on books, so I usually look up books on another site, like Amazon, then use our catalog to place a hold on the items I want. I find this works best for requesting items at other library branches I don’t normally visit and for borrowing adult books, so those books are waiting for us at the circulation desk and I can keep our visits confined to the children’s section.
- Hold window – We drive up, I hand the librarian our card, they give me the books I reserved online (in my pajamas). Best invention ever. Most weeks we actually go inside the library, but this is a lifesaver for busy weeks and sick days. Even if your preferred branch doesn’t have a window, it might be worth the extra ten minute drive to find one that does, or plan to pick up your books at another branch when you’re already running errands on that end of town.
- Divide and conquer – This is war, after all. While the big kid picks animal books, the little kid picks videos (that we may or may not watch, but it keeps her busy) and Mom finds books for next week’s unit. I find that our small local branch actually has the best selection of newer books, plus it is small enough that we can all look for different items and still remain within arms reach.
- Librarians, a homeschool mom’s best friends – Aside from offering help when we’re inside the library, these are also the wonderful people who talk to my oldest about the books she checks out, smile and distract my youngest while we wrestle with the book bag, and deliver my books through a window. You know, so I can pick them up in my pajamas. They make my life so much easier, and I can’t say enough good things about these amazingly helpful folks. I like to think that by limiting the length of time my toddler runs amuck through the stacks I’m making their jobs a little easier too.
Michelle is a wife, mother, writer, and Cajun who prefers everything extra spicy. Follow along at Lagniappe Academy, as she and her two girls fill their home and their lives with borrowed books.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I think these are great ideas regardless of whether you have a toddler or not! The online catalog is so wonderful – I use that constantly.
Samantha
Samantha´s last [type] ..Evaluating Our 2010-2011 School Year Progress- Part 1 – Math
My toddler has made library days interesting for us as of late, too. When I’m on top of my game, I have a list in hand to pick, but I haven’t tried the hold system. I may have to do this the next time I need a few books. I aim for getting in and out of the books section as fast as possible most days!
Ashley Pichea´s last [type] ..Humility during the Holidays
I use the online hold feature all the time. Then we can go in, everybody looks for a book or two to check out, and we grab the ones on hold and leave. I try to work this into the same time that our library has story time so if I want to browse the shelf I do it then.
Suanna´s last [type] ..Mystery Lunch
Our library’s computer system automatically links our accounts, so I get notices when my son has books due. We have a really excellent system for such a small state (the smallest!!), but if by chance the book I want isn’t anywhere in the system OR in the state’s college libraries (from which we can also request books now with our state library card), they will get it for me from out of state. This service used to be free, but now they ask $3 to cover return postage. Still a bargain. I often use the library as a try-it-before-I-buy-it service.
The librarians at all three local branches know my kids by name. They have been very, very patient as each has gone through the toddler stage (we’re on our third toddler!). I like to think they are happy that I’m raising children who can find their way around a library!