Have You Visited Your Local Public Library Lately?

Or should I ask, do you know where the closest public library is? I have to admit that it's been years since I walked into a public library, but that's all changed for me now.

Ok, your a parent with a school aged child and you have never taken them to the library.  Shame on all of us for not utilizing this vast resource that costs nothing for admission.   Although BJ (Bacchus Junior) has taken trips to the library with his pre-school, he and I have never gone together until recently. Since I love bookstores and had forgotten how much I enjoyed the library as a kid, it was time for me to get back that excitement I used to have.  When I was in middle-school, the library to me was like the internet is to most kids today.  You could find whatever you wanted and then some, on any topic you could think of.  There were maps, movies, pictures, art displays, puppet shows and all kinds of things happening at the local library in my neighborhood.  Some how the public library has lost its appeal and probably needs a good PR person to pump up the image. 

During the Christmas holidays, BJ and I visited our local library several times and now we go about every two weeks. Since I was staying home with him during the school break, I needed a list of things to do during the day besides watch TV and movies (See my list of things to do with your child on a rainy day ).  It took a couple of visits to get used to where everything was and what sections BJ likes to visit first, but now he goes directly to his beginner reading section and immediately asks me how books can he get.  I take my place at one of the catalog computers (yes, I remember having to use the card catalog system) and search for books that I or BJ may be interested in.  By the time I'm finished searching, he has brought a pile of books to the table and we go sit somewhere and I review which ones are appropriate for his reading level.  I usually tell him he can get pick three books out and allow him to talk me into a fourth.  I have been working on teaching him how to make persuasive arguments so this part of the conversation is very important to us.  If he makes a good case for a book that is obviously above his reading level, I allow him to obtain another one. In his argument he usually points out the pictures or content that make the book a good candidate.

I give him a chance to start reading while I look for the books I found from the catalog that are in the children's section.  After that, me move to other sections of the library and search for the remaining books.  While walking through the rows of books, I get a kick out of seeing BJ get excited when he comes across something that interests him.  His eyes get big and he drops to the floor and quickly starts flipping through the pages.  To me this is the highlight of our visit.  Like most parents, I want my children to be excited about reading and seeing an endless row of books and topics always did something for me, so I hope I am growing something in him. 

We usually end our visit by checking out a checkers set and playing a couple of games at one of the tables. After letting him beat me two out of the three games we play (I think it's important to teach him to be a good loser and winner), we gather our things and head for the book check-out line.  The highlight for BJ is when he asks me for his library card and hands his books over to the receptionist and checks out his own books.  He is so full of pride when gets to act like a big boy and I do to.

So, the internet and video games are great, but don't forget some of the more simple things we can do with our kids. You will probably have a different experience with your kids depending on their tastes and yours, but please keep this idea in the back of your mind and make it work for you and them.