Day 5: Write a Welcome Message Imagine you’re a student walking into the library on the first day of school. Now imagine the first thing you see is a handwritten message that says: “Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here!” Those six words may only take a minute to write, but they have the power to… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 5
Day 4: Fill One Shelf with “Can’t Keep These on the Shelf” Books Every school library has them. Those books are your library’s greatest ambassadors. Today’s Quick Win is simple: gather those favorites together and let them shine. Instead of waiting for students to discover them hidden among hundreds of other books, put them front… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 4
Day 3: Check Every Piece of Technology Before Students Arrive Few things can derail an exciting first library lesson faster than technology that refuses to cooperate. While we can’t prevent every technology hiccup, we can eliminate many of the most common problems before students ever walk through the door. Today’s Quick Win is all about… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 3
Everything You Need to Start the School Year with Confidence The beginning of a new school year is full of possibility. It’s also full of to-do lists. School librarians wear many hats during those first few weeks. You’re setting up the library, welcoming students, supporting teachers, troubleshooting technology, creating displays, planning lessons, and somehow finding… More The Ultimate Back-to-School School Library Guide
Day 2: Create One “Wow” Display If you’ve ever walked into a bookstore and immediately wandered over to a table of beautifully displayed books, you’ve experienced the power of a great display. The books didn’t say a word. They simply invited you to come closer. Your school library can do the same thing. As the… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 2
Day 1: Walk Through Your Library Like a New Student The beginning of a new school year is full of checklists. Order supplies. Finish processing books. Update bulletin boards. Test the printers. Set up the circulation desk. Answer emails. With so many tasks competing for your attention, it’s easy to overlook one of the most… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 1
Easy Activities That Keep Students Engaged While You Juggle Everything Else The first few weeks of school are among the busiest times of the year for school librarians. You’re welcoming new students. Teaching orientation lessons. Helping teachers. Answering technology questions. Processing new books. Updating displays. Learning names. And somewhere in the middle of all that,… More Passive Library Programs for Busy Back-to-School Weeks
Advice from Experience for Your First Year in the Library Your first year as a school librarian will probably feel exciting, exhausting, meaningful, confusing, and wonderful—sometimes all before lunch. You may begin the year with carefully organized plans, only to discover that the printer is not working, three teachers need help at once, a student… More What I’d Tell a First-Year School Librarian
Creating First Library Experiences They’ll Never Forget For many kindergarten students, the school library feels like stepping into a magical place. Rows and rows of books. Bright displays. Comfortable reading spaces. A friendly librarian waiting to welcome them. It’s exciting—but it can also feel a little overwhelming. Everything is new. The room is bigger than… More Helping Kindergarten (and New Students) Fall in Love with the Library
First-Day Library Activities That Put Books at the Center The first library visit of the school year often comes with a long list of things to cover. Students need to learn procedures. They need to know where to sit, how to check out books, and what is expected of them. You may need to explain… More Getting Students Excited About Reading on Day One