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melanie
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| Posted: April 30 2009 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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I'm not sure what forum to put this in, so here goes...
This is kind of homeschooling blasphemy I guesss  , but I'm thinking of dropping the library. We have always used it heavily, but I'm feeling like I could buy a LOT of second hand books for what we spend on library fines. It drives me insane, I feel like I'm throwing money away...we have books that disappear, or get damaged occassionally, or rack up big bucks when a cd or dvd is late...our home library leaves a lot to be desired, though it is slowly improving. I keep going back and forth on this. And I'm being interrupted, so I guess I'll leave it at that.  
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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JennGM
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Melanie,
Let me start with I own a lot of books, and I am constantly accumulating more. I have 4 boxes I'm sending to the local parish festival that starts tomorrow, but they didn't even make a dent out of my collection.
There are many books my library doesn't have. But if I start buying to replace the use of the library, I don't have any more room for books that aren't readily available. So I buy the ones I'll use frequently, or those that are rarer and would enhance our library.
Rachel May has helped me sort through this process. Of course, it all depends on what I am paying. One used book sale individually prices books and the cost adds up quickly, so I make sure I'm choosing books that are hard to find or are really expensive.
But when I'm at the library sale when the books are really cheap, I'm less discerning.
Library helps me not own twaddle, too. Sometimes there are books that my son wants to read, but I definitely don't want to own, or have in my house for very long. The library also helps me try a book on for size. Sometimes books I think will be a big hit aren't. So $$$ is saved. And then the audio books are what makes me keep going back.
What if you put some limits on library books? Keep a library bag or shelf, with a chair or sofa nearby and make that the library book reading corner? Periodic library book counts? Maybe some moms have some suggestions for that area, instead of giving it all up.
I guess the short answer is I want a balance, so I use the library but also own books. I could never give up either.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JodieLyn
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I'm there.. plus the head librarian is rather on the rude side.. I mean.. asking if the kids are dragging books through the dirt.. when it was summer and we don't have a/c and there was work being done in the yard and so a book that fell apart on us (we did not abuse it) got dust/dirt on the sticky part of the binding that was left open. Just tired of being treated like my kids should be able to take care of books that are falling apart and we should apparently live in a hermatically sealed house with a/c or we're "less than" others.
Well I don't need that.. and I don't need fines for lost or late books.
I'd rather my money went to MY OWN library. My kids are young enough that if I buy for the oldest that everyone will have a chance to use them (amazing how long the books last at my house when they're not in dire straits before we get them already)
Plus I don't have to worry about the books.. sure.. pick anything off the shelves.
It costs more.. but offset with not paying fines etc.. and we're fairly frugal in other areas of homeschooling so we can spend a bit extra on books.. plus I try and build the library by buying to books as gifts.. I'd spend money on gifts anyway.. so it does double duty this way. 
Oh one other thing.. the library here just isn't that good.. it's small.. getting things ILL is a pain in the neck and takes FOREVER.. basically the good isn't outweighed by the bad.
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Erin
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Melanie
I go back and forth on this one. Long periods of not using the library, generally after huge fines.  The other times where I'm lugging home bags of books. Our library falls short of meeting my needs in many areas too so that factors in big time.
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Jody
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I'm all for owning my own books. I love to have good books always on hand when my kids are bored and want something to read. Or maybe they are interested in a new topic and would like something right away. If you start collecting good literature you always have it available for your children to pick up at any time.
Of course I still use the library too on occassion but it is so very stressful at times that I would rather collect books and use the library a bit less.\\Just my 2 cents 
Peace,
Jody
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Maddie
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I definitely vote for creating your own library. Get several good book lists and work on collecting good quality books. It's so easy to just grab books at a book sale because their cheap only later to drop them off at a thrift store because they were twaddle. Some of the out of print Catholic biographies are such a treasure to have on hand for your children, such as the Credo books, Vision (some are in print) American Background, Clarion, Dujarie, to name a few.
There is something really precious about watching your children with their "own" books. My 14 yo currently sleeps with The Simarillion, a dictionary, his one volume collection of the Narnia books (illustrated) and an Andrew Lang Fairy book. I have tried many times to put the dictionary on his shelf, but it always comes back to his bed. Most of my children sleep with at least one favorite book, not something you can comfortably do with a library book.
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melanie
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Jenn, you make good points...I have been using my money to buy books, especially good Catholic books from Catholic Mosaic and such, that our library doesn't carry.
I did finally ban dvd's from the library. The fines were a dollar a day per movie. Each kid would get a couple. When we would forget to return them on time, it would really add up. But cd's and such are the same way. Maybe I will ban everything but books! Golly, imagine, getting books from the library, kids, what a crazy thought! 
Maybe *I* should be the one to use the library, to get things we will use for school topics and such. I don't know.
We've also had near death books fall apart on us too and have had ugly librarians to deal with from time to time. One showed me a slightly wrinkled page and told me it was "water damage" and I had to pay a ridiculous amount to replace it. Oy. I was really quite certain that we didn't "damage" the book anyway. The boy that checked it out never picked it up again once we got it home and it just sat on the shelf. But in this house, really, anything is possible.
But we also use the library for other things. In fact, my two oldest ones are at their free movie afternoon right at this very moment.
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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Mimip
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Just a few ideas
I have a freind who has a running account of the books out and in from the library. She is meticulous and she never gets fines. That is NOT me. What saves me is the renewal process online. You can renew up to 4 -6 times unless there is a request (very rarely).
-We no longer get DVD's unless they are Signing Time or something to go with our history and no more than 2 out at the same time.
-ALL our kids reading Library books go on one shelf in the reading corner.
-All our educational books (things for specific school narration or history) goes on one of my "Mommy shelves" Those books are my responsibility and never get lost (usually )
-Once a book is read a few times or intrest decreases it goes into the "library Backpack" This is a backpack with wheels that gets filled everytime we go back and forth. BTW, with 3 kids our rule is, if it doesn't fit in the bag, we can't get it. This helps with not having out too many to keep track of on our library shelf. The backpack is left next to the reading shelf in the reading corner.
- I would like to incorporate a weekly visit to the Library but with my little toddler the only time we get to go in peace is when Dad is home:)
Hope that helps with a few ideas:)
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Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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donnalynn
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Oh my goodness Library Elf has been such a blessing! It took me forever to sign up but it has been a real help in reducing my fines.
Library Elf
I have an account and each of my older daughters has their own account. They are very responsible with their books.
Any books I get out for the boys and myself go on my card. As long as you are listing only one card for an account and not signing up for additional services - which I haven't needed - it is free.
I have also found that a consistent library day really helps to get things back on time. I also just received my "Open Borrowing" sticker that allows me to check out books in other libraries - there are two other towns that I regularly use so this is just such a great feature.
I also have space issues and there is no way I could buy all the books I'd like and have room for them. I save the $$$ and the space for Catholic childrens books that are hard to get. I  libraries!
Oh and I rarely take younger children to the library - I get books out for the family - except for my dh - if there is a library version of the 10 most wanted he's probably on it right now!  But he's so charming he always manages to keep in good graces with the librarians.
And we do have one grumpy librarian - I am always extra nice to that one and it has helped (thank - you St. Therese for your example). Besides doesn't every library have to have at least one grumpy older librarian? I think it must be some kind of Universal Law or something.
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Mackfam
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I have been building our home library for years and I love it and have never regretted it. These books are a delight that will be shared by each of my children...and one day, I hope to pass them along to grandchildren.
Our library system does not offer 80% of what I look for in book titles, so it's just not worth my while to go there on a regular basis. I go infrequently and always wish I could make more use of the library system.
I stifle feelings of envy when I hear of MaryM and her infamous trips to the library rolling out with hundreds of books. Now, if I had a library like that, we'd be camped out weekly!
I DO have great used bookstores here though, and have found many, many treasures there as well as used book sales, friends of the library sales, and used online sites. I love finding a treasure of a book for a quarter. Nothing fills me with more delight!
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MarilynW
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We are so blessed in our library system - they have so many of the books, dvds and cds that I use for our schooling - and there are no limits on # of books, renewals (unless an item is requested) and NO FINES. We too have a home library, but the books I tend to buy are Catholic books which are not found at the library. Also I will often take books out of the library to peruse them and see whether I want to buy them. The library opens up so many more books to us. eg writing my World literature lists for next year - I own or will buy several items, but there is no way we could read as many as we will if we had to buy them all. I currently have 93 books/dvds/cds out of the library. The librarians all know me and the children and are very pleasant to us. I love the fact that I can just get online and put books on hold. (funny story though - my husband has been picking up books for me recently and he always feels embarassed because it looks like he is walking away with half the library!!!)
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mom2mpr
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Could you get a teacher card? One of the library systems here has teacher cards with no overdue fines. The other library system, with the cool library express boxes up the road, gives us a longer check out period on books with a teachers card. Because I can buzz by on my way out and only go 5 minutes out of my way, I am happy with that set up. I do everything online, place holds and renew. The overdue fine free teacher card, I found a hassle as I'd place holds and they would trickle in and the library was not on our way anywhere.
I also use my homeschool money for the Catholic books I cannot get through the library. I am fortunate that they have about 50% of the ones I want to see. I get them out to see if we like them, before buying.
I have found if I check online on Monday, what is due the coming week, I can renew and limit my overdue fines. I need to be really disciplined about that as if I fail, it isn't pretty and we are paying for a new wing in the library
We visit a library about once a month for the kids to pick books as I am finding it hard to let ds loose in the YA section---scary!
I currently use 2 library systems and have 2 boxes upstairs for those books to go into when we are done with them.
We are using Sonlight for history this year and I did buy all the books except the read alouds. It has been nice to have most of the books in the house. And we have been listening to the read alouds from the library, on tape in the car. I will probably buy more books as my funds allow in the future. It has been nice.
Anne
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sunnyviewmom
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It is a sad fact that our public library has recently been getting rid of some of our favorite books. Examples are By the Great Horn Spoon and Gone Away Lake. Our 7 year old has tried to find some of his favorite picture books (ones he likes to check out frequently) only to discover that they have been discarded. The new books that I see taking their place are usually twaddle (or worse... I see lots of books with a witchcraft theme). This is "forcing" us to buy more of our own books. But spending the money doesn't upset me as much as seeing the good and beautiful books being taken away and replaced with junk. It's so sad. Do any of you have a similar situation? I hope not, but I'm wondering.
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stacykay
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Melanie,
We are blessed that we have found a library in our system (just one town over) that has wonderful librarians who love homeschoolers!, a huge selection of great books and videos, unlimited checkouts on books, 3 week checkouts for all educational videos (other videos are 1 week,) and a free reminder email of all due items that comes 3 or 4 days before the due date. And like some have mentioned, I keep a huge basket in the living room where we keep all our library books and videos. It kind of helps, but some do find their way to bedrooms.
Does your library offer any reminder service? Maybe you could enter that into their suggestion box?
Even with all the pluses of our library, I often get a hankering for the luxury of strolling to my own bookshelves (which are already groaning and overflowing) and pulling the desired book out. Of course, I would have to be as organized as the library. (Organizing and decluttering our books is my summer job this year!) I can't tell you how much time I have wasted  searching for that book that I know for certain we have in one of our 9 bookcases.
Oh, and our library is eager to order books that we request.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Stephanie_Q
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sunnyviewmom wrote:
| It is a sad fact that our public library has recently been getting rid of some of our favorite books. Examples are By the Great Horn Spoon and Gone Away Lake. Our 7 year old has tried to find some of his favorite picture books (ones he likes to check out frequently) only to discover that they have been discarded. The new books that I see taking their place are usually twaddle (or worse... I see lots of books with a witchcraft theme). This is "forcing" us to buy more of our own books. But spending the money doesn't upset me as much as seeing the good and beautiful books being taken away and replaced with junk. It's so sad. Do any of you have a similar situation? I hope not, but I'm wondering. |
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A lot of the books that the library "gets rid of" go to the "Friends of the Library" book store or the book sale where I can get kids books 3/$1! I have gotten some really good books like "Cinderella" by Marcia Brown, which they did not replace and others like a worn copy of "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats, which they did replace. ASK what they are doing with the old books - maybe they'll "sell" them to you. There are a lot of new books that I don't like (they have multiple copies of all the Harry Potter books, and only two paperbacks from the Redwall series) but they also get classic books that are "re-released" like Marjorie Flack's "Angus" books. I give my library a wish list on occasion - they like to know what books people want when they have money to spend on them.
As for the original post...I have a good relationship with our librarians and we take advantage of being able to renew on-line and they'll do it over the phone for me, too. We have rarely had fines, and since we've established ourselves as good patrons, there are a few librarians who have waived them, since we aren't in the habit of bringing back late / damaged books. We VERY RARELY check out videos/CDs.
We keep library book bags (one for the books the girls read in their room, one for the ones I read to them on our "library closet" door). I keep track of the books, for the most part. However, as they get older and get their own cards: if they lose / damage a book, they will pay for it (and that includes books that they leave out for a younger sibling to color/rip). I had my own card and had to pay for late/lost/damaged books out of my allowance when I was a kid.
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sunnyviewmom
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Thanks Stephanie. For awhile, I was able to buy some of the discarded items at library booksales, but our library is being rennovated and they no longer felt they had room for the discarded books, I guess. When I asked about them, the librarian told me that they were sent away to be sold somewhere. (I didn't really understand what she meant but apparently they are not available to the general public.) Anyway, I don't want to take over this post or anything but this has been my sad experience.
Dana
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TxTrish
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Over 12 years of homeschooling, I have ammassed a huge collection of books (I know it is impressive in size - the movers have been telling me so for the last 4 moves - I figure when proffessional movers say you have a huge library... you have arrived )
I occaisionally use the library - dh would almost (I did say almost) rather I just purchse. It is often cheaper for us, too.
So, I try to balance it out. Some I check out, many I buy, and the library is more like a treat than a regular event in our homeschool.
I limit, keep them all in one place, and so on and so forth... The perfect system still alludes us.
Good luck - if you find the magic answer, be sure to share it with us. Or, better yet, sell it! You'll make a mint!
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melanie
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Another homeschooler was complaining that when older books were replaced, even when they were replaced by the exact same books, they would be newer editions with computer generated artwork instead of the prettier "real" artwork, watercolors and such, that the previous books had been published with.
Dana, they may be selling their books online through sellers. When I've bought used books online, they are often library copies from all around the country! It's always interesting to me to see where they came from, and they are nice to have because they are usually bound really well. One year I bought "Hark! A Christmas Carol" used, a library copy, and it was AUTOGRAPHED inside by Tomie de Paola!!!! I didn't even know it when I bought it, it was a surprise. I don't even know if the seller knew it. It wasn't put in the description or anything.
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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Philothea
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I mainly use the library for adult books and kids' DVDs. Or kids' nonfiction books about a specific topic, like ants or recycling or something. Childrens' literature, I prefer to buy. I want my kids to be able to fall in love with their books, hug them and linger over them and take them to bed at night and not be asking all the time when they have to go back to the library or worrying about getting them dirty (or the fact that they are usually ALREADY dirty, yuck!).
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JuliaT
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We have a wonderful library. There isn't alot of book choice but I can ILL and I get most of the books that I order. Also, our librarians are gems. We don't have to pay overdue fees at our library. But if you lose a book, zingo! you get hit hard for payment. I recently had to pay $11 for a lost book that I could have bought at Scholastic for $3.
Even though, we have a great library, I still am building up our home library. I am always on the lookout for suitable books for my kids. It is just easier to go down to the schoolroom and pick out the books we need rather than travel 20 min. to search at the library. In having a home library, it makes rabbit trails much easier.
Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3 (9,8,6)
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: library books vs. buying your own
