How do you keep your library books organized?

[binny]

My friend keeps them all in one place that the kids must return them to as soon as theyre done or right before bed (she also records the due date in her Day Planner). This is one of the areas that I am really bad at. Usually I get the email that theyre due in 3 days and we go on a mad search for them then and then throw them in the car

I was thinking of having a library bag to hang near the door to hold books and whatever else we need for the library.

Do you have a system? What works for you?

 

[NikitaZee]

We have that same problem. My husband wants to build a single shelf near the kids' beds that can hold a couple of things - library books being one of them - so they're handy for reading and have their own place.

 

[Pixiedust34]

At any given time, we have 30+ books checked out of the library. We are avid readers.

I have a couple of small shelves that are devoted to library books only. When we finish a book, we put that book in the library bag which is near our door. We go to the library 2-3 times/week, and the bag always goes with us.

I make it a point to check our accounts online once/week to renew any books that are about to become overdue if there are any.

 

[hercamore]

Well, I don't have kids in the house anymore, but I still have my Lands End tote bag in the spare room that holds all the library books.

The bag is sturdy and doesn't tip over and has a wide open top so books can just be tossed in.

herc

 

[SAHDad]

At the moment, we have 43 items checked out from the library, 21 of them from today. Now, that includes 5 DVDs and 2 or 3 CDs, but does not include the board books from the childrens section. The books are (mostly) kept in a couple of fabric library bags (I went through 10 or 12 of them before they started making them better - I am still thinking about making some canvas ones though), and I keep a general tab on what is due when. Since we have 4 weeks for books, but only a week for DVDs/CD, and we are there twice a week, it really isn't a big deal to keep track of them.

 

[OceanAnnie]

We keep them in 2 places. Our library books are usually on one shelf on our bookcase and some are in our book bag. I carry my book bag everywhere. After we use them, they got straight to either spot.

I got tired of hunting them down! I had to have a system. So much nicer now.

 

[mtemm]

when not being read, all library books are supposed to be on a table we have in the family room. I really need to free up a shelf in the bookcase for it instead! and I love the tote bag idea. that is great, and would make trips to/from the library much easier.

 

[akcire]

When I was in college I was a nanny to a family with 4 kids. I got sick of "hunting" the library books each week. I came up with this system that worked for me, and I still implement it on a smaller scale in my home.

Everyone gets a Land's End or LLBean Boat and Tote type bag that is monogramed with their name. Each kid is allowed to take out one book per year old. (Five year old's get 5 books, etc) The books are always stored in their named bag. The bags can be stored in a central area or in their rooms. Each kid is responsible for their books. Each kid is responsible for getting their bag to the car for the library trip or they get NO books--they usually only forget once.

The other thing I started doing once the library began providing printed receipts was checking out for each kid. So each bag has the receipt from that kid's books.

The other rule was that library books are only allowed out of the house one per child. When library books are transported out of the house, they had to be carried in a "special bag" handled by an adult or over time the oldest child. This was especially important because the kids were in tons of activities and not all kids did all activities, so it was not uncommon to have two in class and two waiting.

After the kids learned the rules, I didn't have to search for books anymore.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

For myself, I prefer buying second hand books to taking out library books. I don't have to return them and I just donate them back to the shop.

 

[binny]

Great ideas everyone thanks!

nice to know we arent the only ones who keep the library really busy
Especially during the summer!

 

[mtemm]

When I was in college I was a nanny to a family with 4 kids. I got sick of "hunting" the library books each week. I came up with this system that worked for me, and I still implement it on a smaller scale in my home.

Everyone gets a Land's End or LLBean Boat and Tote type bag that is monogramed with their name. Each kid is allowed to take out one book per year old. (Five year old's get 5 books, etc) The books are always stored in their named bag. The bags can be stored in a central area or in their rooms. Each kid is responsible for their books. Each kid is responsible for getting their bag to the car for the library trip or they get NO books--they usually only forget once.

The other thing I started doing once the library began providing printed receipts was checking out for each kid. So each bag has the receipt from that kid's books.

The other rule was that library books are only allowed out of the house one per child. When library books are transported out of the house, they had to be carried in a "special bag" handled by an adult or over time the oldest child. This was especially important because the kids were in tons of activities and not all kids did all activities, so it was not uncommon to have two in class and two waiting.

After the kids learned the rules, I didn't have to search for books anymore.

brilliant!!!!! I would love to adopt this

 

[PaulaSue]

I have a basket in the living room that ONLY has school and regular library books and all current magazines. All our other books are in the book shelf on the other side of the tv.