Weekly library trips have been a part of our routine for years. What started as occasional trips to the library with Thomas years ago have now become an event! We typically pick one day a week to go the the library to make returns, pick up any holds we have available, and browse. Managing multiple kids of different ages at the library can be challenging. Try some of these tips for a smoother experience.
BRING A STROLLER This is a BIG one. When we have one that’s in the toddler age, having them confined to a stroller is really helpful. I typically would park them right beside the board books (like in the picture above) and let them entertain themselves for a few minutes while I help another child.
USE THE LIBRARY HOLD SERVICE There’s nothing worse than packing all your kids in the car for a trip to the library only to discover the very books you hoped to get aren’t available! Sometimes a particular book one of the boys is looking for is checked out or it’s located at another branch in our county. Placing holds is helpful so that the books are sent to the particular library branch you’ll be visiting.
CHECK THE LIBRARY CATALOG This goes along with placing holds in a way. Check your online library catalog BEFORE you head to the library. I’ll do this sometime in the days before we go to the library, checking to see if the library has the books we want. This gives us a good idea of what’s there before we go.
It’s much less cumbersome to do this at your own home than using the computer in the library with several kids in tow.
BRING A BAG Or two! Our library has bags, but they’re small and plastic so they don’t hold a lot. We have two reusable cloth shopping bags that are designated for library books. We fill them up at home to return books and then fill them up again at the library to bring more books home.
SET A TIMER I let the boys know when we get there how much time we have and set a timer on my phone when we get inside. This lets everyone know the expectation from the start.
I also try to help each child for a few minutes one on one. Thomas is old enough to navigate the library and find most of what he needs independently. Arthur’s just getting the hang of how things are categorized and still needs help. JL and Isaac are really good at pulling books off the shelves and hiding between them.
Our library trips are far calmer at this point, but when we use these tips it makes it more manageable. Of course, there are times like this past week -when a two year old is melting down, it’s busy in the library, and one of the boys is having trouble finding THE book they came for. It can feel chaotic!
But we still find our way back the next week!
