The library, your second home

I think it’s important for children to feel comfortable in their local library, to get to know where things are, and be exposed to the wide variety of events, resources and services today’s libraries offer.

It can be really overwhelming at first, but once they know where to find their favourite authors or books at their reading level, it’s much less confusing. Plus, once they find out they can take out videos or books on tape, or even use the computer – they’ll be asking you to take them to the library.

Often, computer sessions are timed to half an hour, and your child’s library card number is the access code. (If you forget your library card, you librarian can give you a one-time use password.) Sometimes I’ll let my son use the computer library and that half an hour gives me time to get some books. I have no problem with letting my son explore a good, learning website (tvokids.com, for instance, or the Toronto library’s KidsSpace, http://kidsspace.torontopubliclibrary.ca/). It gets him jazzed about being in the library, and afterwards we both explore the shelves.

In the summer, the Toronto Public Library has a super summer reading program. They give you a huge poster for the wall, and, by reading books, your child earns stickers that go on the poster. Although the program is over for the summer, you can ask your librarian for a poster and the stickers, and do the program yourself at home.

It’s useful to visit the library’s website, http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/. It has links to author-read books you can hear over the computer. After school today, your child can click here to listen to a great book – and it’s completely free.

Or, you can call the library’s reading line, and hear a book read over the phone. Every day there are two options, one for younger children and one for slightly older children. Put it on the speaker phone and it’s a great alternative to TV.

The other great thing about today’s libraries is that you can do so much more remotely these days. If you forget to take back your child’s books on time, you can renew them online and save yourself a few bucks. You can also have books sent to your library from others in the system. You’ll get an automated phone call when it’s in.

By far the best library resource is, has always been, and will always be, the librarian. In these days when customer service is practically nonexistent, librarians are passionate about their “product,” and always know their stuff. They can recommend good books, authors or programs. Just tell them what your child likes, and you’ll be amazed at how much they know. There’s a great children’s book called, “The Boy Who was Raised by Librarians,” by _______ that kind of says it all.

Here’s a great tip. Take out materials on your child’s card when you can. On a child’s card, the fines are $.10 a day per item. On your card, it’s $.25. That can add up.