Fun at the Library « (MS) in parentheses

Just got back from the library. I don’t know what your experience is at the library, but mine resembles a 100 yard dash. My philosophy is get in and get out, sort of like a marine on a hostage rescue mission (in this analogy, I guess the books are the hostages). So, I usually end up grabbing the books that are on display on top of the shelves. You know, the books that have a theme. Oh, it’s Hispanic Heritage month. Great! What, is it Hanukkah already? Fine. So, it’s National Chinese Take-out Month. Who knew?

Well, today, I sat my son Asher and daughter Iris down at a table with pieces of scrap paper and pencils. When I returned from my sprint to collect them, my son informed me that he had written a letter to both me and his Dad. When I asked what the letters said, he first solemnly read mine.

“Dear Mommy, I love you. From, Asher.”

Of course, I was touched by his affectionate, imaginary note. Then I asked what his letter to Daddy said.

“Dear Daddy, Take out the garbage! From, Asher.”

Had to laugh, yes, right there in the library. I think I might have guffawed (always wanted to use that word), and I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to do that in a library.

briana Says:

January 11, 2009 at 2:10 am

That’s funny.
I think the librarians must have some sort of signal or code they tell each other when one of them sees my gang coming. We are not in and out kind of gang…I like to let the kids pick some videos, then I, like you, grab some of the books from the tops of the shelves. But, I like to read the inside jacket of them many times which takes way too long esp. since I have to run after Bella and remind the boys to keep the noise down (they don’t have an inside voice..it’s one volume all the time and not a volume appropriate for the library).
By the time I make it over to the books on CD for the kids, they have their shoes off and are jumping off the cushy books they have at the kids “play mats” at which time I remind them that they’re not allowed to jump off of those and to please put their shoes back on or at least keep track of them.
Then, the boys grab Thomas magazines and I pick up Bella at which time she begins screaming b/c I’ve taken her from her play. We head over to the adult videos where the boys sit on chairs reading their Thomas mags, and I half heartedly pick out movies (that LA and I watch 2 out of the 10 times I get them) while I try to keep track of Bella lest someone steal her.
By the time I make it to the counter, I’m sweating, the kids have misplaced some article of clothing and are fighting over who’s going to hand over the library card.
At this point, I am the quintessential frazzled mom, instructing my boys to sit down on the floor with their backs to the wall and be quiet. This is because they’ve tried to climb up the wall instead. (And, why would the library design that wall to look like a ladder if they didn’t want 4 year old boys to try climbing up it?)

I leave, usually after paying a fine for late videos, and swear I will never bring 3 kids to the library again by myself only to turn around and do it again the very next week.

Danielle Says:

January 11, 2009 at 2:14 pm

I LOVE libraries. I could spend the day there, browsing. I’m sure that’s not a surprise to most people. Now that we have the mornings free, and with the bad weather, we often go there to spend the morning there. I usually try to get the stuff on my “list” first. I get whatever books, dvds, cds, etc. I want. The boys are in stroller to keep them contained. Then it’s down to the children’s area for the boys to run around and play.

This is getting increasingly stressful. The boys only play in the “play” area for a short amount of time before starting to run through the aisles or get on the computers. Is it okay to let them play on the computers? I’m not sure. They love computers and of course in the children’s area they’re all low to the ground. My boys are the loudest there, for sure. And they certainly don’t know how to keep their voices down yet. And you can be certain one of them will scream when they have to be put in the stroller when it’s time to go! Usually it’s Owen, and I usually have to wrestle him into being buckled into his seat!

krista Says:

January 11, 2009 at 5:02 pm

Among the things I miss about MD (like the many Target Greatlands within mins. of our old house) are the wonderful libraries. Let’s just say ours up here are few and small, compared to what we had there in *** County.

One thing they do have, to my daughter’s delight, is Thomas trains. She begs to go to the “lie-berry” to play with them nearly every day.

My approach to our local library is to go to play with the trains every few weeks, and to never count on browsing–I request all my materials at the desk. Of course, you can’t leave your kids unsupervised at the play area and the way the library is designed the fiction section is at least 2 tall aisles away, so my approach is somewhat dictated for me.

Maybe when I get my “having two kids” act together I’ll try out the storytime they have for the kids.

bethyoung Says:

January 12, 2009 at 2:42 pm

When I decide to pay my $34 fine on my husband’s card, my $67 fine on my card and my $55 fine on my son’s card we are allowed back at the library.

zoanna Says:

January 12, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Maybe Sarah and I can serve all you gals one day by having a 2-hour play date at one of your houses. You dump all the kids with us, go to the library on your own (together) and pick out whatever you want, never have to venture into the play area if you don’t want, pay your fines, and hit Dunkins for coffee and donuts on your way home. What d’ya say?

My guess is the librarians would kick ya’ll out for being too loud, laughing, carrying on about how much fun it is to be at the library without kids, and what great exercise you got from climbing the literal walls!

libby Says:

January 12, 2009 at 3:29 pm

I LOVE the note. I think I should start working on Isabel’s writing skills now!

January 12, 2009 at 5:33 pm

actually, I think my fines are less than that, but never the less, they are there and I haven’t been to the library in….oh, say….6 months. Poor kids. They must wonder why the library is always closed.

emilyclancy Says:

January 12, 2009 at 11:16 pm
You’re so funny! Remember when I lost a DVD in Chris’s car accident? Went to explain to the library lady. EVEN brought an accident report from the police, and she had the nerve to tell me, “If we accepted excuses from everyone, the library would have to close down.” Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her there in a while. The library and their wretched fines!

Melanie Morrison Says:

January 12, 2009 at 8:53 pm

Okay, having Maryland be the 3rd state I’ve lived in, I can say this much…the Maryland library system ROCKS! Seriously people, you don’t want to know what I was forced to call a Library in New Jersey and California! I grew up in a family that loves to read, and loves to go to the library. My sister Jessie, while in high-school in MD, loved the library so much, that my parents actually GROUNDED her from the library! Not video games or TV, but the LIBRARY!

January 12, 2009 at 9:40 pm

I’m glad I came back to read everyone’s comments. Cracked up at Beth Y’s. I have asked the librarians if they would consider taking a registration fee from me every year (flat fee) in place of my fines. I think even at $50/year, I’d pay less than what my fines amount to at times. I have asked them several times to cut my fines in half, and they are usually gracious about it and do it for me.