Library Lady’s K-12 Edition is a mostly weekly newsletter for K-12 school librarians. Today’s topic is — Back to School
Library Lady’s K-12 Edition will only be published every other week during the summer. We will be back to our regular schedule in mid-August.
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I am what libraries and librarians have made me. Heraclitus
Tips from Library Lady
Welcome Back (Almost!)
If you’re anything like most school librarians, your mind is already filling with display ideas, lesson plans, overdue technology checklists, and the hope that this will be the year everything comes together just a little more smoothly.
The first few weeks of school can feel overwhelming, but remember—you don’t have to do everything before the first bell rings. Focus on creating a library that feels welcoming, organized, and ready for students. The rest can come one step at a time.
This Week’s Library Tip:
Five Ways to Make Back-to-School Easier
1. Pick Your Top Three Priorities
Before tackling dozens of projects, decide on the three things that will have the biggest impact on students. Maybe it’s a welcoming entrance, organized circulation, or your first week’s lessons. Let the smaller projects wait.
2. Prepare Your First Week Lessons Now
Having your opening lessons finished before teachers begin bringing classes will lower your stress tremendously. Students remember enthusiasm far more than perfection.
3. Create One Eye-Catching Display
You don’t need every bulletin board completed on day one. One display featuring exciting books can spark conversations and boost circulation immediately.
4. Keep a Running Notebook
You’ll think of dozens of ideas once students return. Instead of stopping to redesign everything, jot ideas down for later. Future-you will be grateful.
5. Leave Yourself Some Margin
Something unexpected always happens the first week—a printer jams, a class arrives early, or technology refuses to cooperate. Build a little breathing room into your schedule whenever possible.
Resource Roundup
If you’re looking for inspiration as you prepare your library, here are a few recent posts you may find helpful:
- 25 Things to Do Before the First Day of School
- Creating a Warm, Welcoming Library That Students Want to Visit
- Back-to-School Bulletin Board Ideas for School Libraries
- Book Displays That Practically Check Out the Books for You
- Library Orientation Doesn’t Have to Be Boring
- First Week Library Lessons That Build Excitement
- Helping Kindergarten (and New Students) Fall in Love with the Library
- Getting Students Excited About Reading on Day One
- What I’d Tell a First-Year School Librarian – coming soon
Encouragement for the Week
Your students won’t remember whether every label was perfectly laminated or every shelf was picture-perfect.
They will remember how your library made them feel.
A warm smile, an inviting space, and someone who helps them discover a book they’ll love can make all the difference. That’s the kind of first impression that lasts long after the first week of school.
Wishing you a wonderful beginning to the new school year!
July Celebrations
Bulletin Board Ideas: Adventure Through Books
Fourth of July Book List
National Ice Cream Month Book List
Books About Frida Kahlo
Teddy Bear Picnic Day Book List
Books By and About E B White
World Snake Day Book List
National Moth Week Book List
Apollo 11 Moon Landing Book List
Bulletin Board Ideas: Apollo 11 Moon Landing
Bulletin Board Ideas: Amelia Earhart
Books About Amelia Earhart
Books by and About Beatrix Potter
International Tiger Day Book List
This coming week, look for these posts
I’ll be starting a weekday series on Monday called August in the Library. Next week, weekly K-12 Editions will return.
| Need to raise funds for your library? Here are some posts on my blog that describe my fundraising camps. |
July Birthdays
| Date | Person | Why They’re Worth Featuring |
| July 1 | George Sand (1804) | French novelist; discussion of pen names |
| July 2 | Hermann Hesse (1877) | Author of Siddhartha and Steppenwolf |
| July 4 | Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804) | Classic American literature |
| July 6 | Frida Kahlo (1907) | Picture books, biographies, art activities |
| July 7 | Marc Chagall (1887) | Art appreciation and creativity |
| July 8 | Jean de La Fontaine (1621) | Famous fables |
| July 10 | Alice Munro (1931) | Nobel Prize-winning author |
| July 10 | John Calvin (1509) | Historical figure |
| July 11 | E. B. White (1899) | Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan |
| July 12 | Henry David Thoreau (1817) | Nature writing and transcendentalism |
| July 15 | Rembrandt (1606) | Art history |
| July 16 | Beatrix Potter (1866) | Beloved children’s books |
| July 18 | Nelson Mandela (1918) | Biography and leadership |
| July 18 | Richard Branson (1950) | Entrepreneurship |
| July 21 | Ernest Hemingway (1899) | American literature |
| July 22 | Edward Hopper (1882) | Art and visual literacy |
| July 24 | Alexandre Dumas (1802) | The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo |
| July 24 | Amelia Earhart (1897) | Biography, aviation, perseverance |
| July 25 | Thomas Eakins (1844) | American art |
| July 26 | George Bernard Shaw (1856) | Drama and literature |
| July 28 | Beatrix Potter (Death anniversary—1943) | Good remembrance feature if you prefer anniversaries |
| July 31 | Primo Levi (1919) | Memoir and history |
Other Recent Blog Posts
When “Busy” Becomes Too Busy: Helping Children Find Balance
Recent Adult Book Reviews
Adult Review – Mail-Order Viscountess
Recent YA Book Reviews
YA Review – For This Very Purpose – young adult Biblical Fiction
YA Spotlight – Quest of Fire: The Unending Light – young adult fantasy
Recent MS Book Reviews
MS Spotlight – Thalia in Exile – mid-grade fantasy
Recent Kid Book Reviews
Kid Review – The Unwinding Path – picture book
Items in my Shop
Cute animals with books – stickers, shirts and more in my Redbubble Shop
What I’m Checking Out
20 Back to School Library Bulletin Board Ideas
Back to School Library Displays
Some things that might interest you
📚 Tools for School Librarians 📚
As librarians, we’re always looking for creative ways to engage students and enhance programming. These tools are easy to use. Explore them today and see how they might fit into your toolkit.
If you have a little time this summer to learn a new skill and are interested in GPTs, I recommend this “How to Build Your Own GPT” workshop.
Or, if you’d like a GPT to help you create worksheets for your students, I suggest this custom GPT – Imagination Station: New GPTs Create Kids Activity Sheets
Authors and librarians, would you like to have a post on this blog?
I’d like to add a couple of features to my blog in the coming months and would appreciate your help. I am looking for school librarians interested in being interviewed on the blog. I am also looking for librarians and children’s or young adult authors to do guest posts on the blog. Click on the links below to fill out a survey.
Is there a way I can help you? Drop a note in the comments or shoot me an email. I’d love to help.
See you next week.
Jane (Library Lady)
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