The Most Valuable Item in Your Child's Backpack

New backpack: $29.99

The most valuable resource your child needs to succeed in school: Absolutely free (and also priceless).

I’m talking about a library card of course, which should be one of the first things you put into your child’s new backpack.  With it, he can check out stories for fun and books for reports, DVDs to watch on weekends, place holds on any items in our catalog from home, download books to a portable device, and search the library’s online resources.

Just one of the amazing free online resources available with your library card is called BookFlix.  This is a great site for parents to share with their early readers.  BookFlix pairs classic video storybooks from Weston Woods, like “Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type” with a related nonfiction ebook, such as “Let’s Visit a Dairy Farm.”  Kids can read along with the story, and then learn more about “the real thing,” reinforcing early reading skills and introducing children to a world of knowledge and exploration.  The site also offers games to support what’s been learned, and links to video clips where families can explore the subject further.

You can view a complete list of the many online opportunities available for free at www.marinlibrary.org. 

Bring your child to your local library, and the library card he receives can be used at any city or county branch.  If you happen to have misplaced your own card, MCFL is offering free replacements through the end of September.

And if you happen to be at the Fairfax Farmer’s Market the next four Wednesdays, you can find us there!  Library staff will be at the Market starting tonight issuing new library cards and giving away a free to book to anyone getting their first card.  Come by and say hello!