by Jennifer Shakeel
My most favorite place in the entire world is the library. When I was a kid I lived in the library, not really but if I could’ve believe that I would’ve. I was so excited when we moved into a neighborhood that had a library a few blocks from our house. I would spend hours there. I can thank my grandmother for that. She made it important for us to go to the library so she would take us every week. The library is one of the most magical places in the world, each book an entryway into a new world. More importantly though for children heading off to school, it is a valuable resource for research and learning new things.
Do not kid yourself into thinking that just because your child is in kindergarten or first grade they couldn’t possibly need to do research. Research projects really start in the first grade. It may be as simple as talking about important facts of their favorite animal or favorite super hero. Each child needs to know how to walk into a library and get the information that they need.
I apparently failed at that as a mother to our oldest child. Though we have spent countless hours in the library, checking out hundreds of books, creating our own magical world in the aisles… I didn’t teach her how to use the Dewey decimal system or how to properly search for a book. When she was younger we would stroll the aisles, or I would look for the books that she liked or even ask the librarian. It didn’t dawn on me to teach her how to do a search on her own, until recently.
We were at the library and she was trying to find books on photography. Instructional books on how you would go about capturing the perfect image when it came to photographing nature. What she ended up with were books filled with pictures of nature. I asked her what she searched for and I explained to her that she had to be more specific when she typed in the search. Which we did together and I gave her the call numbers for the books. That is when she asked me for help. I told her where in the library to go to find the book and she said, “But I don’t really understand the Dewey decimal system.” She is almost 15.
This brings to light another point; you can’t count on your child’s school to teach them everything. It doesn’t matter how old your child is right now. You can still teach them how to use the library. They need to know the different sections of library, such as reference books, non-fiction, and fiction and so on. If you are not comfortable going through the library with your child talk to one of the librarians and ask them if they could give you and your child a tour.
Next you can either teach your child how to do a search or check your local library to see what classes they offer. Most offer classes either for free or they charge a very small fee. They cover everything from using the reference section to using the internet and everything in-between. I know, you are sitting there thinking that we now have the internet so who needs the library. Frankly we all need the library.
The internet is great, but not all of the information you find on the web is accurate. Plus the further your child advances in their studies they are going to need more academic sources when they are doing their research. Instead of having to go buy the book from the local bookstore they can check it out at the library. Plus, when they need to get away and can’t leave… they need to be able to find that book.
That one book that when the open the cover, the smell of the pages awakens something in them. That book whose words draw them in and transport them to destination unknown.
Why is it important to teach children how to use a library, even in the early grades?
Research skills start earlier than most parents expect — as early as first grade, children may be asked to find facts about a favorite animal or a topic they love. Knowing how to walk into a library, search a catalog, and locate a book on their own gives children independence and confidence that builds steadily through every year of school.
How do I teach my child to search a library catalog effectively?
The key lesson is specificity. A search for ‘photography’ will return books full of photographs; a search for ‘how to photograph nature’ returns what your child actually needs. Walk through a catalog search together, show them how to refine their keywords, then give them the call number and let them navigate the shelves on their own. The experience of finding a book independently is part of what makes the library feel like their space.
What makes the library a valuable resource beyond just borrowing books?
Libraries offer research databases, librarians who specialize in children’s collections and can guide searches, quiet study environments, and carefully organized subject sections. For school-aged children especially, learning to ask a librarian for help — and then locating the resource themselves using the Dewey decimal system — teaches both information literacy and practical self-reliance.
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About the author
Jennifer Shakeel
Jennifer Shakeel is a writer and former nurse with over 12 years medical experience. As a mother of two incredible children with one on the way, I am here to share with you what I have learned about parenting and the joys and changes that take place during pregnancy. Together we can laugh and cry and rejoice in the fact that we are moms!
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