How To Not Lose All Your Library Books

Top five things that go missing in our house:

1. Sunglasses. I’m on my fourth pair this season. Is that high?
2. My two-year old’s stuffed friends. Twice a day I hunt the house for “Banjo the Dog,” “Blanket,” “Owl,” “Tiger,” “Giraffe” (and yeah, we’re real original with our names around here.)
3. remotes of any kind
4. the lid to our mini plastic garbage can…a much, much loved garbage can, mind you.
5. library books, on the day before they’re due. Or a few weeks later.

Until my magic system, that is!!

I’m happy to announce to you that it has been almost six months since I have had an overdue library book!

Are you curious to know the system that’s turned this renegade, delinquent, irresponsible homemaker into a proud, upstanding citizen with no outstanding fines???

Here it is!

• Get the same amount of books every time. I usually get 20 books. You may prefer less, but I like having enough to keep us busy for at least three weeks. It’s so handy to always know how many you’re leaving with and coming back with.
• Have a designated spot for library books, out of your kids’ reach. If you just let the books roam free in the playroom…you’re doomed. Here’s where I keep ours:

It’s on a counter in our “butler’s pantry,” which we never use for the intended purpose of a “butler’s pantry.” We don’t have a butler, and I pay bills more than serve people cocktails. So it’s an office. There you have it.

• When you get home from the library, set a reminder on your phone for two days before the books are due back, or just jot a note on your family’s calendar.
• If your library prints a receipt with the books you’ve checked out, put it somewhere safe and in sight.  As soon as we get home from the library, I put the receipt on our fridge. Since we eat every 18 minutes in our house, I see the due date almost fifty times a day, and thus, have the date memorized in a week.
• If your library doesn’t print a receipt, then either jot down a list quickly (and put it on the fridge), or take a picture on your camera or phone of the books you’ve gotten out, with the titles visible.

• When it comes time to return your books, use a highlighter to cross off your list, making sure you’ve got them all.

• Pile them into a re-useable grocery bag, and drop them off!

• Feel really, really proud of yourself as you drop your highlighted receipt and perfectly on-time stack of books in the “return” pile. What a good mom you are!

Check out my 20 Recommended Books for Little Boys! (Girls love them, too!)

 This post linked to On Display Monday…

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