In Part I, we discussed the tangible value of libraries such as the free stream of books, activities, and reading programs. Now that we have covered the more obvious benefits, let’s dig a little deeper and consider the implications of the intangible value of libraries:

1. Lifetime educational benefits – In our current era of economic malaise, there is increasing attention placed on social mobility and the impact of economic factors on child development. For many of us without significant wealth, we cringe at the idea that our children might not have the same advantages as others. With this in mind, we can consider how an abundance of books can help to level the playing field and provide a foundation for greater learning, even if we are cynical about the future of our school systems.

In a very interesting and comprehensive multi-national study, Family scholarly culture and educational success: Books and schooling in 27 nations (copy of full report here), the study’s results conclude:

“Children growing up in homes with many books get 3 years more schooling than children from bookless homes, independent of their parents’ education, occupation, and class. This is as great an advantage as having university educated rather than unschooled parents, and twice the advantage of having a professional rather than an unskilled father.”

Thus, no matter what we have achieved as parents, either in terms of wealth or education (or lack thereof), an abundance of books in the home can have a profound impact on our children’s long-term prospects. We all strive to provide a better life for our kids than we have had, and it’s reassuring to know that giving our kids unfettered access to books is a step in that direction, no matter our own levels of education or wealth.

2. Guarding against technology overload – Everywhere we go these days, digital media is pervasive. Beyond our televisions, computers, iPads/iPhones, our kids are bombarded by screens with information (more specifically, advertisements). While the debate will inevitably continue as to the long-term impacts of such constant sensory stimulus, the distractions and short attention spans of kids (as well as adults) are palpable. An easy way to rationalize the use of such devices by our kids is to use them for educational content. For example, we may not want our kids playing Angry Birds all day, but if they are reading an enhanced e-book, our guilt can be significantly diminished.

Given all the new technology, studies will inevitably be done to test their effects and, in many cases, may come up with different conclusions.  One such study by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, while limited in scope, drew some interesting conclusions about enhanced e-books versus print books. (click here for the report)

The study indicates that enhanced e-books, while useful to initially motivate kids to read, have lesser outcomes for literacy and reading comprehension. Given the added features of such e-books, researchers believe that they often distract children, diminishing their recall of details and moving their attention away from the words.

It is equally important to note however, that there are indeed still benefits to enhanced e-books, though from a literacy standpoint, a print book may have greater value. If nothing else, this suggests that mixing in print books may be a better holistic approach. And, as we have discussed, your library can provide these at no cost.

6. Preparing for change – While the previous examples are more academic in nature, I have personally found the library essential in preparing my kids for upcoming changes and eliminating surprises that might otherwise cause them stress (and by extension our own stress). If you are concerned about how your child might react to a new situation, you can almost certainly find books at your library to help them understand it ahead of time. By eliminating shocks or surprises, your child will be less likely to fear a new experience or have a bad reaction.

For example, the dentist isn’t a place where many of us look forward to going. For a child, it can be quite intimidating if they don’t know what to expect. Before taking my kids, we went to the library and checked out a few books about dentists. We talked about the various tools that would be used and how the dentist/hygenist would be checking out their teeth. Ultimately, they were excited to be there, seeing all the instruments that were in the books and how they were used. The whole experience was surprisingly fun and positive – more of a new adventure than a trip to the dentist. The same process can be replicated for virtually any new (and potentially scary) experience – going to the doctor, flying on planes, going to school/camp, etc.

7. Setting an example – Kids want to be like their parents (at least until they become teenagers). Be sure to get yourself some books too, so your kids will see that you value a lifetime of reading. Get some fiction or non-fiction, on any topic that gets your interest. Give yourself a chance to let your mind wander to other topics or get a parenting book to gain some additional perspective/tips. Incorporate a family reading time as part of your schedule and talk to your kids about your books while encouraging them to do the same. Consider what your kids like and pick up a nature field guide (birds, butterflies, flowers, astronomy, etc.) to reinforce new topics from school or to share your child’s latest interests.

From the conclusion (p.19) of the study cited in section 1 (click here for full text), “A book-oriented home environment, we argue, endows children with tools that are directly useful in learning at school: vocabulary, information, comprehension skills, imagination, broad horizons of history and geography, familiarity with good writing, understanding of the importance of evidence in argument, and many others.”

Collectively, these points comprise just some of the intangible benefits of libraries. Practically applying even a few of these can make regular trips to the library an invaluable addition to your schedule, all for the low-price of $0.

(Coming soon…Part II – The Intangible Value of Libraries)

The library may be one of the most underrated resource for the stay-at-home parent. We’d all likely agree that books are good and that we want our kids to read, but this only scratches the surface of a library’s potential benefits. Here are some obvious advantages to utilizing the local library:

1. Cost – For the frugal family on a budget, the price can’t be beat – free (as long as the books aren’t overdue). Even if you’re about to miss a return date, many libraries even allow you to renew online. Make the library an extension of your home’s bookshelf. Each time you return books, leave with as many or more new ones.

2. Story times/Activities – If you check your local library’s website, chances are that you’ll find activities to suit kids from toddler to school-aged. For example, when they were infants, I took my kids to free Mommy & Me-type classes (while giving instructions, the teachers would always politely correct themselves to include “Daddies too,” for my sake), and later, countless story times and sing-alongs . More recently, we took part in a hands-on reptile program, where we got to learn about, see, and touch at least a half dozen snakes, lizards and turtles. These were free events and it was simply a matter of checking the library website for dates/times.

3. Summer reading programs – To keep kids reading over the summer and to get new/future readers excited about books, libraries offer a simple incentive program. In our case this summer at our local library, my kids were encouraged to complete four reading-related tasks to get a sticker. After gaining four stickers, they would complete the program and get a prize. It gave them an opportunity to set goals and a sense of accomplishment when they finished. Some might argue that providing such incentives for reading could corrupt a child’s motivations but to me, the activities which surrounded the program were just a bonus as we continued the same frequency of reading after the program ended.

4. Constant source of new/free/age-appropriate materials – Rather than just buying more and more books as your kids get older and outgrow the earlier ones, you can always have new books on hand to pique their current interests.  Naturally, there’s nothing inherently wrong with amassing your own library at home but frequent use of the library allows for fresh material at any time.  If they don’t take to a particular book that might otherwise sit untouched on their bookshelf, you can simply keep trying until you’ve found a story or series that they’ll truly enjoy. And again, unless the books are overdue, it won’t cost you anything.

As I have suggested, these are some rather obvious benefits to utilizing your local library. The follow-up will delve deeper into these and others in Part II – The Intangible Value of Libraries, which will be posted within the next day or two, so stay tuned.