How often should I take my child to the library? (K to 3)You should take your child to the library as often as he needs more books to read. I spent about a third of my professional educational career as a school librarian and my practice was to have students in kindergarten through 2nd grade visit the library almost every day. They would check out a book, put it in their backpack, take it home to be read aloud, and then return it the next day to check out another one. On the home front, I recommend a weekly trip to the public library with no limitation on the number of books to be checked out (or as many as your library allows). Rules that limit choices are fine for trips to the shopping center, but at the library indulge your child's desire to be surrounded by books. In addition to checking out books, be sure to sign up for a story hour or a puppet show. Many public libraries offer both daytime and evening story hours to accommodate a variety of schedules. Once you get your books home, choose a place to keep them organized and separated from your personal library. I recommend one of those plastic milk crates. Whenever you choose a book from the "library crate," be sure to put it back. Take time while you're at the library to check out a book or two for yourself. Show your children that you enjoy reading by yourself as well as aloud to them. It will help your child understand that reading is a lifelong activity. advertisement | page continues below