If you find yourself frustrated when you go to the library or struggle to wrangle kids when you really just want to venture over to the adult nonfiction aisle for once, I’m here to help.
The library can be overwhelming, but it certainly doesn’t have to be! Here are some tips for getting the books you want without wandering around and pondering the merits of the Dewey decimal System.
Place lots of library holds
Until about five years ago, I had no idea you could place holds at the library! I know. My excuse is that I grew up in a really small town with an even smaller library, and library systems were not a thing there. Today, though, there is no reason for you to be wasting time trying to find a book — especially one that may already be checked out — when you can reserve it online before you leave the house.
Every library and library system’s website is different, but the concept is the same:
- Pull out your library card (unless you’re a nerd like me and have the number memorized) and enter it and your PIN
- Visit your library website and search for the book you want
- On the search results page, decide whether you want a physical copy, ebook, or audiobook (I’ll discuss how to download ebooks and digital audiobooks in a separate post)
- Click the book format you want and click Place hold
- Select the library where you want to pick up your book (unless it’s an ebook/digital audiobook and you’ll download it)
- Wait for an email from the library that your hold has come in
- Go to the holds section of the library (usually close to the front desk) and check out your book
Placing holds has several advantages:
- If you’re part of a library system, you can get the book from any of the libraries within the system that have it. For example, your local library might not have any copies of Becoming checked in, but the library 10 miles south might have one.
- You go straight to the holds section, check out your books, and leave. This is a fantastic solution if you have little kids and need to quickly run errands. Some libraries even bring your holds out to you so you don’t have to leave the car.
- You don’t have to keep checking whether a book is back on the shelf. The library automatically saves books for the next person in the hold line.
- You have a week (depending on the library) to pick up your holds. That means if all of your holds come in over several days, you can just make one trip to the library to pick up everything rather than getting them one at a time. Unless you like making multiple trips.
- You can place holds on books that haven’t even been published yet. If you know an author’s latest book is being released soon, search for it in your library’s system. If the library has already committed to buying it, place a hold and you’ll get it first (depending on how many people are ahead of you in line).
- You can have quite a few holds at the same time, though this differs depending on the library. At my city library, which is not part of the county library system, I can only have 12 holds. At the county library, I can have 25 or more, depending on the type of book. You’d better believe that I have both library holds maxed out whenever possible.
Use the saved lists so you always know what to read next
Every time I see a book that interests me, I immediately go to my library website and search for it. If the library has it, I add it to my list of saved books (you could create lists for different genres if you wanted to) or place a hold if I have any holds available.
This is different from my to-read list on Goodreads, because I know that these books are actually available at my library (though they may be checked out). I pick books from this list to put on hold when I need something new, and then I delete them from the list once they’re on hold or I’ve checked them out.
I also take pictures of the saved list on my computer screen (my city library’s mobile site won’t let me see saved lists, unfortunately) right before I head to the library. Once I’m there, I pick up my holds and then head to the children’s book section. Since the picture books are organized alphabetically by the author’s last name, I can quickly go through and find books on my list that are available right then, especially if I’m still waiting for my holds to come in.
Having a saved list of books also gives me a sense of accomplishment, because I know I’m finding books I listed at some point, not just picking books up that I may or may not like.
Pay attention to how your library groups books
When you have a bit more time to actually meander through the library instead of dashing in to pick up your holds, look for little displays of books throughout the building. My city library often offers “bundles” of picture books, which are four or five books about the same topic (bugs, for example) rubber-banded together with a sticky-note on them. This is fantastic if you have kids obsessed with princesses or trucks.
At the county library I go to most often, they have all the Caldecott award-winning books grouped together on one shelf. I seem to gravitate to this shelf often because of all the beautiful illustrations (hence the Caldecott), and I often discover books I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise.
Many libraries often put their new books on display near the entrance or put recently returned books on an easel above bookshelves. I also love when my library puts themed books out on display, like books for holidays or back-to-school. Each library is different, but noticing the displays and the groupings can help you find a great new book to read.
Use Libby or Overdrive religiously
Check out my post about downloading and using Libby, because you’ll need more info to use these apps effectively, but essentially, you download ebooks and digital audiobooks from your library system to your phone or tablet, and they automatically return to the library (and delete from your device) when they’re due. Libby seriously changed my life and made it possible for me to read a lot more — and it’s FREE to get these books rather than spending a fortune on Amazon or subscribing to Audible. I can’t recommend Libby enough.
Watch your email for book updates, return reminders, and special events
If you don’t already get emails from your library, sign up for them! While I obviously get emails from the library whenever one of my book holds have arrived or a book has downloaded to my Libby app, I also get reminders when a book is nearly due or a book I requested the library buy is ready for me to pick up.
My county library often hosts writing workshops, movie nights, resume reviews, and all kinds of events. One day I walked into my city library to find the “Love to Laugh Society” was gathered in a conference room and everyone was welcome to attend. The library can be SO much more than just a place to pick up or read books, and email helps you stay connected.
What’s your favorite tip for heading to the library?
