Books and Kids: A Great Combination

By Kristel Fleuren-Hunter, Children’s Services Librarian

Summer has been off to a cool and rainy start and if you are looking for an activity to do with your children, check out your local library. Just because the kids are not in school, it doesn’t mean that reading skills have to lapse during the summer. The Antigonish Library has lots of great books (and movies and magazines) for children of all ages and new items are being added to the collection all the time. All you need is a free library card.

If you can not find what you are looking for in the Antigonish Library, keep in mind that you can borrow books from all branches in the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library. This is especially important if you are looking for the latest book in a series, like Geronimo Stilton or a graphic novel. It may not be in Antigonish, but it may be in New Glasgow or Pictou. You can ask a library staff member for help or look for the book on the library website. Here are a few tips to help you out:

Go to www.parl.ns.ca, under “Quick Search for a Book”, type the subject, title, or author you are looking for, and click “Search.” Please remember that spelling counts so check your spelling or you might not find what you want. You can scroll through the list of books and when you find something interesting, click on the “Details” button. This will tell you if the book is available in Antigonish or not. If not (or if the book is checked out to someone already) you can click on “Place Hold.” From there you will need to enter your library card number and PIN (the last 4 digits of your phone number) and pick the location where you will want to pick up the book. When your book is ready to be picked up, you will get a phone call. If you live in the county, you can have the book delivered in the mail by selecting the “Books by Mail” option (this is free! No postage required!) For step-by-step details on this process, check out our ParlKids site, http://parl.ns.ca/parlkids/findbooks.asp.

While you are visiting the library with your children, they can register for the Summer Reading Club. This year’s theme is Agent 009 and features spies, detectives, and mysteries. The library offers weekly storytime programs or the kids can simply pick up a free reading log and stop by the library throughout the summer to be entered to win prizes by reading books. Every five books or 100 pages read is a chance to win.

Something else to keep in mind is that you are your child’s best role model so when you bring your kids to the library, grab a book for yourself. Whether it is a fun beach read, a cookbook, or a serious look at politics in Canada, there is no wrong choice. The public library offers something for everyone.