Read more, stress less with Library Elf

October 21, 2:52 PMTampa Reading ExaminerDiana Sharp

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Photo by Diana Sharp

You’ve got kids, and you already know that one of the best things you can do for them is keep them supplied with lots of books. But like many parents there’s one thing that’s holding you back from taking full advantage of the free public library:

Library fine-a-phobia.

For example, a highly respected group of researchers recently came out with the recommendation that kindergarten children should read or have read to them at least four to six books a day (1). If you homeschool, or you’re worried that your child is getting too many worksheets and not enough books at school, then you may want to check out over 20 books a week – just for that child. If you’ve got 20 or more library titles and they’re ALL overdue, it can REALLY hurt.

But never fear – Library Elf is here.

Library Elf is free, and it allows you to track in one place all the books checked out by all the cards in your household. Best of all, it will warn you with an e-mail alert when they’re due (up to 7 days in advance if you want). To sign up, just go to the Hillsborough County Public Library web site, go to “My account” and click the item in the blue menu bar for Library Elf.

So go ahead. Do what I did when the kids were little and bring rolling luggage (the child-size kind, not the full-size!) to the library to help carry enough books out to the car to make the trip worthwhile. With Library Elf, you don’t ever have to fear a missed due date again. It’s a terrific example of how technology can be used for good, to help make it easier than ever to raise a book lover.
 

Notes:

(1) Resnick, L. B., & Hampton, S. (2009). Reading and Writing Grade by Grade: Revised Edition. International Reading Association.