Is it Better to Borrow Books at the Library or Purchase Them?

Buying books is a good idea if the books can be passed down to younger children in the family. There are several considerations when deciding whether to borrow books from the library or purchase the books for children.

Buy the books if they are enjoyable books that your children will likely read over and over again. Younger children often like the predictability of reading their favorite books multiple times Because babies sometimes put books in their mouths, it advisable to purchase books that belong to them.

Books that will be written in such as coloring books, sticker books, diaries, or journals should be purchased.

Children often want to own or collect books in a series that they enjoy reading so buying those books is a good idea. If the books are related to contemporary movies, TV shows or videos, borrowing them from the library may be a better idea because a child’s interest in these products may change quickly.

If space is limited and storing books is a challenge, borrowing books from the library may be a practical solution.

If a child is working on a school project on a specific topic (e.g., volcanos), checking out a book from the library may be the best option.

Finances may limit the number of books that can be purchased so the library is a valuable public resource for access to books and other materials