Do you take your children to the local library?

[Legacy]

We go most Wednesdays, and I'm always amazed by how few parents and children there seem to be there.

Libraries are such a fantastic FREE resource, I often wonder what it is that stops parents from going?
Is it

• habit (i.e. were never taken as a child)
• convenience
• location

??

I just love it, 'cos the children feel that they aere 'getting something new' each week without me having to pay for it, it's obviously good for their reading/ education, and you don't end up with trillions of books all over the house. (We still buy books, but more often it's after first finding a type/ author through the library).

Anyway, if you want to get into the habit, I picked up a leaflet about a summer reading challenge kicking off all over the country from next weekend for the summer holidays - it's called The Big Wild Read, and kids can register for it, aim to read 6 books over the summer hols, and then get some goodies/ prizes etc.

More info here: The Big Wild Read

FWIW my infant school makes at least 2 school trips to local library with staff providing some activites and with parent and teacher assistance. Inform the children how to find books and how a library works.

Also do lots of activities in school hols. All free, you have to be a member. Children section is just that, with a separate room and a door to close off from main area. you can read to them and make a nosie you like.

our local ones fine kids for late books

we have fine atm

used to go weekly after ds' gym class...go less often now (hence fine!) as he has outgrown that class

like going a lot, ds does too, though he always nags me to hire out a dvd, i never do, but he still always asks

the childrens area in ours iscompletely seperate. They have a train to sit on and soft rugs to lie on

its just a shame they will not stamp your books on the childrens side and you have to venture into the aduklt bit

I take DS to the library every week as they hold a singing/music session (right in the middle of library) where we can all make as much noise singing and playing instruments as we like whilst everyone else browses for books or works on the computers.

They also provide crayons and paper for the little ones to 'get creative'.

Oh, and every couple of weeks we take out some books too - DS loves it.

DS is signed up for the 'Book Crawl' and gets a sticker on his card every time we take out some books - for every 4 (I think) stickers he gets to choose a certificate designed by a childrens illustrator.

Fillyjonk - I have 2 boys, so I know where you're coming from about the letting off steam. But we go to the park, or a soft play area, or in the garden to do that. I'm not convinced play areas and libraries mix - reading, at least for most people, is a quietish time shared, reading or listening.

That's not to say organised activities don't have their place, and things like the toddler storytimes, author visits, summer holiday activities etc are great examples.

I think the problem is that some parents don't share the library experience with their kids - they simply plonk them in the kids section unsupervised and expect them to sit quietly. DH & I take it in turns to choose books, and the other one helps the children with their selection. DS2 (4) in particular lieks to read some of his books before we leave.

In our main library we don't even need to speak to the gargoyles at the desk if we don't want to - we can self scan the books in and out, which the kids love!

goodness me yes

I love libraries and some of my fondest childhood memories are from fun activities at a library.

Ours is only a little one, but ever so handy being about 1 minute walk away!

DD loves it and there is always something going on.

oh yes indeedy. at least once a week. my dss love it. they borrow manga books by the truckload..... i'm thrilled as i wouldnt dream of paying for them!

every 2/3 weeks, just started borrowing books with tapes/cd's which ds loves.
childrens books are fined for lateness here (1p/2p a day - not sure which, we are in 2 separate counties libraries as we are on the border, and they are both different).
we get a library van every fortnight which has a good selection, a new, v nice library in the next village which does quite alot of kids stuff, then another library in the main town about 7mins drive away.

Fillyjonk "I think running around and shouting IS normal child behaviour. In that most kids do it, at least up to 5 or so"

It is certainly normal for SOME of the day, but surely kids have to learn that there are times/places when that isn't allowed. When ds was younger I often took him to the park, or soft-play at the leisure centre, then into the library to choose books and maybe a video on the way back. That way both needs were met.

Do you just put up with running around and shouting for all your DC's waking hours? How do/will pre-school manage?

A few months ago I did make the mistake of taking him in briefly on our way to something or other on a saturday morning, whedn he was a bit excitable, and he kept running thru the 'customer counter thingy' in the doorway, while I checked his books out. One rather miserable old git did comment to the librarian "This is a library, not a childs playground". After he'd gone I apologised to the librarian who smiled and said "This library is for everyone to use, and if the children enjoy coming in here, then that's just as important as anyone else".

I did give ds a stern explanation of my disapproval outside, mind you.

The librarians in my library aren't above calling out to children to keep the noise down if they get too rumbustious. I don't think it's too much to ask that children quieten down a bit when they are in places like a library, after all, they'll have to learn to sit still in school. Would you let them run around in a church or a mosque? .

I always take my three and all of them including the 6mth old have a card and get books out. My children love it and our library is set out well in that the childrens section is kept on opposite side from the crumpy old men. We go once a week or so as DS gets 7 books a week out for bedtime stories and we always need to change them.

Our local library has a big train section and some very weird people. Also not huge on children's books. I have a dislike of library books as I imagine kids reading them on the loo / picking their noses etc. As a result I have a ridiculous number of books we own. Also library is 10 miles away - van comes round but during school hours. Won't let kids borrow from adult section or younger kids borrow from 12+ section even if they are around at 2pm.

PS when we lived in large town on outskirts of London I loved the library - it was far nicer and cleaner, and much better resourced. It's just our (not very) local library that gives me the creeps.

I think a separate children's area wherever possible, is the best solution. Then the children and their parents can relax and enjoy what the library has to offer.
I think it's important to remember that it's not necessarily the librarians who want a quiet and orderly environment, helpful though that might be for getting work done . I expect mine to keep their voices down and not race about in our local library, not because books deserve respect (which they do, but by being read, enjoyed and talked about) but because the other users of the library do. It might be the only place they can come to, to read or think quietly. We live in a noisy age. Libraries should provide sanctuary from that for all who need it. Striking a fair and inclusive balance is not easy in the poxy premises offered by most cash-strapped, philistinic local authorities

Message withdrawn

Our local library is wonderful.
They have a loo.
The actual library is in an old house, so it feel alike you ar ein th elounge wjen you go into the kids area.
they do free crafts and other sctivities.
the staff are nice, and recommend books to me (and sometimes I like the recommendatins!)

There is another much bigger library in the next town which we also ise.
Again, the staff are friendly, and they have a loo! And a car park.

Look, you can sit here saying "oh well MY kids have been taught from the day they got library tickets at 2 weeks old" blah blah.

But no amount of playbuses or anything else will change the fact that LIBRARIES ARE NOT WELCOMING TO THOSE WHO MOST NEED THEM.

At the basic level, they are hard to access if you have mainly sole responsibility for 2 or more very young kids-thus single parents. Or parents who can't "control" their kids. SN kids. Etc.

Add into the mix the fact that a lot of parents DO find libraries hugely intimidating. They may have poor basic reading skills. They may feel uncomfortable with the idea that its free.

Libraries are the preserve of the tuttering, hang wringing classes really. Not unlike good schools-the "oh no we could never go private but we could buy up a house in the best school catchement area."

What a bloody shame its gone this way.

My DTS are 3yo and I have been taking them since they turned 2yo. They love it. They love looking through the different books and pick out the ones that they want to borrow. The library also provides colouring pens and paper so they scribble away until they are bored (usually within 3 minutes).

They do give me angst though because they love to race around and because they split up, I have to grab one and then chase after the other one. I know the other users get irritated and some of the library staff are not impressed but c'est la vie.

My boys love looking through books so I will continue taking them there as it complements the mini library that they have at home.

Just been reading rest of thread. I actually believe that children should be taught to keep their noise levels down in libraries out of deference for the other users. My twins are now beginning to understand that the library is not a communal playground but a relaxed environment where we can read a wide variety books. If they want to race around, we go to the park. They also know that the books do not belong to us so they must be treated with respect.

I have only been able to achieve all this by perservering in taking them to the library frequently and being consistent in the message and values that I convey. IMO, it is up to the parents to the set the boundaries concerning the behaviour of their children and to teach them to respect things that do not belong to them. It is hard work but it is worth it, imo.

I have to admit have only skimmed thread - love taking the kids to the library. Do have a slightly overactive DS who I end up chasing around to prevent him pulling every book off the shelf so that takes the shine off a little.

What I WANT to know is why whenever we hit a bookshop or library my kids suddenly urgently need to do a poo???????? Has anyone else noticed this? My mother thinks it's the "weight of all those words"....

Anyone??

Right by the 'lending desk', by the door are all the DVD's. Ds is obsessed. It is a struggle to make him come and chose a book. Not good.

Yes polecat, we always need a wee, as soon as we get there

Polecat, look at this posting on Guardian notes and queries. You are definitely not alone!!

Dd, daughter of a librarian, filled her nappy every time without fail. We ended up just being silently handed the key on arrival Good to know it wasn't her verdict on her mum's career