If you are facing penalties or unable to use your card because of lost library books, don’t give up hope yet. Here are some places you might not have looked yet. Over the years, we’ve found missing books in many of these spots.
- In a Closet: Things often get thrown on the floor of a closet. Tidy it up and you might just find a missing book buried under there.
- Under Beds: Since we often read in bed, books can get dropped between the wall and the bed.
- Under the Couch: This is another popular reading spot. Move the entire couch to make sure you don’t miss anything.
- In Your Vehicle: Look under the seats, under car seats and in the trunk.
- Chair and Couch Cushions: It’s easy for small books and paperbacks to get wedged here.
- On the Bookshelf: Imagine that! Books fall behind other books, get put in backwards, or simply get caught so deeply between other titles that they disappear from view.
- In a Back Pack: Many a missing book has hitched a ride in a child’s backpack, hoping to make friends with his textbooks, I suppose.
- Lost and Found: Check to see if your library book was found at school, at church, etc.
- At the Library: Every once in a while, a book you return will be shelved before library staff scans/checks it in. This happened to us twice! A book we kept getting email notifications about ended up being at the library.
- In a Pile: Library books like to hide in piles where they don’t belong. Piles of school books, piles of magazines, piles of coloring books, etc.
- In a Hamper: If your children have their own hampers for dirty laundry, they may toss toys and books in there occasionally in their hurry to “clean up” the room.
- In a Toy Container: Check toy chests, boxes and baskets. Lots of things besides toys love to hang out there, because children (who are rushing through a clean-up job) will toss pretty much anything inside.
- Ask Your Spouse: One time we found a missing book in my husband’s work truck. Apparently, one of our boys had taken it along when they went on an errand together. Another time, the picture book we were looking for was right next to my husband’s bed, at the very bottom of a stack of books he was working his way through. Yes, everybody in the family loves library books!
- Piano Bench: It’s made for storing books, right?
- Under an Appliance: Check under the stove, the fridge, washer, dryer, etc.
- Under a Rug: Area rugs can easily hide a paperback library book.
- In the Bathroom: Any place in the house where people like to read is fair game!
- With the Laundry: Children who are in a hurry or not paying attention often throw things besides dirty clothes into laundry baskets.
- In the Yard: Check your patio, deck boxes and play equipment. I don’t know about you, but I love reading in the great outdoors!
- Someone Else’s House: Did they take the book to Grandma’s? To a friend’s house? To God’s house?
Searching for books can be a big hassle, and the more children you have, the stickier it gets. So here are some ways to AVOID losing books in the first place:
- Designate a Place: It could be a shelf, a box, a backpack or a shopping tote, but have a place where library books are always kept when no one is reading them.
- Make Book Rules: Decide where books can and cannot be taken.
- Avoid Small Books: Many of the board books and primary readers for young children are extremely small or thin and can get lost SO easily. Look for large board books and picture books.
Where you you lost AND found missing books? Do you have any ideas for keeping library books from disappearing?
Many libraries give a print out of books checked out. If not, make a list of your own. Keep it on your refrigerator door. Have a place where all library books are kept – in a special basket, on a shelf, or a tote bag. Practice using library books and returning them to the basket. Responsible older children reading chapter books can be the exception.
Thank you, Nancy, these are so practical! ~Anne
i need to do that
Me too! I lost my book at Hawthorne elementary school and I can’t find it please help thank you!
I am so so happy I just found my library book. Thank GOODNESS I was able to return it on time. Thank you so so much!
I will have to check my library if they have this book I was pretty sure my husband took back. I have tore my house apart looking for this and there is no where for it to hide. I’ve had it for 3 months now and cant find it. It’s driving me insane. You should also look under your fridge and stove for books I’ve had that happen in the past but sadly not this time.
Sherry, we are in the same boat this week, unable to find 1 last book that has been missing for months. It can drive you nuts when you feel like you’ve searched every inch of the house! Did you check all the family vehicles? ~Anne
we only have one family vehicle and its not there. I have even looked where it shouldn’t be like kitchen cabinets and such but no such luck. I either have a book Narnia in my house or the library might have it.
I can’t find my library book and I’ve searched the whole house. Also the cars. What should I do?
Emily, have you tried asking around and seeing if someone else borrowed it or you left it at their house? Do you ever take books with you when you go places? If so, check all bags – backpacks, luggage, diaper bag, shopping bag, etc. ~Anne Marie
I lost my book, and its for an a assignment!
I can’t find my library book I did not leave it in any cars it was from school and because of lockdown I couldn’t have left it there I have checked my closet under my bed and like all around the house
We “lost” a returned library book too! I’ve started returning books at the beginning of our visit. When we check out our new books at the end of our visit, I make sure to get a printout & check it to make sure all our old books aren’t on the list anymore; there’s nothing due that day anymore.
I love the printouts they provide now. Really helps me to keep track of things!
I am constantly owing the library money because of very overdue books, so I have implemented the “library books go into the wicker basket” rule, the basket being in the front room and I tape the checkout receipt to the back of the basket.
Most of the time, I find missing books under my kids pillows on their beds along with a small flashlight. They read themselves to sleep 😉
Wonderful that they all love to read so much, though!! I guess even the fines are worth it. LOL
Sigh… I have this problem. I LOVE reading, plus my daughter is homeschooled. I currently have the max amount of books out right now (75). Thank God for our library bin!!!
You’ve got me beat for sure!
I have looked in the kitchen, the cabinets, the fridge, on top the fridgve in the garbage (ick!), behind the couch, under it, under the cushions (spaces too.) Arrrrg! Okay, next I’ll try his toybox. Gerr.
Soooo…….I LOST MY LIBRARY BOOK AND IM SUPPOSED TO SHOW IT TO MY TEACHER! AAAAAHHH!!!! Going to have to try some of these, I’m desperate!
how about you leave your book on your table or write down where you keep your books and stuff
look under your bed
I lost a book while my family was moving, and now I can’t find it! I’ve looked everywhere but I’m afraid I might have accidentally put it in the donation pile.
I lost my book and I searched every inch of my home not twice even five or six time
Finally I searched on google how to find a lost book in home
And I started reading your blog after your blog I clicked something in my mind and I go to check those papers that was inside that book
Finally I find my book in my daily use bag
It was very shocking and surprising for me
Bcoz as I can recall first of all I checked my bag yesterday and the book was not there yesterday
How it’s possible
But I am happy I find my book
I’m due to give my library book back to school tomorrow and don’t know what to do! I’ve looked everywhere and no one in my family knows where it is.
i cant find the book any where im not even halfway through it and i need it for a book project due in 2 weeks what do i do ive looked everywhere
I can’t find them either
i searched my whole house too.
You didn’t help
Try praying to Saint Anthony! – Anne Marie
i lost my wings of fire book on christmas what do i do? i only remember having it with my presents and then when my cousins werre here it was GONE. what do i do?
hi, one of your cousins might have taken it. i’m not sure but its POSSIBLE! or you just have a problem and cant remember stuff. i’m your cousin 😀 lol
I looked everywhere to find my overdue book!! Me and my parents don’t want to have to pay but I looked everywhere for it, even all the things on your list, but I can’t find it
Any other UNUSUAL places that books are found? Please tell me!
Have you looked at the bottom of your laundry baskets, or maybe even outside? Do you have a patio or porch? – Anne Marie
I tried but none of them worked I still can’t find my book
I can’t find my lost one it’s been with us for over a month and we went in a trip out of the country right after I got it but I most certainly did not take it with me. Any suggestions on where to look I need it in a few hours????!!!!!!
The exact same thing is happening with me right now
I couldn’t find my library book in any of those places because I did look in all of those places but still didn’t find them there but it might have got lost in the car any advice I really wanna check out a new book :{
Help i have lost my school books and i need to do my homework before tommorow pls helpT-T
typo not tommorow next week
In January, my dad cleaned my room when I wasn’t there. He put a bunch of stuff that he didn’t know what to do with in crates. I saw him take my book, and I know he wouldn’t throw it away. I looked through the entire room and there is nothing. I checked every one of the crates, and it’s not their. I checked my school locker, but no luck. Unfortunately, it’s a school library book. I don’t see how I would lose this book, since I’m usually very responsible with books. And it’s so weird because I lost another book, and I thought that was under my bed but it wasn’t there. Thus has never happened before and I’m vert concerned about the money and myself. Any ideas?
Ask your father if he put it somewhere