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Spring reading at the Library
March 26, 2010
Without a doubt, spring in New England is a fickle thing. Last week was sunshine and squishy mud between the toes. Early this week was grey skies and sleet; rain and snow falling on daffodil buds. Today the temperature hovers at freezing and the blustery wind flaps the towels on the line. Ah... spring.
When the weather does not beckon us outdoors we love the familiar comfort of reading. And so even in nasty weather we leave our cozy abode and venture out to the library to replenish our book supply. We keep a small at-home library that in no way satisfies our need to read. (Let me just say thank goodness for free inter-library loan).
So it was this week that we went out on Wednesday morning, our weekly library day, to return the books we had and find new ones.
Except for the hottest couple weeks of summer (when we prefer beaches to books) the library is a foundational piece of our week. So I decided to bring the camera with me this week to take a few photos of this lovely place to share on the blog.
We live in community with twin cities. Two individual cities right across the river from each other with unique libraries and cultural opportunities. We like the library across the river better and it has become a place both familiar and comforting to the kiddos and I.
looking out the library window on this blustery spring day
I love walking into the childrens' room and losing all three children into the rows and rows of books.
Laurent usually heads for the graphic novels, Celine to the middle readers section and Brienne to the picture books. And me? I head for the computers. To search titles for call numbers using my trusted sources for booklists.
What are those sources you ask? Well, I love booklists on blogs; like this spring booklist posted recently by Stefani at Blue Yonder Ranch or this list I found while reading Welcoming Spring at Simple Homeschool.
My usual sources for book titles are the Sonlight catalog, Books Children Love and the recommended books that pop up in Goodreads and Amazon when you search for titles or authors you are already familiar with. You can find more resources for books on FIMBY Homeschool in the sidebar.
Reading together is just the best on those less than lovely days when all you want to do is cuddle on the couch, waiting for the sun to shine again and the cold rain to stop.
I just had to add this. As I finish writing and publishing this post all three kiddos sit side by side on the couch behind me, in the sunlight (it's sunny but cold today) reading their books. It's so sweet. Oh wait a sec... I take that back. They're arguing over who gets to sit by the cat (roll-eyes).
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Kika on March 26, 2010, 11:55 p.m.
Our library is tiny (and boring) although the staff is wonderful! But, like you said, thank goodness for free interlibrary loans!!!
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Misha on March 27, 2010, 12:55 a.m.
I think that must be a common denominator amongst all HS moms - we are all in love with the library. Our inner library loan has saved us (we guess) hundreds if not thousands of dollars we don't have... it's such a bliss to be in the library! (I love that globe, too!)
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Twisted Cinderella on March 27, 2010, 1:53 a.m.
I LOVE the library even if ours is small.
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Nicole on March 27, 2010, 4:56 a.m.
I like the picture of Laurent sitting on the floor reading at the library...a familiar sight with my own bunch! I also got a chuckle from your little add on...keeping it real!
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Laura on March 28, 2010, 1:56 p.m.
What a lovely post, I also have checked out blue yonder and find lots of inspiration at her blog.
I loved the picture from the library window. As a kid I LOVED THE LIBRARY. I hope my kids too will find an affection for books & enjoy theirs & what it can offer. scrolled through your house and how happy it looks.
Be blessed today- Laura
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exhale. return to center. on March 28, 2010, 4:42 p.m.
love this post renee. i can really relate!!
the library is such an important part of our living + learning together too.
we have about 5 libraries in neighboring towns that we visit in a casual rotation....each has it's own special feature (a great playground next door, a beautiful historic reading room, fun toys to play with, an amazing collection of audio books, super friendly librarians etc.) so we just kind of choose based on what we are needing that week.
we also love taking classes at our town library -- they offer such interesting subjects and teach them in really creative, hands-on ways!
~erin
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Candelion on March 28, 2010, 9:21 p.m.
I just checked out five books on campus that I would have bought online.. Score! And I know this shouldn't be a big deal, but none of them have book covers or any kind of illustrations on the outside. A little boring but cost-saving I guess. However, I am a visual learner and always get a feel for a book based on the cover and back-blurb. Oh well, I'll just have to dive right into the words ;) Also, who wouldn't fight over getting to sit next to the kitty?? Love it.
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nicola@which name? on March 29, 2010, 8:29 p.m.
i love libraries. i love books. i love your photos. new england is so beautiful. it is rainy here today, and i thought to take the kids to the library, but ours is closed on monday, a recent change in an effort to cut costs. so sad. i can't tell you how many mondays i have wanted to visit the library! that said, library outings for me are short and sweet. i request my own books well ahead and then pick them up at check out. with two little ones, especially the two year old, library visits can mean a lot of re-shelving! nicola
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Francesca on March 30, 2010, 10:41 a.m.
How I miss US public libraries! We have no public libraries, and are constantly needing books, especially now that my two boys have began reading books at an impressive rate.
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Jenn on March 30, 2010, 8:04 p.m.
the libraries where we live suck. big time. nothing awesome at all. very small selection. i have to travel almost an hour away to get to a good library and then...i don't have a relative or friend to use as a contact. you have to live in that county or have a relative/friend who does whose name you can use or you can't check out books. argh!
soo...we have over 1,000 titles in our home library. and trust me, we do NOT have the room for them but we have them all the same. i like it. the kids are always reading!
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renee on March 31, 2010, 1:52 a.m.
Bad libraries - what a bummer. I suppose without a good library system I'd have to invest in a home library because reading is foundational to our learning, it is our learning!
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Lise on March 26, 2010, 8:52 p.m.
Funny--we both wrote about books today--definitely influenced by the return of chilly weather! I posted my list of current spring reads here: http://inthepurplehouse.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-in-basket-and-on-table.html. There might be some for your next library run, though my kids are a bit younger than yours (1-5).