How do you organize library items?

[gardenmama]

I'm trying to figure out a better way to keep track of items we check out from the library. Initially I tried having one space on the boys' bookshelf for library items. But they never remember to put them back there. Thank goodness the library system allows me to enter my email address so I get a notification two days before something is due, which

Comments

[martemom]

I just make the girls keep them in the library bag, and we have a rule that they can only be downstairs, not in the bedrooms or 2nd floor. Since the girls have grown older we took all the toys out of the 1st floor except art supplies and books. Toys still trickle downstairs but it's much easier.

[martemom]

PS IMO that wall hanging this is too small. Could you use the basket for books and transfer mail the wall thing?

[gardenmama]

I thought about that, but if I could find something that hangs on the wall there, that would be at a better level for the boys to get things in and out of it - especially Nick.

[goodjoan]

I have a little tote bag that I hang on the end of a railing we have in the living room. When I find the books around the house, I tuck them back in the bag. They are supposed to stay in the bag when they aren't reading them, but that rule is something of a fantasy in real life practice. Then, when we are heading back to the library, I just grab the bag. Our library prints a receipt of the books checked out and I keep that in the bag so I can double check what we have out vs what I have in the bag. Our library also emails with reminders, that's a godsend! If I can't find some of the books, I can go online and renew them. It's not a perfect system, but it's mostly functional!

[gardenmama]

For some reason, if I leave books in the library bag, the kids never think to take them out. On one hand, they don't get lost. But on the other hand, they don't get read either! Yes, I love that I can go online to see what's checked out and renew anything we can't return right away. That's a godsend.

I was doing some more looking around and I think I might order this basket rack instead. It can sit in the corner of the living room by the tv where we usually put the library bag.