When was the last time you visited your local library? They’re a wonderful community resource, a fun adventure for the kids and a great way to get them out of the house, particularly on a rainy day. Here are six reasons to take your kids on a library outing.
1. You never know what you’ll discover
The library is a treasure-trove! There’s wonder in plucking a book off the shelf because of a colourful cover, or funny title, and opening it up to find out what it’s about. Will the story be happy or sad, full of adventure or mystery? When you visit the library with your child, you’ll share this joy. You’ll be teaching them a love of books and reading, and helping to develop their literacy skills, too.
2. There are many resources to explore
The library is brimming with books, CDs, DVDs and magazines. Using the library can expose your child to a wider variety of reading material than there is at home. Whether you want a book about cars, snakes, princesses, ogres – or something more obscure – you’re likely to find it. Today, library catalogues are all online, which means that if you have a specific book or subject in mind, and you can’t find it in your local library, you can easily search nearby libraries. You might be surprised at what you’re little one is drawn to.
3. It’s easy on the budget
The library is an easy-on-the-budget outing, because it’s free. Simply fill out the membership form, show proof of identity and your address, and voilà! you can start borrowing (under-18s may need a parent’s or guardian’s signature).
Many of our North Shore libraries also have story times targeting various age groups, and other activities such as movie afternoons, Christmas pantomimes, art and craft workshops, along with theatre and dance workshops. These activities are often available free, or at a nominal cost. Check out your local library’s website to find out what’s on.
4. It’s green
There are many arguments for and against paper-based books vis-a-vis e-books. One of these arguments is that e-books are better for the environment. But sometimes you just can’t go past reading a physical book. There is something about feeling the texture of the pages, the weight of the book in your hands, and knowing how far you are through the story by the thickness of the pages.
Besides, don’t children already get enough screen time?
Child Wise, a UK-based market research firm, recently found that children aged five to 16 spend an average of six-and-a-half hours a day in front of a screen. Meanwhile, the Australian Health Department guidelines recommend no more than two hours a day.
Libraries give you the best of both worlds. A paper-based book with green credentials (because they are used and re-used time and again), and a break from the screen.
5. It will help teach responsibility
Library books are a shared resource, so they need to be looked after. Drawing on the front cover, tearing out the pages to make paper aeroplanes or leaving the book at the park in the rain are big no-nos.
So, mark on the calendar when the books need to be returned, find a special place for them at home to keep them safe and let your little one take charge of making sure the books are returned to the library undamaged and on time. You’ll be helping to teach your child responsibility and how to care for objects that belong to others.
6. It’s fun!
Far from being dull places with greying librarians speaking in whispers, libraries are fun. There are tables and chairs, bean bags and cushions, and there are shelves of books to hide between and explore. There’s usually a kids’ corner with a candy store of books, all arranged at the right height for a child.
If that’s not enough, there’s also the process of carefully selecting two or three books to take home, borrowing them (extra fun if you can self-service), and finally returning them by feeding them through the chute and watching them disappear.
Visit your local library to find out what they have to offer, or jump online for events and location details.
- Hornsby Shire Libraries
- Willoughby City Libraries
- Stanton Library, North Sydney
- Lane Cove and Greenwich Libraries
- Manly Council Public Library
- Warringah Council Libraries
We also list lots of library events happening on the North Shore in our What’s On section.