Kids and Library Etiquette

As many of you may (or may not) be aware, summer reading in the library is in full swing.  Yay!  And I'm happy to report that we currently have 326 kids, 48 teens, and 54 adults signed up to participate in the summer reading program.  Double yay!  We also have more people coming into the library daily than we normally have at any other time of the year.  Triple yay!

Unfortunately, though, we're seeing that many of our littlest readers are exhibiting some bad library etiquette, and we would greatly appreciate it if parents could help in correcting the manners of our youngest library users.

So here's a basic refresher on how to behave in the library:

• No running in the library.  The library isn't a playground.  Although we're happy to see kids excited about getting their books, we don't want to see them running and getting hurt.  We also don't want to see them playing tag and disrupting other library users who are trying to read and get work done.
• No shouting, yelling, or screaming in the library.  Again, the library isn't a playground.  Please remember to use your library voice (a.k.a. quiet voice or whisper) when you come in so you don't disrupt other people.  Save your loud voice for outside.  And parents--if your children are loud, we're grateful when you take them outside for a moment and return with them once they've calmed down.
• Don't throw library items around.  Books and other library materials aren't intended to stay on shelves unused.  They're supposed to be used and go on visits with borrowers to homes, work, school, and other places.  However, they're not meant to be thrown on the floor and other places where they can get damaged.  If you don't want an item, please leave it at the desk or at other designated areas.  It will be re-shelved properly.
• Don't scribble on the desks (or anywhere else).  You wouldn't scribble on your kitchen table or countertops, would you?  Then please don't scribble or allow kids to scribble on tables, chairs, books, or anything else in the library.  We want to keep the library a clean and inviting place for everyone.  If you or your kids have the need to scribble, we'll be happy to supply you with scratch paper and even crayons!
• Please and thank you are not bad words.  Politeness will get you far in the library, and we at the desk always like it when kids and adults have good manners.  We're here to help you and are happy to do so, but we never get tired of people asking us nicely for our assistance.

Let's make the library a safe, fun, and exciting place for everyone this summer and throughout the year!  After all, it's your library.  Treat the space and the materials in it like you own them, because you do.

My ever humble 2 cents from the perch.