Responsibility

Library lessons

Any time, Drive time

Use your regular visits to your library to teach your children how to be responsible with their library books.

Discussion point: One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.

Before your next library visit, select containers to transport your books. Book bags, backpacks, plastic bins with re-sealable lids or baskets with handles all work well. To make it easier for your children to be personally responsible for their books, plan to transport and store the library books in the same container. Each child should have their own special container.

Use humour to review the book care rules listed below. After reading the basic list of rules, have your kids make up their own rhyming or comical version of each rule. Review your rules on the way to and from the library. You might also want to show your kids the online video Don’t Let the Pigeon Touch the Books.

Basic book care rules:

  • Wash your hands before reading your books.
  • Don’t consume food or drink while reading your books.
  • Keep your books away from pets and small children.
  • Be careful with your books as you come and go from the library.
  • Store your books in a safe place.
  • Water ruins books! Keep your books away from the bathtub, water bottles and sneezes.
  • Books have all the stories and pictures they need already, so don’t add any more words or drawings.

Humorous book care rules:

  • Books think you’re mean if you read with hands that aren’t clean.
  • Mixing books and food is really quite rude.
  • Babies slobber, dogs chew. That’s why books would rather have you.
  • Only crooks wet books. / Books will fret if you get them wet.
  • Books have words and stories galore. No need for you to add any more!
  • If you’re going to cough or sneeze, don’t use your book as a tissue, please!
  • Dropping, throwing or using books as weapons is strictly prohibited.

On your next visit to the library, let your children place their books in the book-return slot themselves. Show them how to put the books in the return slot spine first, to avoid bending the pages or the cover.

You might also ask a librarian to review basic book handling and care with your children.

At home, affirm your children for being responsible about caring for their books. As a reward, apply Luke 16:10 by allowing them to borrow additional books from the library next time.

Relevant Scripture

Luke 16:10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.