by Kirsti Call I love the library! As a kid, I’d invite my friends to go with me on our weekly visits--I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful place! The prospect of a trip to the library still fills me with excitement at the age of 40. Here are three ways I make the most of my library card. 1. Request and Pick Up: As much as I love the library, as a mother of five, I don't really have the time to peruse the stacks like I used to. With the help of my trusty library card, I can reserve books online. I simply sign into my library's website, search for my book, and click on “Place Hold.” When my books are ready, I get an email from the library. When I arrive, they're waiting for me at the front desk. 2. Movie Rentals: We haven't had to pay for a movie in a long time. And yes, streaming is great, but it doesn't fulfill our every need. The library has a huge selection of movies that we can rent for a full week with no charge. 3. Museum Passes: Our library allows us to reserve and print out museum passes from home. This gives us the freedom to enjoy over 22 local museums for free. 4. Library Events: I use my library card to register for library events. The library calendar is full of events for children and adults. We've been to magic shows, scavenger hunts and books clubs. Just last Saturday our family went to book bingo; we each went home with a new book to read! There's nothing better than that! 5. E-Book Rentals: I love always having hundreds of books at my disposal because of my Kindle. I keep it in my purse at all times. You can borrow e-books for free by signing up on Overdrive.com with your local library! How do you make the most of your library card? Kirsti Call is a homeschooling mom of five. Her debut picture book, The Raindrop Who Couldn't Fall, came out in 2013 with Character Publishing. Her family band, Calling Out, plays songs written by her children. She contributes to Writer's Rumpus and co-coordinates Reading for Research Month, a challenge for picture book writers who use mentor texts to improve their writing skills. If you visit her house, you’ll likely find her reading or writing. You can find out more about her at www.kirsticall.com.
13 Comments
Angie Quantrell
4/20/2016 07:24:16 am
I love our libraries. I just recently discovered the museum pass feature. Isn't it wonderful? I LOVE the reserve online feature. Saves me tons of trips. :)
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Kirstine Call
4/20/2016 07:38:38 am
I do too, Angie. Especially when I'm participating in challenges like Reading for Researching Month and I need to get a bunch of specific books for a specific time!
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Carol
4/20/2016 07:35:09 am
Thanks for reminding us about how great libraries are! The place of some of my fondest childhood memories :)
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Kirstine Call
4/20/2016 07:38:54 am
Me too, Carol.
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Carol
4/20/2016 07:36:10 am
Forgot to mention...Great family pic, Kristi!! It makes me smile :)
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Kirsti Call
4/20/2016 07:40:58 am
Thank you! It's hard to see everyone, but it's our most recent photo and we were having fun!
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4/20/2016 08:19:54 am
We also love the library! Especially inter-library loan. When my child was younger, we utilized their great kid programs. Libraries also have many creative adult programs.
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Kirstine Call
4/27/2016 07:37:54 am
I agree, Marianne. I love the kid and adult programs and joining "Friends of the Library" is a wonderful way to support literacy!
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Sydney O'Neill
4/20/2016 07:22:01 pm
I love the ability to check out ebooks with no concern about due dates or fines, and I began placing requests for books with this year's ReFoReMo. Don't know if my library can issue museum passes. Will have to check that out.
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Kirstine Call
4/27/2016 07:38:48 am
Isn't it wonderful to have access to so MANY free books?
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Laura Cooper
5/25/2016 09:24:00 am
Libraries are such a treasure. My fondest childhood memories are of visiting the local library with my mother. Thank you for sharing all the wonderful things libraries have to offer.
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My library card is almost always maxed out (50 checkouts, 50 holds limit), and I have a big THANK YOU to those valiant volunteers who fill my stack on the hold shelf each week.
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5/25/2016 10:13:23 pm
Our library offers access to a variety of resources online. I've used the library's Lynda.com subscription multiple times to learn about a new software or program. We also have a variety of free workshops. Sometimes I sign up for the "crafty" ones just to learn something new. They also have instructors visit to discuss variety of topics for small businesses (many apply to writers). Social media series, website, etc. (I feel guilty I use the reserve/hold function so much.)
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