Does your child need to do research at the library for a school assignment? Here are some tips to make the trip successful.
- Come prepared: bring paper, pencils, money for photocopies, glue, rulers—whatever is needed for the assignment.
- Become familiar with the library: apply for a library card before you need to check out classic children's books, teenagers' books, or any other genre. Learn to use the computer catalog and how to find nonfiction books by the subject number.
- Don't delay: visit the library within a day or so of getting the research assignment. Waiting until the last minute may mean all the popular children's books are checked out.
- Ask for help: library staff is there to help. They can teach you to use equipment, help you locate something or suggest additional sources.
- Don't do the assignment for your child: help them locate sources, make photocopies, or plan the steps for completing the assignment.
- Use indices and tables of contents: sometimes you won't find a whole book on a subject; look instead for the topic in the table of contents or the index of books on related subjects.
- Allow enough time: don't expect the librarian to have an answer off the top of his head. Most projects require a little bit of digging.
- The library is not a store: don't expect to run in and grab a book, especially the night before the project is due, or three minutes before the library closes. Also, hundreds of people visit the library daily, so staff has limited time to help you.