Use and Care of Books

foreign [Music] [Applause] foreign wow that sounds good five four three two one faster another exciting journey into space begins wow I can't wait to read this have you ever found a book that was so exciting you could hardly wait to read it or one that you've enjoyed so much you've read it over and over again if so you know how much fun books can be [Music] books come in all shapes and sizes [Music] they're good friends they entertain us with stories they give us information they tell us about important people and our school textbooks teach us things we need to know reading books is a great way to learn and lots of fun besides but how would you like to read a book that looks like this or this whoever used these books didn't treat them like good friends did they all these books have been mistreated damaged ruined if they could talk imagine what they'd say oh my goodness I feel wretched [Music] in my piles are all busted up you can prevent such tragedy and make reading more fun by learning how to use and care for books let's find out how we'll start some place where there are lots of books do you know what such a place is called right a library or Media Center a library is a collection of books arranged so you can easily find those you want some libraries are rather small like this one or like the library some of us have in our homes other libraries are large with thousands of delightful stories and many other books on all kinds of interesting subjects a library is a great place to go when you need information but if you have trouble finding what you need help you find something a librarian will help you the top shelf this one here okay there you go some books are full of information but you may not have to read the whole book to find out if it has the facts you need first look in the back to see if the book has an index the index lists all important names and subjects in the book by looking here you can quickly find out if the book tells about a particular person or subject another way to learn about a book is to check the table of contents the table of contents is in the front of a book and gives a list of the chapters and sections in order by reading the table of contents you can quickly see what a book is about once you borrow a book from a library or receive a textbook in your classroom it's your job to take care of it all you have to do is follow a few Simple Rules before you start reading while you're reading and after you're finished using a book the first rule is make covers for any textbooks which you'll be taking home with you your teacher can show you how she out on your desk [Music] okay so take your books a cover like this will protect your book and keep it looking nice for a long time before you use a book always make sure your hands are clean and dry do you know why this is important of course dirty hands make dirty pages and who wants to read a book with smudges and fingerprints all over it hey you better wash those hands you get me all deity at school always wash your hands after lunch and recess when your hands are clean and dry your book will stay clean too [Music] when you take a book home choose a comfortable well-lighted place to read a place where nothing can happen to damage your book do you think this is such a place whoops afraid not around him you can see why it's important to choose a nice dry place to read a book like the place this boy has chosen have you ever had a book that wouldn't stay open or lie flat when you tried to read it this usually means the book is new and needs to be broken in there's a right way and a wrong way to break in a new book this is the wrong way forcing the covers back against each other breaks the back of the book and loosens the covers is that any way to treat a friend here's the right way place the book with its back and covers on the table holding the pages upright smooth down a few pages at a time first on one side then on the other keep this up working toward the middle until you've smoothed down all the pages your book will now lie flat by itself once you're ready to start reading there are some other things you should know like the correct way to turn a page is this the correct way no a wet finger or thumb can leave smudges besides this method isn't very sanitary yeah hey don't do that the correct way is to lift the upper corner with your thumb and First Finger never lick your fingers before turning a page here are some other things you should never do while reading cut out pictures and move pages underlying doodle or draw pictures in a book hey stop that that's dumb children who appreciate books Never damage one on purpose they know books are too valuable to be treated so carelessly sometimes accidents do happen though accidentally damage a book feature or a librarian right away they'll see that your book is repaired properly well this is not hard to fix just watch what I'm doing no you can do that yeah suppose you have to stop reading a book before you're finished do you know the best way to mark your place it's not this way never place a book face down when it's open you may break its back and loosen the pages have you ever used a pencil ruler or pair of scissors to mark your place you shouldn't such thick objects can also ruin the books back how about bending down a corner of a page to make a dog ear is this a good way to mark your place no never dog ears look fine on a dog but terrible in a book besides after a while dog-eared Corners may fall off so what's the right way to mark your place simple use a special bookmarker made of paper Ribbon or plastic a proper book marker is very thin so it won't break or stretch the book's back by using a proper book marker you can help your books last a long time here's another way to help your books last when you have to carry them outside in wet weather put them in a satchel or a plastic bag so they'll stay nice and dry it's still your job to take care of a book after you've finished it is this boy taking proper care of his book help s she's gonna eat me alive when you're finished with a book always put it in a safe place where small children or pets can't get it it was close foreign books are meant to be used again and again that's why they need care even when you're not using them children who forget this sometimes use books improperly is this any way to use a book of course not books aren't meant to prop open windows or to be used as hammers either remember books are for reading not for jobs like these never use books improperly instead when you're finished with the book continue to care for it that way you or others will be able to enjoy it in the future so remember to keep books looking like this instead of like this follow the rules you've seen here for the books you use and they'll stay good friends for a long long time [Music] will you do it for me please [Music] foreign [Music]