LIBRARY ELF
- By : Cynthia
- Category : Cindy, Homeschooling
My fellow homeschooling friends will already know that I really don’t like to check books out from the library. I have a long list of reasons why I don’t like to read library books, but I’ll spare you the list and only mention one here. It sort of like our friend (won’t mention any names, but he does play the drums) who doesn’t like to go eat buffet food! You never know who has sneezed before touching the spoon handle, etc. Well… for me the library is the SAME way! Y’all know where people like to read, right? It totally grosses me out to think about reading a book from the library when you don’t have a clue who read the book before you and worse.. you don’t know WHERE they were at when they were reading or if they’d washed their hands anytime recently!
Ok… so now you know why I don’t like to check books out from the library. However, I can’t keep BUYING every single book we read because well… we like to go on vacation, redecorate the house, and do other things that some of that book budget money could be funding. So, we’ve started to use the library – just a little. Well.. for us actually a *LOT* considering at this very moment I have *THREE* books checked out from the library. Really. That’s a RECORD for us!
The other reason I don’t like to use the library is because we live so far from town. The few times I have used it we always seem to remember that a book is due the DAY it is due. It costs more in gas $$ to drive to town than to just pay the fine, but I don’t like paying late fees, interest, or fines of any sort! It was just a nuisance. I probably wouldn’t have tried the library again if I hadn’t been introduced to Library Elf. I mentioned this on the SHS loop and was surprised that no one knew about it – or least no one has spoken up yet. I heard about if from one of the moms on our co-op loop who is also on SHS, but she must not have mentioned it on SHS before. Anyway. It’s *WONDERFUL*
All you have to do is click the link above and follow the instructions for signing up. It’s QUICK AND EASY. If your library is listed then Library Elf does ALL of the work for you. Library Elf will notify you when a hold has been put on the shelf, when books are due, overdue, etc… and it will notify you AHEAD of time so you have plenty of time to renew online if you aren’t done or can’t get it back to the library before the due date! It’s WONDERFUL!
IMO, anyone who uses the library should be using Library Elf. My friend, Karen, says it does everything but come and find the books in your home and she’s right! It’s a WONDERFUL tool. Kristine, I hope your library is one of the ones served by Library Elf.
Hmmmm… now that I’ve written this post and scratched my face (remember the itchy rash I mentioned yesterday????)… now I’m wondering if the increased use of hand sanitizer is causing my itchy red face.. you know increased hand sanitizer that has to be used after reading a library book. Or, worse yet… maybe I picked UP a bug of some sort just from READING the library books???? Hmmmm….
For some reason I find this all funny. Then I remembered the library book sitting in it’s return bag waiting to go back – even before I got through the first chapter. Why? It was SO smelly – from cigarette smoke!!! And I was initally annoyed I had somehow ordered two copies of the same book to read. Now I’m VERY thankful I did otherwise I would have had to wait to get the second book!
You are too funny!!!! Guess where I do a lot of my reading. I also live far from the library and always forget to take books back. But since my kiddos are raised I buy a lot of the books I read. But alas I frequent used books shops. Guess they would have the same problem.
Of course, MY library isn’t on Library Elf. :::sigh::: And you’ve now raised some very interesting thoughts for me. We use the library frequently. And if I think about it long enough, I’m gonna get the willies! Eww…..
Thanks, Cynthia!!! :^)
My old library’s computer system used to email me two days before books were due. My new library doesn’t do that–and they aren’t on Library Elf. 🙁 They probably don’t give me two days’ grace on overdue books either!
Lisa,
I can hardly stand the smell of some of these books… egads.. I’ve seriously considered wearing GLOVES when reading library books, but I think my family would think I’d lost my mind….
Chris,
LOL! Yep.. same problem….. I’m starting to get over my phobia.. just a little.
Ginger,
Glad I was able to raise some questions for you >VBG>! Sorry your library doesn’t have it’s very own elf!
Kristine,
Sorry your library doesn’t have it’s own elf either. It’s sure nice having your very own personal elf, but like my friend Karen said… the elf still can’t help you locate a LOST BOOK!
Woohoo! My library system was on there, and I signed up. This should really help, I hate paying fines too!
I’m not even going to comment on why you don’t like library books and in fact, I’m going to try to erase the thought from my mind before it causes me to stop reading them. LOL!
LOL, I’m finding your library phobia a bit funny! Sorry!
You could always put those stretchy book covers on before you read the books. The are washable.
We have 58 books/videos out right now and that is about average for us on any given week.
Our local library doesn’t charge overdue fees, but if we request books from other libraries in our system, they will. The small price for a few overdue book is worth the tons of resources we use from our library.
I also have the same phobia.
I use disinfectant wipes to wipe
all over each book/DVD/video.
It makes me feel a little better.
I signed up for this and it’s awesome! Thanks so much for writing about this.
Things are still hand written, not computerized at our library so I know we won’t have an elf. Seems like a great system though!