Every classroom teacher understands the immeasurable value of a well-stocked library. After all, one of the things growing readers need most is to spend lots of time reading lots of books! And to foster a love of reading and nurture a class of lifelong readers, it helps to have a wide variety of books that feature a diverse range of characters, genres, and topics–offering kids more opportunities to discover the kinds of books they’ll fall head over heels for.
However, curating a classroom library can be a real challenge, especially with limited resources. Here are 5 ways you can build your classroom library on a budget:
1: Start with What You Have
Ever stand in front of an overstuffed closet and claim you have absolutely nothing to wear? (Me too.) The truth is, it’s hard to see the possibilities when things are disorganized. So before you rush to buy more, assess what you already have. Do you have a range of genres? Topics? Series? Authors? Do the books represent different cultures and perspectives in affirming ways? Do you have a balance of leveled texts and decodables to support a wide range of reading levels? This can seem like a daunting task. (I know I feel that way about organizing my closet.)
It helps to choose one book bin or bookshelf to inventory at a time. Sort through your books and determine which titles are worth keeping and which ones feel outdated. Perhaps the book feels mismatched to the basket and would be better suited with a different book collection. Position books so the covers are facing out and that the baskets are not tightly packed to make browsing easy for kids. Then, jot down notes about what’s needed before moving to the next basket or shelf.
You might also visit your school library, if you have one, and take stock of what series and topics are best represented there, so you can aim for your classroom book collection to feature additional titles.
This can help you to prioritize essential purchases and create a budget and wish list.
2: Explore Free and Low-Cost Resources
It’s wise to seek out free or low-cost resources, especially when school budgets are tight. Set aside any books you remove from your classroom library and arrange a schoolwide book swap with other teachers or families. How’s the saying go? One teacher’s trash is another teacher’s treasure!
You can also do an online search for educational websites that you can subscribe to as a way to offer children access to digital and audiobook options for classroom library books, both in school and at home. There are also apps like Libby and hoopla that you access for free using your public library account. You can reach out to your local library to help you set up an account. There are also free digital downloads available if you search Amazon’s Kindle Store and Barnes and Noble’s Nook collection.
3: Maximize Your Book Budget
Of course, some things come with a price, so you’ll want to get the most of your budget whenever possible. Before heading to the big name stores, check local thrift shops, yard sales, and library book fairs for new books to add to your existing book bins. Your dollar will go a much longer way if you shop secondhand. You can also check online marketplaces for used books like thriftbooks.com and bookoutlet.com Some sites even pay you for your used books! It might also be worthwhile to join a buy/sell/trade group. There are many devoted to swapping ideas and resources amongst educators.
4: Look for Fundraising and Grant Opportunities
Often there are just certain publishers or series that you just can’t seem to find secondhand. So how can you get those titles on your bookshelf when funds are limited? Apply for grants from educational organizations and foundations that will help foot the bill. You could also turn to popular crowdfunding platforms, such as DonorsChoose or GoFundMe. Similarly, you might also seek funding through local businesses and community organizations. Of course, you’ll also want to collaborate with your school’s PTA and brainstorm possible fundraising efforts, including family book donation drives.
5: Classroom Library Organization and Management
Once you’ve gathered all your beautiful books together, you’ll want to categorize them into baskets that kids can easily access to find the titles that will best match their instructional needs and interests. Make clear, colorful labels to make your book bins not only attractive but also kid-friendly. You can also create a lot of buzz by inviting your students to sort books and create the labels, inventing helpful and clever labels for each stack.
Once you’ve built your new-and-improved classroom library, you might consider establishing a check-out system that allows you to track which books students have borrowed. Get students involved in maintaining the library by designating roles and responsibilities. After all, the library is a shared and cherished resource and you’ll want every child to take pride and ownership in keeping it in order.
For more information about classroom libraries, matching books to readers, using decodable texts, and more, visit mossflower.com
