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Presto Chango! Your Ever-Changing Library

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So you've got a dreamy vision of the perfect library in your mind. You set it up, adjust each book just so, and sit back to admire your handy work. It looks like a photo shoot taken on-site at Barnes and Noble. Perfecto! Now to calmly explain to your children that they are never ever to touch any of the displays. Or read any of the books. Ever.

Not so fast! Like a bookstore, your library needs to be dynamic, living, and ever-changing. It's not going to stay like this. It's going to get a little messy and it's definitely going to be reorganized and revitalized again and again. If your favorite clothing store had the same colors and styles displayed in the same way season after season, you'd stop shopping there. When it comes to books, the way they are displayed is part of what entices children to try new ones and pick up old ones. There are millions of ways (well, maybe not that many- but A LOT) that you might rotate and display books to keep them fresh.



Try some of these displays to spice things up:
  • Holiday or seasonal books
  • Strong interest books that a child or group of children displays
  • A certain genre that you want to encourage your child to read
  • A certain author that you want to encourage your child to read
  • A group of "new releases" (or at least new to your library)
  • Books that are all around one theme, like friendship or forgiveness
  • Books in one series
  • Books that correspond to an upcoming event at a local library or school library (like a visiting author)
  • Recommended books (Dad/ grandma/ the principal recommends...)
  • Concept books (All about wheels for babies or weather for older children)
That's all well and good, you say, but where am I supposed to get several books on wheels? Try supplementing your own home or classroom library with books from the public or school library. Most will let you take out an unlimited number of books at once and keep them for four to six weeks by renewing them. It's easy to search and put on your books on hold. The novelty of having all those new books on display in your home or classroom will really light your child's spark for reading. There is something about a carefully designed book display that is different from handing a child one book and saying- "here- how about this one?" It's also different than taking them to a book store or library with thousands of choices and saying, "you can have any one you want." Changing up your home library is a whole lot more about helping your child become literate and well-read than it is about making something pretty. We can't leave it up to others to grow their horizons- it must start with us, or it may never happen. 

So, presto chango- behold the ever evolving library! Let's keep those books moving!
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Brookie said…
Hello Andrea,
I am up in the middle of the night thinking of my next classroom library and my home library for my 3.5 year old son. I am so happy to have found your blog, you have penned much of what my mind has been wrestling with, specifically the ideas of a library being ever-changing, resembling a bookstore, and reader selected bookshelves. I have previously taught 1st grade. I am finishing my M.Ed. in El. Ed, and my final project is based around this topic. Thank you for your posts, they are confirming to me. Brooke
12:52 AM
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