We all know how important it is to get our children reading, and for them to enjoy it. Reading skills contribute to not only their success in school, but success in life. In inspiring my children to read, I have always come at it from the angle that reading allows you to going on adventures, it is a fun way to to peek into worlds you might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. So far, this has worked as they both are voracious readers ;-).
A few months ago we were at our local library with the boys and saw a sign promoting children’s library cards. Up until this point we had always just reserved their books on our cards, it hadn’t even occurred to us to get them one of their own. We signed them up that night thinking it would be not only a way to teach them responsibility, but also to give them that sense of ownership when it came to borrowing books. Our local library is the Erlanger Branch of the Kenton County Public Library. There, children ages 2 -12 can join their Booker Buddy Club which includes access to special programming, a birthday suprise and access to their online databases for help with homework and research. When kids forget to return their books on time, they give them the option of “reading off” their library fines, which I just think is brilliant.
While those perks are specific to our local library, getting your child their own library card has lots of broader benefits:
- It’s exciting! A library card of their very own can be a fun way to motivate children towards books.
- Access to computers and the online world. When children have their own card, they have free access to computers just like their parents/caregivers, with the same amount of time just like anyone else.
- Access to the Library online databases and research from home. Using Library sites and databases for research means parents won’t have to worry about the content or validity.
It’s a rite of passage.- Of course, multiple library cards give a family access to a lot more library materials.
To learn about the benefits for your local library, or it’s children’s and teen programs in general, check out one of the links below:
- Cincinnati Public Library Kidspace | Cincinnati Public Library Teenspace
- Kenton County Library Children’s & Teen’s Programs
- Boone County Library Children’s Programs | Boone County Library Teen Scene
- Campbell County Library Children’s Programs | Campbell County Library Teen Territory
- Franklin-Springboro Library Children’s Programs | Franklin-Springboro Library Teen Programs
- Lebanon Public Library Children’s Programs
- Mason Public Library Children’s Programs | Mason Public Library Teen Programs
- Middletown, West Chester, Trenton Public Library Children’s Programs | Middletown, West Chester, Trenton Public Library Teen Programs
If we’ve not listed your library, please feel free to add it in the comments and we’ll get in included above. A special thank you to the folks at Kenton County Library who chatted with me about getting a library card for my boys.
In February, Boone County is letting patrons pay off fines with food donations.
I love the read to pay off fines idea.
Love this article about libraries, especially with Library Lovers’ Month coming up in February…
I work for a 10-branch system east of Cincinnati – Clermont County Public Library. Lots of fun programs and activities for kids & teens!
http://clermontlibrary.org/events/all/all/today
Amy – we’d love a guest post from you for next month to celebrate Library Lovers’ Month!
Amy – I’d be more than happy to! Send me some details & a deadline & I’m on it!
We love the library! I took each of the boys when they turned 2 to get their own library card..it does makes them feel so special! I love that they get to read off their fines too…we don’t have them very often, but what better way to get a little extra story time in!
Thank you so much for featuring and celebrating libraries! I am a reference librarian at Greene County Public Library, just east of Dayton. We’re a bit far from you but you never know who’s reading this. After all, I am. Here is a link to our Event Calendar:
http://ow.ly/8FIz6.
You can use the check boxes on the left to select age ranges, event types and locations.