✨Let’s face it, libraries aren’t what they used to be.
Don’t get me wrong - the library has been a huge part of my children’s lives. I’ll never forget getting our first family library card. They told me, “You can only check out 25 books.” I thought, Who would ever need 25 books?
Well, the library had the last laugh, because it didn’t take long for the answer to be us.
My kids act like children in a candy store around books. When we visit a new library, they squeal and race through the aisles, checking if their favorite series are stocked and discovering new treasures along the way. Indeed, my 11 year old reads 100s of books a year.
But as my children have grown, my love affair with the library has faded. Ours, at least, has changed - and not all for the better.
What Happened? Well….
We’ve read all the books: OK, this isn’t entirely true, but my kids have run through all the “fun reading” books that interest them at our small library. It’s a wonderful problem, but it revealed to me that our library can’t grow with my children the way I expected it to.
Too many poor quality (or inappropriate) books: This is the most disappointing to me. I’m shocked by some of the books that my kids pick up. Books that go deeply against our family values. I want my children surrounded by books that lift their minds and challenge them to become better human beings - the most prominently displayed books at our library aren’t going to get them there.
Libraries aren’t really for books anymore: While the young kids’ section still hums with parents reading aloud on the floor, the teens are watching movies in the “reading nooks” and playing video games on the computers. It’s no longer an environment where my children are encouraged to love reading - it’s too depressing to dwell on.
So last year, I decided to take things into my own hands.
✨I decided to build our own HOME library - and you should too.
The books that live in your home quietly shape your children.
When your shelves are filled with rich language, noble characters, and big ideas, your kids start to develop a sense for greatness - not because you told them, but because they’ve tasted it.
A home library also builds something deeper: attention. In a world constantly competing for their focus, books ask kids to slow down, imagine, think. Every story they read strengthens their ability to sit with complexity - to wonder and to wrestle with the world.
🌺Stories become a part of our children; they build their virtues, character, and values.
A curated HOME library gives your kids a world worth thinking about.
And it’s not just about fiction. Having carefully selected autobiographies, life skill, and reference books matter too. There are incredibly, beautiful books out there that invite our children to sit with the past or explore with science.
Having a HOME library filled with books is one of the most powerful ways to anchor your family in beauty and truth.
Many of you already have a thriving home library, but for those that might need some help - below I share my advice on creating your own home library.
We’ll cover👇
Essential book types to have in your library - think beyond fiction… way beyond
Evidence-based ways to curate your collection to maintain both your children’s love of reading while broadening their reading appetite.
Since we’re not rich and famous, we’ll talk about how to use the library strategically to keep costs low (and fit everything into a small house like mine).
My trusted picks—from classic fiction to reference staples, autobiographies, and life-skill must-reads.
Remember, this isn’t just about creating a home library, it’s about curating a life filled with meaning.
Ready? Let’s go.
📚Tips To a Timeless Home Library
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