Right now my little guy is young so he's not misplacing books himself, but I make a point of always picking up 5 books each time we go to the library. That way, I don't always know where they are, but at least I know how many I'm looking for.

I remember my own mom doing this when I was younger too.

One other lovely thing that our library has is that you can log into your account online, and from there, see the names of books you have out, when they are due, and get this - even renew them online. It's saved my butt more than once when I've not been able to find a book in time for a library run, I just renew it online, then I have another 3 weeks to find it :-)

We have a dedicated shelf in the livingroom for library books. We're at the library so often, it's always full and a dedicated shelf helps keep losses and fines to a minimum. My 10 yo is permitted to keep a book on CD and a reading book in his room--all of the other library items stay on the shelf downstairs and he can exchange them as often as he likes. This helps tremendously when it's time to track things down. The 2 yo is happy to read the special library books in the livingroom, so that makes it easier too.

I have a dedicated little bookcase for our library books. Unfortunately, it's little, so there are simply fortifications of books piled around it, which are irresistible to my seven-month-old who likes to topple them. The online list of what I have checked out is invaluable, since I can't lose it.

It also helps that I go to the library every Tuesday, and request interlibrary loan books every Thursday. (It's on the calendar.) That way, library materials are always due on Tuesdays, and usually the interlibrary loan books are already there on Tuesdays, too.

When I was little, my father would let me check out books in multiples of five. Seems like a popular idea. :)

Good ideas, all. My son is too young to read a book or even show interest in one, but my choices alone would be all over the place if I didn't corral them. I have books in a vintage basket on a shelf, but it's usually not big enough. I just stack the rest around it.

DVDs go in another place (an old drink crate on a regular bookshelf). It's by the rest of our DVDs, so I like to keep similiar things together. Once we read/watch something, I put the item in a big bag. Whenever we go to the library, I just grab that and go. It may be kinda complicated, but it works. I just have a hard time not getting more since it's free.

What is that green basket?

I just make sure they're put back in the bag every few days. My boys, at 2 and 5, are pretty good at keeping them together. I even keep the bag in their room, right next to our own books. Hows that for playing with fire, ha! ;)

I love that I can look up what I have out to count and make sure I've got them all in the bag, as well as renewing ones I can't find. A great system as long as no one has requested that book.

We bag everything: library books as well! We keep ours in their baskets behind the couch and they may not venture out of the lounge unless it's bedtime when everyone may take one book to bed with them.

I wrote a post on our bags... and their is a photo of our library baskets... just scroll down a little way if you are interested.... http://www.se7en.org.za/2008/08/21/getting-out-with-se7en-se7en-bags

@theaisforannie - I've seen that basket at the Container Store, but a quick scan of their website wasn't fruitful.

They're out there!

theaisforannie - the green basket was part of a baby shower gift. I checked for a label, but all I found was "Made in China"! This one seems to be similar:
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-816-405T-Collapsible-Basket/dp/B00168NJR6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1241353164&sr=8-2

Carrie

my daughter and i keep our library book bags where most of our library books get used (kitchen for me, bedroom for her). books go back in the back when we are done reading them.

it's a reisenthel basket. They do sell them at container store but also other places. Here is a link to a patterned one but they come solid and patterned.

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/reisenthel-market-basket-flora-p-730.html

You've seen them on ohdeedoh before:

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/look/look-homemade-minibugaboo-toy-stroller-043644

We have one of those Reisenthel baskets for library books, it's just right.