Building
a Family Library
Having books and magazines available at home for the family
to read is very important to the success of your children as they work toward
becoming fluent readers.
The family library does not have to be fancy or expensive to
provide rich reading experiences.
Here are some questions you may ask as you plan this
meaningful addition to your home.
- Where should we set up our library?
The library should be in a room of the house
where all of the family gathers. This
might be the living room or the kitchen.
Space for a small bookshelf, comfortable places to sit and good lighting
are all that are necessary.
- How large should our library be?
It is variety and interest that
count, not the number of books. Think
about what interests your children and the adults in the house and add books
based on those topics. Be sure to get
the children’s input! A small
collection of books carefully gathered over time is better than many books that
go unread.
- How should we display our books?
Open bookshelves are ideal. These do not have to be expensive and can
even be made from painted concrete blocks and boards.
If you are handy you can build some
shelves that allow the books to be displayed face out. Children’s books need to be on the lower
shelves and grouped according to topic (animals, transportation, stories,
etc.). Magazine storage boxes are
inexpensive and an attractive way to display periodicals
- What kinds of reading materials should we include?
Paperback and hardcover books,
magazines, a dictionary,
An atlas, song books, newspapers
and even catalogues all have a place in the family library. Make sure there is something for everyone at
every reading level. Children under age
six need books about real places, people and animals instead of fantasy. Children over six can benefit from small
amounts of fantasy such as folk tales and some fairy tales.
- Where can I find these materials?
Of course there are many book
stores around the city which offer great variety. Some more economical sources of good reading
materials are garage sales, exchanging o utgrown books with friends, second
hand book stores, library book sales, and resale shops. Consider making it a tradition to give books
and magazines for gifts. Visit the
library regularly and display those books along with yours.
Should I choose my children’s books?
It is best to let them choose, at
least part of the time. You can offer
two or three choices when the children are young and gradually allow them more
freedom. For babies and young toddlers
choose books that are sturdy such as board books.
Some other thoughts:
- If
your family is fortunate enough to speak more than one language, be sure
to include books in each language.
- Show
your children the proper care of books:
hold with two hands, turn pages properly, use a bookmark, don’t
write in the books.
- Have a
supply of bookmarks in an attractive container easily available and the
children will love to pick one out.
Libraries and bookstores often give them out for free. Also, consider interesting bookmarks as
small gifts. Children love to make
their own from beautiful scraps of cardboard, ribbon, dried flowers,
stickers, etc.
- Design
and use family bookplates which can be made on the computer.
- Add
dusting the bookshelves to the list of family chores. A beautiful feather
duster makes this a joy for the youngest child.
- Children
may want to make their own books and add those to the family library.
- A nice
addition is a family vacation or holiday book with drawings, photos and
journal entries. Each person is
encouraged to add their own thoughts and memories.
- Any
damage such as small tears or marks should be repaired at once. If a book is badly damaged or worn,
remove it from the library.
- Give
your children the message that books are treasures and they will learn to
love them.
- Be
sure your children see the adults in the family reading and enjoying
books, magazines and newspapers.
- Set
aside some time each day for reading together. Talk about what you have read. Use the tools from the page called Reading with Your Child to make
the experience more meaningful and enriching.
