At the Library
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Essential Library Vocabulary Guide for Parents and Kids
Libraries are magical places. Rows upon rows of books just waiting to be explored, cozy nooks for reading, and (best of all) the wide-eyed excitement of kids discovering their next favorite story. But let’s be honest: if you’re not familiar with the library world, some of the lingo can feel a bit…well, intimidating. Words like “genre,” “catalog,” or even “stacks” might sound like secret code, and that’s enough to make any parent wonder if they need a translator just to find the right book for their child. Don’t worry, though—I’ve got you covered! Whether you’re chasing after a toddler who’s making a break for the picture books or hoping to…
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How to use the Dewey Decimal system to find books kids want to read
One of the things that trips up library visitors is navigating the Non-fiction section. Fiction books are (generally) easy: they’re organized by the author’s last name! But non-fiction books? The non-fiction section is the MOST mysterious area in the entire children’s library…and it’s all because of the numbers. Instead of being organized by title or author, non-fiction books are organized by subject! And those subjects are organized into blocks of numbers. This organizational system is called the Dewey Decimal System, named after the guy who came up with it, Melvil Dewey. Mr. Dwey’s system isn’t very intuitive or easy to use, and it can scare away readers– which is why…
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What is Narrative Nonfiction? | Kids Book Genres Explained
This is the first post in a series explaining popular kids book genres, how to find them in the library, and recommended reads. If you’ve never heard of narrative nonfiction before, it’s a shorthand way of describing books written using factual information in the style of a fiction book. The more in-depth explanation is: What is narrative nonfiction? Narrative nonfiction is a subset of the creative nonfiction genre. Creative nonfiction is a factual story told in the style of a fictional one. Usually this means it’s factually accurate, but written in a way similar to a fiction book, with a protagonist (or two!), a defined story arc, and a less…
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What’s a Library eCard & how to get one
I have a little bit of an obsession with signing up for as many library cards as I can. I like seeing the different resources each library provides, and it’s fun having multiple cards in my purse. (I’m a librarian…can you blame me?) However, I’m not able to physically get to as many libraries as I’d like to, and that means my range of available library cards is pretty narrow. However! Library eCards are steadily gaining in popularity, and they provide a fabulous new way to get access to library materials from the safety of my own home. The best part is: you can sign up for library eCards as…
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What is a reading log, and how do you use it?
One of the best tools in a reader’s toolkit is the reading log. If you’re working on creating good reading habits in your child’s life, then a reading log is a wonderful companion to go along with that. What is a reading log? A reading log is a list of books that a reader has completed— also sometimes called a book journal. It can be as simple as a list of title written on a piece of paper, or as complicated as an intricately-tagged Goodreads shelf. However they’re done, reading logs are a great addition to any book lover’s toolkit. You might already be familiar with reading logs as part…
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Should your kids have their own library card?
I work at a public library which means I see a lot of different kinds of patrons. Some patrons come every day and hang out doing homework or just reading for fun. Some come every three weeks only to check out new books, and that’s it. And then there’s some who come every few months, usually for a program, and totally forget about all the other benefits a library card brings them. But all three patron types have a similar question: should they get their kids their own library cards, or should they use one main “family” library card for everyone? It’s free to get a card at my library,…
