Family matters

A little elvish magic goes a long way

7 Comments

Dear Keebler: Please don't sue me.
Dear Keebler, Please don't sue me.
Works-for-Me WednesdayI love to read.

My kids love to read.

My kids are homeschooled.

I hate to spend money.

This adds up to one thing: I check out a lot of library books.

I’ve tried all sorts of techniques to stay organized with them, from having a designated Library Book Basket to writing down the due dates on the calendar. Somehow, though, these things never seem to stick. And so I end up with library fines.

My local library doesn’t cut you off until you’ve racked up $20 in overdue fines, so I generally wait until I reach that milestone to pay. The last time it happened, the librarian told me about what has become one of my very favorite internet services: Library Elf. You need your library card number and PIN number to set it up, and then it sends you emails to let you know when your books are due. I haven’t had a late fee since I signed up a few months ago!

So! Library Elf works for me. Check this list of libraries to see whether if could work for you, too!

7 thoughts on “A little elvish magic goes a long way”

  1. I have a magnetic dry-erase calendar on the front of the fridge that I keep up-to-date. I write the due date on the calendar, and also attach the little receipt with the titles. Things can get confusing if we take SOME books back but not all of them, so I scratch them off the receipt as they go back to the library.
    .-= Jeni´s last blog ..Do Be Do Be Dooo =-.

  2. I’ve tried to do something along those lines, too. My problem is that I get away from my prescribed program so easily, and then it’s back to missing the deadlines.

  3. I am okay as long as every. single. book goes back all at the same time. But how often does that happen? lol Once they start needing to go back in bits and pieces, I’m lost. Definitely headed over to check out the Library Elf; thanks for sharing!
    .-= Rachel R.´s last blog ..Re-Uses WFMW =-.

  4. I’ve had the same issue. We go almost weekly and easily check out 30 books or more at a time for five kids and me. I used to keep a reminder in my electronic planner, but sometimes missed that.

    My library system set up an e-mail reminder system and it’s been wonderful. I also noticed that my dentist did the same thing. I had lost track of a dental appointment for my oldest and received the email reminder a month ahead of time. Boy did I love that!
    .-= Barb @ My Daily Round´s last blog ..works for me wednesday- cheap paper fun =-.

  6. We have library Tuesday and extensive lists. I HATE all the notices from the library, because we often have over 100 books out. LOL

    Good thing we’re all different.

    Annie Kate

    PS I’m sure your in-laws love watching the kids and knowing that you’re spending some quality time with their son. 🙂
    .-= Annie Kate´s last blog ..Curriculum Choice Review- Rod and Staff Grammar Series =-.

  7. My library has an email remind system, too, so I get an email from them a couple days before my books are due. I would have no clue otherwise. Oh and you can renew your books online, too. Awesome.
    .-= Amy´s last blog ..Two =-.

Comments are closed.