Many home schoolers frequent their local library on a weekly basis as their budget may not allow them to purchase ALL of the books they need and want for their home school.
Through the years, the hands-down BEST tip I've learned to make my trips to the library (even with toddlers in tow) easier and more fun is this: Use your computer to order books Nearly every library system now has their entire card catalog online.
By entering your library card number and a PIN number from the comfort of your home before you head out to the library, you can browse the card catalog and find books that interest you and your family.
We use the Well Trained Mind method in our homeschool.
The reading list for WTM is quite extensive, as it is for Sonlight and Tapestry of Grace and many other curricula.
Rather than purchase all of the recommended titles, I use the computer to look up the next 2-3 weeks of suggested books at our local library.
Hint: If you use one of these programs or another unit study method, you may find it difficult to find the books you want when you need them if you start the unit study in the fall.
Many other homeschoolers in your area might be using the same book lists.
Try starting your unit studies in late July or early August so you're not competing with others to borrow the same titles.
My local library system has several branches spaced out across the region.
Their computer system allows me to search any library within the system, put a hold on the books I want AND have them shipped free of charge to the library closest to me for pick up.
They even send me an e-mail or call me when my books are ready to be picked up! No more running around from branch to branch trying to find the books I'm looking for.
You can certainly still allow your children to browse for a bit and pick up a few fun books that appeal to them but it's a great comfort knowing that by the time you get to the library, someone has already done the hunting and gathering of my homeschool books for you.