At our library the children's area is open to the floor above ... which is of course the adult area. I have yet to figure out how I am supposed to keep my kids' voices from carrying up there.

 

Yeah. It's really a crapshoot on whether my kids will behave or not at the library.

Our library lets us keep books for about a month though.

 

Oops. Posted under the wrong email before...that's supposed to be me instead of "midwest."

 

I remember those days when my boys were little, fun but a little tense at moments! I think all librarians are a bit uptight, must be a job requirement! :) Don't worry, it will get better! (then you just have to tackle them wanting to check out 20 books, 10 DVD's, and 5 magazines all at once!)

Lizzy

 

Have you ever seen the Doris Day movie "Please, don't eat the daisies"? My favorite part is when one of her kids eats like a dozen daisies and she asks him why and he says "You never told me not to!"

 

The library I used to take the girls to for storytime had a slide, kitchen set and full toy area. Try keeping kids quiet in a setting like that!

Unfortunately, we don't visit the library as often as we should.

 

My problem at the library is that my kid goes straight for the computer games and I can barely drag him off to find books!

 

Ah I see the fireplace has resurfaced in the "visions of happiness" again. Always the fireplace huh?
My memories of the library from childhood included my parents dropping my sister and I off in the kids room while my dad disappeared towards the magazines. I have no idea how ill behaved we were. At least you were there to keep them in check.

 

I had the exact same fantasies about the library. Turns out, librarians are rude (well not ALL librarians) and it's just not fun to take kids to the library for any length of time.

 

Our library seems to eschew books for just about every other bell and whistle that's out there - I find it very frustrating finding books at times.

 

In defense of librarians, my mother-in-law is a children's librarian, and I think she's great. Also, I think it's sort of OK for kids to get a little nutty in the children's library, although I personally feel for you having to chase them around. It's an adventure, right?

 

oh, all the anti-librarianism is terribly distressing! i am a librarian, and my wife brought our son to storytime yesterday, then to the desk to see me. we were making the rounds, saying hi to everyone, when he inexplicably started screaming!

so, i guess, it happens to us all!

and really, even reading at home ends up being more of a shout-fest than a quiet snuggle anyway (see video posted at hedda dabbler!).

it is my sincere hope that we will one day be able to shed this idea that the library is to be a place of silence!