Bringing your child to the library frequently is an essential way to encourage reading. But what if each visit ends up with you running after your child because he or she is disturbing other library users?
It is important to teach the child library etiquette as early as now to reach your goal of promoting reading and learning. Below are some reminders that you can teach your children:
1. In your home, create a study nook adjacent to a bookcase and pretend to be a strict librarian to practice library etiquette. Create a toy library card and help her choose books in the shelves. Remind her to communicate in silent voices and to walk, not run. Show her how to put the book back on the shelf or in a cart after she’s finished or if she’s not interested in it or. You may take turns; hence, let your child be the strict librarian and you will be the library user. Talk noisily and see your child’s reaction to this attitude.
2. Visit the library more often with your child. With the library rules fresh in her mind, bring your child to the nearest library in your place and check how she does. Inspire her to ask for help politely if needed. Get her a library card and let her sign it. Teach by example.
3. Let your child talk to the librarian alone. Occasionally hearing the library rules from someone who works there can have big effect on your child.
Adults, especially teenagers, need to have library etiquettes too. With the growing number of gadgets that they bring inside the library nowadays, sometimes it becomes a distraction to other library users. Below are some library etiquettes for adults:
1. Constantly have your library card ready when you want to borrow books.
2. Always bring your headset if you are planning to put your MP3 players on.
3. If you are going to study with groupmates, find a study room. Many libraries are offering study rooms. However, make sure that you use study rooms while considering the needs of other users. Don’t use it for only one or two people. It is important to get some friends and share the study room with them. But take note of your noise level as well.
4. When there’s a line for the computers, be polite and efficient. Facebook checking, entertainment and unrelated stuff are not tolerable when others are waiting.