8 Secrets to a Happy Classroom Library

A Happy Classroom Library is Stress Free

First, creating a happy classroom library means keeping it stress free. Any decision related to the classroom library should lower your stress, not raise it. My worst iterations of the classroom library have been too stressful or have had too many rules.

First, I gave up on a checkout system. My classroom library works on the honor system. If a kid steals a book or forgets about it, then that’s okay. I can appreciate the privilege in that statement, but the honor system helps create a happy classroom library.

Second, I also allow students to take books home over winter break, spring break, and summer vacation. This keeps the library open all year long, and it communicates to students the importance of reading for pleasure.

Finally, I added genre labels last year. Incorporating genre labels helps keep the classroom library organized. The genre labels also help students choose new books based on their interests.

A Happy Classroom Library is Engaging

To develop a happy classroom library, you also want it to be engaging and high interest for students. Here are some strategies to help make sure your library is relevant to students!

First, place the library books strategically. The really popular books like the Harry Potter and Twilight series are located at the bottom of the shelf. At eye level, I keep more current bestsellers, diverse and inclusive titles, and seasonal reads.

Second, when it comes to choosing new books for the classroom library, I ask students for recommendations. Books for my classroom library come from a combination of donations, grants, garage sales, and thrift stores. So I can’t always guarantee that my library will have every title students request, but I always keep their recommendations in the back of my mind.

Since I add books to my classroom library as I read them, I’m often adding books with my own annotations. My students love seeing the annotations I leave in books. I never expected my annotations to be the hot topic.

Finally, my classroom library is also engaging, in part, because students see me using it. During silent reading time, I model using the library and silent reading. I also model how to handle books that don’t speak to me.

A Classroom Library is a Privilege

At the end of the day, a classroom library is a privilege. It is a privilege for a teacher, but it is also a privilege for students. At the beginning of the year, we establish expectations for maintaining the library. If the library becomes unruly (books not put away, for example), we have a chat to revisit those expectations and establish the point at which the library closes. Since I teach high school, if needed, I can close the library for one class but not for another. Emphasizing the privilege of accessing books in the classroom helps students take ownership of the space, too.