This book is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part for educational purposes is granted.

Publication of this book was managed by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. Listing of materials and resources in this book should not be construed or interpreted as an endorsement by the Department of any private organization or business listed herein.

April 1993

You don't have to have a house overflowing with books to give your children this kind of experience. Your local public library is home to an abundance of books, plus many other valuable resources.

  One of the most exciting and innovative areas in the library today is the children's section. Most public libraries now offer a wide variety of children's books and magazines. Usually there is a children's librarian to help find just the right book--whether it's Mother Goose or how to do a science project. In addition to printed materials, libraries often lend audio- and videocassettes of children's books and movies. They may sponsor special programs, including story hours for youngsters (from toddlers on up), summer reading programs, and homework help. Many libraries also provide valuable resources for teenagers.

  Keep in mind too that a visit to the library can help enrich your life as an adult. Whether you are seeking information or just a "good read,"" your local public library has a lot to offer.

Getting Children Interested

  Helping your children to enjoy reading is one of the most important things you can do as a parent and well worth the investment of your time and energy. Kids will learn reading skills in school, but often they come to associate reading with work, not pleasure. As a result, they lose their desire to read. And it is that desire--the curiosity and interest--that is the cornerstone to using reading and related skills successfully. By far the most effective way to encourage your children to love books and reading is to read aloud to them, and the earlier you start, the better. Even a baby of a few months can see pictures, listen to your voice, and turn cardboard pages. Make this time together a special time when you hold your kids and share the pleasure of a story without the distractions of TV or telephones. You may be surprised to find that a well-written children's book is often as big a delight to you as it is to the kids.

  And don't stop taking the time to read aloud once your children have learned to read for themselves. At this stage, encourage them to read to you some of the time. This shared enjoyment will continue to strengthen your children's interest and appreciation.

 Simply having books, magazines, and newspapers around your home will help children to view them as part of daily life. And your example of reading frequently and enjoying it will reinforce that view.

 While your children are still very small, it's a good idea to start a home library for them, even if it's just a shelf or two. Be sure to keep some books for little children to handle freely. Consider specially made, extra durable books for infants, and pick paperbacks and plastic covers for kids who are older but still not quite ready for expensive hardbacks. Allowing little children to touch, smell, and even taste books will help them to develop strong attachments.

 How you handle books will eventually influence how your kids treat them. Children imitate, so if they see that you enjoy reading and treat books gently and with respect, it is likely that they will do the same.

 When you read aloud together, choose books that you both like. If a book seems dull, put it down and find one that is appealing. There are, however, so many children's books in print that making the best selections may seem a formidable task. One approach is to look for award-winning books. There are two famous awards for children's literature made each year by the American Library Association that are good indicators of quality work: the Caldecott Medal for illustration and the Newberry Medal for writing. But these are given to only two of the approximately 2,500 new children's books published each year.

 In addition, your library will have several journals that regularly review children's books, including The Horn Book and Booklist. These will give you an idea of what's new and worth pursuing. And there's nothing like just browsing through the many books available at your library until you find ones that appeal to you and your kids.

If your children are school-aged, keep in mind that the school library is an excellent source for a wide variety of materials and the school librarian is knowledgeable about children's literature. Encourage your kids to bring home books from their school library for pleasure as well as for their studies.

When You Visit the Library

  As soon as you can, it is a good idea to include children--event toddlers--in weekly trips to the library. Libraries are often open in the evening for working parents, and most will issue a library card to any children who can print their names and whose parent will countersign for them. See that your children get their own library cards as soon as possible (age 5) so that they can check out their own books.

  Also, it's a good idea to encourage your kids to ask on their own for help in finding books and materials. Keep in mind, however, that a librarian is there to point out different choices, not to decide what ideas your children should be exposed to. That is your job. So, no matter how helpful or knowledgeable a children's librarian may be, your participation in selecting and sharing books with your child is very important.

  Although public libraries welcome children and may have special facilities for them, there are commonsense guidelines for behavior that parents need to stress:

Keep in mind that it is your responsibility to see that your children behave acceptably and are not disruptive to others using the library.

When Your Child Visits the Library Alone

  Recently public libraries have seen a dramatic increase in the number of "latchkey kids"--elementary and even preschool-aged children left unattended. Frequently, working parents are instructing their youngsters to go to the library after school and do homework until they can pick them up several hours later.

  This trend has produced some unfortunate results. For instance, children have been left in unsafe areas at closing time when their parents were late in picking them up. In addition, leaving children unattended at public libraries for long periods can be disruptive for other patrons. Kids who were hungry, tired, or restless have gotten noisy, upset, and have even vandalized library property.

  Consequently, many public libraries have adopted policies regarding how they will respond to children who are left unsupervised for long periods, particularly when there are questions of safety or liability. The policies of different libraries vary considerably, so if you have any questions, be sure to ask a staff member at your library.

  Preschool children visiting a library should always be accompanied by an adult or teenager. Suggestions for parents of older children who will be visiting the library include:

  All of these guidelines and policies are designed to protect children, not discourage them from visiting libraries. Kids are welcome.

Library Services

  So what exactly can you expect if you take your children to the library? A lot depends, of course, on their ages. And a lot depends on your local public library's resources. The best way to find out is to visit your community library and see what's available. While there is much variety in local library programs throughout the country, there are several elements common to most children's services, as well as some general trends.

For Preschoolers

  Some libraries invite parents to bring in their children--no matter how young--for special programs.

  More and more libraries are instituting programs designed for toddlers 18 to 36 months old. Again, parents and children participate in activities that may include reading aloud, storytelling, finger-plays, rhymes, and songs. Because this age is a crucial time in the development of language skills, the value of these events lies in giving parents or caregivers the background on how to stimulate and encourage a child's development as well as entertaining the toddlers.

  By the time children are 3 to 5 years of age, they usually enjoy participating in group activities. Consequently, many libraries sponsor programs for this age group, and parents generally do not need to stay with their kids throughout these events.  Popular activities include reading aloud, storytelling, films, puppet shows, arts and crafts, and reading programs.

  Frequently, reading programs offer some kind of recognition-- perhaps a certificate or book--to children who have read (or listened to) a specified number of books.

  The kinds of materials available for checkout for children ranging from infants up to age 5 vary among libraries. There will always be books, though--hardbacks, books with cardboard pages, picture books, and often cloth books, paperbacks, and magazines. The variety of subjects is tremendous, with everything from baby colors to bicycle basics, and from Bambi to keeping bugs in a jar. When your kids ask you endless questions about where they came from and why the sky is blue, chances are good there's a book at your library with answers they can understand. Or, if your children have homed in on favorite subjects--whether dinosaurs or donkeys--you'll find lots of fascinating books for them at the library.

  Almost all libraries also offer recordings of children's stories and songs. Many also offer cassette tapes, compact discs, videotapes, book/cassette kits, and even puppets and educational toys. See what your local public library has to offer. You and your kids may be pleasantly surprised. And the only thing it will cost you is some time.

For School-Aged Children

  Libraries take on another important dimension for children beginning school. In addition to recreation, the library is a place to find information, usually for help with schoolwork. This expanded focus in no way diminishes the library's importance as a source of pleasure.

  But the books are central. The ages 7 to 9 are an especially critical time for children. These are the years when they normally make the transition from just hearing and looking at picture books to reading independently for enjoyment and for schoolwork. How well they make this transition will determine much about the quality of their lives.

  It is very important to find well-written books for your children at this stage. A story that will make them laugh or want to know what happens next will motivate them to read even though it's difficult. Your local public library is filled with such books, and the children's librarian is skilled at locating these treasures. A growing number of very informative nonfiction books are available as well. Want to know how to dig up dinosaur bones or all about the different people in the world? There are good books that will fascinate even beginning readers.

  Hopefully that sense of wonder and curiosity behind little children's endless questions will continue as your kids grow older. Encourage them to look up answers to their questions in dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and almanacs. These are resources you may want to add to your home library. Even if you do, remember that your local library will have a larger selection and more materials on specific subjects, and the librarian will be glad to help your kids learn to use these resources.

  And don't overlook the school library as another valuable source for similar information and training. In fact, many schools and public libraries cosponsor children's programs. For example, a school may invite staff members from the local public library to give book talks or sign children up for library cards.

  In elementary and junior high school, your children will tackle school assignments that require them to learn library skills. Teaching these skills is, in fact, part of the school curriculum. When you visit your children's school, stop by the school library, meet the librarian, and familiarize yourself with its many resources. In addition, if your kids' school sponsors books fairs, don't miss the opportunity to participate. You will probably be invited to help with the collecting, displaying, buying, and selling of children's books. This is an excellent way to learn more about children's literature.

  Very often children in school will ask their parents for help with library assignments. And very often parents will find themselves gradually taking over and doing a report for their son or daughter. Obviously, such an exercise offers no long-term benefit to anyone. There are, however, things you can do to help your kids with library assignments:

  One of the most important and frequently available library services for school-aged children is the summer reading program. Recent research has shown that kids who participate in library summer reading programs begin the school year with stronger reading skills than those who don't. So, encourage your kids to participate in such programs, particularly if they have any difficulty with reading. Low-level reading skills and illiteracy are being recognized more and more as major obstacles to success for many young adults. Obviously, the more help youngsters get early on, the better.

  The increasing number of computer software programs available at public libraries are of particular interest to school children. Since kids generally are more interested and at ease with computers than their parents, computers are often found in the children's section as well as the adult department.

For Teenagers

  Teenagers, of course, are more independent than younger kids, so parents will have a somewhat different role when it comes to helping them use the library and encouraging them to read for recreation. Just being certain that teenagers know what kinds of programs are available may be the best help you can give--that, along with setting the example of visiting the library and reading yourself.

  There is no clear cut category of books for teenagers or young adults, although there are many novels written especially for teenagers, usually published in paperback. Some libraries have special sections for this age group; others include young adult materials with the adult collection. Teens generally make selections, especially for school assignments, from the adult collection.

  A number of public libraries have developed special programs for teens to help them as they make the transition into adulthood. For instance, at some libraries there are teenage advisory boards to ensure that programs and materials for youth actually meet their needs. Some libraries publish book reviews written by their teenage patrons or help young people in the community to publish their own newsletters or magazines.

  Many libraries enlist teenagers to help with programs for younger children, such as tutoring summer reading participants, doing puppet and crafts shows, storytelling, and theater productions. In addition, libraries frequently offer part-time job opportunities for teens, both volunteer and paid, to help with such tasks as checking in books and re-shelving materials.