Today is Thank You for Libraries Day! And we sure are thankful for libraries. Libraries are such a helpful resource for our communities, for families, and for each of us as individuals. And while we tend to think of libraries as large collections of books, they offer a whole lot more. So on this day to celebrate libraries, let’s look at four reasons to appreciate your library!
The obvious one – the books
If you’re a reader, you probably already appreciate your library. What a resource! How could any of us expect to own so many books? But thanks to our local libraries, we have access to hundreds of books.
As parents, we want our kids to have access to books too. And again, how many of these books can one person own? I have a family of readers, and I have far too many bookcases stuffed with books. And still, my kids check out several books every week. We all enjoy having something new to read, and we can do this because of the library. This is certainly one of the reasons to appreciate your library!
Beyond the books we all like to check out, many libraries have additional book resources to explore. These can be old books or rare books that we would not be able to see otherwise. See if your library has any of these unique books or documents for observation.
The whole world
Here’s another reason to appreciate your library today. Our libraries open our eyes to the rest of the world. We can find information about other cultures and their beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles. There are shelves full of books about different countries, and we can see pictures and read about the landscapes, plants, and foods from that area of the world.
This whole world perspective is such a great thing to give to our kids. It’s so easy to have a narrow perspective that relates only to ourselves. You may know someone who has traveled to another part of the world and has returned with a new, broader perspective. We can help our kids develop this perspective through the books at our local libraries. There are books about other cultures and places for even the youngest children. And they really do learn a broader point of view from reading and looking at pictures about other cultures and places.
Community activities
If you have young children, you’ve likely heard about the reading times at the library. Kids love to participate in these reading times. But do you know that there’s more? There is often music mixed in with these reading times, along with some games and movement.
And there are activities for all ages, not only the young children’s reading time. There are events, clubs, and even summer day camps for elementary aged children, middle schoolers, teens, and adults. Look for an event calendar at your library, or ask the librarian for information about their programs.
In addition to the official library community activities, there is just community at the library. There are all ages, different nationalities, and different income levels at the library. What a great way to expose our kids to the larger community in a safe environment for everyone.
Other services
Do you know that you can get so much more than books at the library? Many libraries loan out laptops, telescopes, and complete courses that you can take. Libraries have information about other services in your community as well. Libraries have voting information for you, and they can give you registration forms. At the library, you can use a computer and print out what you need.
We all know that you can study at the library – we’re familiar with that stereotype. But in the same way, you can sit at a table and work at the library. In fact, that’s where I’m writing this right now. A quiet place to concentrate – another one of the reasons to appreciate your library today!
Signing Time
We love libraries! Reading is really important, and we’d all love our kids to be skilled readers. Did you know that signing helps kids to read earlier? Signing exercises the same comprehension and communication skills that are needed for learning to read. When your little ones learn to sign first, they develop an understanding of words that helps them as they learn to comprehend written words. So signing is beneficial for all children, both for early communication and for developing reading skills.
You can find instructions for so many basic signs at the free Signing Time Dictionary. This is a great resource.
But if you want more signing instruction, check out My Signing Time. With fun songs and careful repetition, you and your kids will be signing away with confidence! Check out our Watch Free section, or access everything with a 14-day free trial!
Why do you appreciate your library?