What is the best way to organize my classroom library? Do I organize them by reading level? How can young readers help keep the books organized and in the correct place? What kind of book baskets should we use? How do we get younger kids to help keep an organized classroom library?These are all questions that I have heard before so let’s dive in today!
Please keep an open mind when reading this blog post. These are just ideas to help you organize your classroom library books. These may not be for you, and that’s okay!
What To Consider Beforehand
Here are some things to think about before setting up your classroom library:
- Where do you have space for your classroom library?
- What shelves do you plan on using?
- What type of containers or book bins do you plan on using to store the books?
- How will you group the books?
- Do you have enough books to fill certain genres or categories?
- How will students book shop?
- How long will students keep books in their book tubs?
- What will students do if a book gets ripped?
Classroom Library Location
It is important to take a step back and look at your classroom. Where would a classroom library fit? Where does it make sense in your classroom? A great way to determine where your classroom library should go is to first create a map of your classroom. You can draw where you would like the library to be and then sketch where the desks, centers, and other important pieces of the room would go.
I had my classroom library in a corner, just because that is where the shelves fit. My classroom was too small to have a large library taking up a ton of space, but I tried to make it as functional as possible. I had a lot of books!
When planning for where your library will be, don’t forget about seating! I had 3 large bean bags that students loved to lay on. I have seen teachers use yoga mats, pillows, small chairs or beach chairs, or crate seats.
What Type Of Book Bins To Use
Over the years, I have used different types of bins to hold the books. I have found many at Dollar Tree. They have changed throughout the years, but they still seem to keep a good stock of decent bins. I also invested in the magazine file holders from Target and Really Good Stuff. They take up less space and fit picture books nicely. I prefer to have many different baskets with different sizes. Books come in many shapes and sizes and having a variety will be helpful when you start putting the books away.
How Your Students Can Help You
During my first year teaching, I did not have the most organized classroom library. I learned that students need to know everything has a proper place or else your books will not be taken care of and students will never be able to find what they want to read. So, I created book bin labels so that students can find the books they want. I had a “Book Return” bin for students to put their books in when they were finished.
Here’s what I did not take into consideration: I would have to put the books back or I was going to need to teach someone else to do it. Eventually, I did teach a student to do this. However, I began labeling each book with an Avery label to match the book bin label. I put the sticker labels on the front cover, but looking back I wish I had placed it on the back of the book. With this library system, students learned to put their books back in the correct baskets. These sticky labels were a lifesaver!
It’s true; younger students can help keep an organized library with the right tools. One of my classroom jobs was a student librarian as well. The student librarian checked the classroom library at the end of the day to make sure students put the books back in the right spot.
Classroom Library Organization Ideas
When you know where your classroom library will go, it is time to start thinking about the actual organizing. This will take a lot of time, but will be worth it for the end result. You will need to divide your books into different categories.
Here are some examples:
- Fairy tales
- Chapter Books
- Favorite Authors
- Picture Books
- Holidays
- Mystery
- Poetry
- feelings
- Pirates
- Animal Fiction
- Classics
- Historical Fiction
- Favorite Characters
I love to organize my books by genre, characters, and authors. I also separate shelves by fiction and nonfiction. I separated many of my nonfiction books by types of animals and subjects. I use these classroom library labels to label the plastic bins. I laminate the labels and hot glue them to the front of the basket. These labels do not include actual characters because of licensing (that is illegal to sell). However, they are editable so that you can create your own with the template.
Introducing The Classroom Library
When you are ready to introduce your classroom library, it is important to take your time and practice, practice, practice! If you want your classroom library to stay organized and in good shape throughout the school year, it is important to take the extra time to teach your students to use it properly.
Lesson #1: Getting A Book
On the first day of introducing your classroom library, sit your students either inside the library or in front of it. Show them where the different categories are and explain how the bins are labeled (if you labeled them). If you choose to use stickers on them, make sure to point the stickers out as well. Show your students what book bin they will be using to book shop. Explain to them how to find a book bin they are interested in, take the book out, and put it in your book bin.
I would show students later how to pick good-fit books. The first lesson is simply learning the classroom library. Explain to students the right way to put books in their book bins so that they don’t throw the books in and end up with books inside other books. I like to tell my students to keep the spines out facing the same way. Once you are finished demonstrating, let your students practice. Students should take their book baskets, find a book bin, and take a book. If you want, you can also teach your students how to find a good-fit book with this lesson.
Lesson #2: How To Put Books Back In The Correct Place
If you are using our classroom library labels with stickers, then this will be simple for you! Teach your students to match the sticker with the bin label. Then, teach them how to put the book back in with the book covers facing out and spine to the left. Once you teach this, have a few students demonstrate the right way. Then, have a few students demonstrate the wrong way. Demonstrating the wrong way always gets a lot of giggles and laughs, so make sure to again have a few students demonstrate the right way. Emphasize to students they will be doing this weekly so it is important that they learn to put the books back correctly.
More Lessons and Routines To Practice With Your Class
Now that you have taught the two most important lessons, do not forget about the rest! There are many other things to teach your students to ensure your entire classroom library stays as organized as possible!
More Routines To Teach:
- Holding and carrying a book tub
- How to take a book out and put it back if it’s not wanted
- How to place a book in the student book tub
- What to do if a book is in the wrong place
- How to put a book back in the right place
- Make sure to put books back with spines going the correct way and books not inside other books
How To Manage Book Shopping
Here are some different questions to ask yourself when thinking about book shopping:
- How many books can students get at a time to keep in their book tubs?
- When should students book shop?
- How often should students book shop?
- How long should it take them to find new books?
- How many students should be in the classroom library at once to get new books?
My personal preference is to have a small group of students in the library to book shop. Depending on time, I would love for them to go twice a week, but they mostly go once a week. Students are always encouraged to read a book more than once to build stamina and comprehension. Keeping the days consistent can be difficult, but using a schedule really helps! I have a free schedule template on the blog post linked below!
I have a whole blog post dedicated to teaching students to book shop! You can read it here.
Where I Find Classroom Books
I hate to say this for new teachers, but I did purchase most of my books. I tried to do so cheaply though! Here are some places to look:
- Retiring teachers: During my first year of teaching, I was blessed to have had many books left for me in my new classroom from a retiring teacher. If you are taking the place of a retiring teacher or know of one retiring, ask that teacher if you can buy his/her books. This is a great option because this teacher probably has a great stack of well-liked books and will also be happy to sell the books to another teacher.
- Garage Sales: If there’s a neighborhood garage sale, definitely look! You will usually find books in very good condition and for a good price!
- Facebook Marketplace: Many people sell books in lots, so you can get a lot of books for a good deal.
- Thrift Stores: Our local thrift store has paperback books for 25 cents. This is the number one place I recommend looking for classroom library books.
- Scholastic Points: Send home Scholastic catalogs and you earn points from the books parents buy. Use those points to buy more books to put back into your classroom.
- Amazon Wishlist: Sometimes parents and caretakers will ask if teachers have wishlists. You will find that they want to buy things for your classroom, but do not know what to buy! Books is always a great option.
Organize Your Classroom Library
Make sure to checkout our classroom library labels if you are ready to organize your library! Having an organized classroom library puts my mind at ease, knowing my books are mostly safe!
Click here for our classroom library labels on TPT.
Click here for our classroom library labels on Missing Tooth Grins.
