When I became a parent, I looked forward to taking my children regularly to the public library to choose books for the upcoming week. Fueled by fond memories of my own weekly outings to the library with my dad, I anticipated making core memories with my kids. After all, a home can hold a limited number of bookshelves. I considered the public library to be an extension of our bookshelves.
Often, we were able to take advantage of the online catalog to find the resources we needed and request that they be sent to our local branch. This opened up the availability of resources without requiring that we drive around town. Our large downtown library offers not only books but also music, movies, sheet music, and even artwork. Most library branches provide computers that patrons can use for free with printer use for a small fee. Through our years of weekly trips, I discovered that the library was so much more than simply a depository for volumes of books. It was a treasure trove of resources.
With regular visits the children’s room at the library became like a second home. My kids made a beeline for the puzzle table with their personalized library bags when they arrived. When it was time to leave, I would find them curled up in a corner on a beanbag or comfy chair, already reading from their stack of books. They grew to know the children’s librarians by name. At Christmas we would bake special cookies for them to express our gratitude for all that they did.
As we became more involved in our homeschool community, we discovered that the library’s gathering room was accessible to us for free. It became a location for our geography group or speech and debate teams to meet. I directed several spelling bees from this central location. Many of the students involved already considered this to be their home library. It made gatherings more comfortable and reduced anxiety. Armed with dry erase markers, my IEW students and I would sometimes head to the central branch. The gathering rooms there had floor-to-ceiling whiteboards on three of the walls of the room. Eagerly my students would write key word outlines or take a brain inventory on that large canvas.
Beyond the books we found scheduled activities for my kids at a variety of ages. Initially, we took advantage of storytime. Library storytime provides an opportunity for young children to interact in a group setting to listen to stories, engage in a craft, and often share a snack with their peers. Many libraries also host book clubs for middle school and high school students. Our library sponsors these gatherings monthly and even provides the novels free of charge. These opportunities foster a love of reading for the sake of reading. Many library branches host musical events, opportunities to meet local authors, and speakers on a variety of topics. Sometimes public services are included in these gatherings, including literacy tutoring, tax preparation Q & A, and informative sessions about resources the community offers. Our library offers exam proctoring for students and adults who take online classes.
One always anticipated event was the summer reading program. Kids could earn points for reading books over the summer and then redeem those points for prizes, ranging from books to food coupons to passes to the local fair. My kids delighted in receiving prizes for something they had already planned to do: spend the summer reading. Once they aged out of the program, they volunteered to serve the community by working the prize table. In fact, this later turned into a job for my daughter in high school.
But wait! There’s more!
Amongst the pile of gems is the Arkenstone—the greatest of all gems—of public libraries: the librarian team. These individuals are, of course, bibliophiles. Furthermore, they strongly desire to pass on their love for books (printed and audio) to their patrons. They stay abreast of newly published works by favorite authors as well as up-and-coming authors. When a patron has exhausted the writings of a favorite author, librarians can recommend similar works by other authors in that genre, many of whom end up becoming favorites on their own merit. Their jobs, though, entail more than just recommending books.
Librarians are founts of knowledge. They might share information about writing contests or book signings. Before the days of internet searches and before Timeline of Classics, I could call our local children’s librarian and ask for recommendations for resources. One specific example stands out in my mind. I called and asked for a recommendation for a book about the French Revolution for my elementary students. After a moment of silence, the librarian told me she would get back to me. Sure enough, about an hour later she called with a recommendation for a title, which she had already requested on my behalf. Another time, wanting to take my IEW students’ research skills to a new level, I contacted our large downtown library for assistance. We planned a field trip where all of my students sat at laptops as the research librarian walked them through how to use free online databases. You might find keyboarding classes or computer classes. Librarians are natural teachers and welcome the opportunity to help your students.
Join us in celebrating National Library Week April 6–12. Consider dropping off thank you notes and even treats for the librarians at your local branch. Take your students to a new branch to explore. Discover for yourself the hidden gems at your local public library.
by Marci Harris
