Some of my favourite memories growing up are of visiting the Ingleside and Long Sault library branches with my mom. She was an avid reader and wanted to instill in both my brother and I her passion for reading. The three of us would take our time exploring the shelves and leave with a couple of books that intrigued us. To me, the library always felt like a place of magic, full of stories and endless possibilities. It almost felt too good to be true. We could pick whatever books we wanted from the shelves and take them home without paying. Now, as an adult with two young children of my own, I get to see that same spark in my children’s eyes as we explore the shelves together, and an even greater sense of satisfaction knowing that it’s all free.
Now, the library has certainly changed a lot since I was a child 30 years ago. The collection has grown and the variety of materials available in the Library of Things makes it feel almost criminal when you leave with the items you’ve borrowed. If you’re a parent or caregiver with young children, aside from simply browsing the shelves with your littles, here are a few extra tips to help you make the most of our library’s resources and to help bring a little of the library’s magic home with you.
Search by interest: Use the online catalogue to search for keywords that match what your child is curious about or learning in school.
Search by theme: Try gathering books around a theme – the water cycle, colours, starting school, making new friends – to help keep your child engaged.
Mix fiction with nonfiction: Pair a picture book with a title from the children’s nonfiction collection to help your child draw connections.
Explore the Library of Things: From musical instruments and board games to phonics and stargazing kits, there is always something new for your child to explore beyond the books.
Keep an eye on New Arrivals: Visit our website to browse the New Titles section to find the latest reads for you and your child to enjoy as well as titles that are currently on order.
Pop into a Program – Explore the events page of the website or visit your local branch to learn about what programs are being offered across SDG.
Take to the road! Each of the SDG Library’s 15 branches offers something unique. It can be fun to explore the shelves and the programs in each of them.
My hope is that once my children have grown, they will think back to their childhood with warm memories of the library and how it helped to bring a little magic into their lives. I wish the same for you and your family!
See you at the SDG Library!
Shawna
~CSA District 3
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