Libraries are Obsolete

Are libraries obsolete?

Does anyone actually use libraries anymore?

The question seems to come up regularly and it made me wonder... how many of you have a current library card for your public libraries??  I had a library card as a little girl and remember my mom taking us to the library regularly.  Then, I went YEARS without having a library card as an adult.  I ended up getting a card when I was teaching so I could use the library to do some tutoring.

Now that I'm a parent I'm a proud library card member again.  

I wasn't sure how much we'd use the library or if my kids would enjoy it, but I've been pleasantly surprised.  The library in our city is always bustling.  We try to make it there once a week and are thrilled at the variety of programs they offer for young kids.  Our kid section was completely remodeled last year and it's amazing.  There are so many fun kid things to do and it's quickly become one of our favorite places to visit.

I love that the activity calendar is online so I pencil all the things we're interested in going to on our calendar and then we try to go to several a month.  Olive asks to go to the "Lie-berry" and she's learned so much from their programs.

She's figured out how to use an elevator,

listen to a teacher,

be brave to participate when she's new,

play with musical instruments,

learn how to do a parachute,

share toys with new children,

get introduced to many new books and authors

and learn so many new songs.

She goes around singing those songs, recounting what she's learned at the library and it's a JOY to see her learning in a new environment.  I've also been impressed at how they include the babies in the programs.  They always give me instruments for Fletcher and talk to him as though he's a part of the class too.  Sometimes he sleep through our classes and other times he's paying close attention.  

We LOVE going to the library together and really enjoy meeting friends there!

MUSIC CLASS:

I should also mention that our librarians are SO SWEET!  We have never been shushed, asked to quiet down or been expected to be silent in the library.  The kids are encouraged to move, explore and learn while they are there and I know that is a huge part of why we love going.

They also plan cute days like PIRATE STORY TIME and it was a blast for everyone.  Stories, songs and stations all about pirates.

I appreciate all of their learning stations scattered throughout.  Olive always goes for the Legos and it's fun to watch her learning how to build with them.

We really enjoy being out and about at the library and we will often stop for a sprinkled treat on our way home.  I'm a fan of this routine... read, learn, eat :)

 

I hope you'll give your library a second chance if it's been a while since you've been there.  We are big fans!!  I'm hoping to find out more about our adult section, movie rentals, etc. so that I can take advantage of the library services for myself.  I feel good about our participation in the children's section so it'll be fun to get more involved in what they have to offer for the adults.

Tell me how you use your library!

Currently we are reading lots of Halloween and Fall books, rhyming books and animal books.  I will pick out books for us and then I read books Olive selects.  She's really interested in animals, friends and so I knew she'd love God Bless My Friends.by Hannah C. Hall.

God Bless My Friends is another darling book by Hannah Hall.  We own God Bless My Boo Boo and it's so sweet and her newest book lived up to every expectation we had.  The illustrations are precious, the animal friends on each page facilitate great conversations and the rhyming of the text is great.  My daughter loves this book and we have already read it multiple times.  She loves pointing out how different animals are friends and how they help each other out because of their differences.  For example, the mouse and the giraffe are friends and the giraffe helps lift the mouse to things he cannot reach.  They both benefit and are better friends because of their differences.  It's such a great message and my three year old easily understood the concepts.  I'm excited to read this with her and help her to see how her real life friends are blessings to her.  I'd highly recommend this book as it's already become a favorite in our house.

*I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review of it.