Build and Organize Your Class Library: Back 2 School Series

Happy Friday!

It's the first Friday of the school year, and even though I've only had students for one day, we're all ready for two days off. 

Today's topic for the Back 2 School Series is How to Build and Organize Your Classroom Library.

I have had two great mentors to help and teach me about building classroom libraries. 

The lady I student taught with had a whole wall full of books. 

She taught at a local bookstore in the evenings and on weekends, so she got a good discount on books. 

The other 8th grade language arts teacher and intervention specialist have a nearly floor to ceiling wall of books, too!

I'm pretty certain they have more books in their room than the actual library in our school does. 

I've been amazed by these people, and slowly but surely I have been working on my own library. 

Last year I purchased the two black bookshelves from Target. 

I liked that they were tall and didn't cost an arm and a leg.

In addition, I've gained some other random bookshelves from people getting rid of them. 

Everything doesn't match, and that might drive me a bit buggy, but when it's free, it's free!

The hardest problem I have is how expensive books are. 

It's not breaking news that teachers aren't millionaires. 

There's always something to buy for the classroom without even buying books. 

Students are always asking you to buy something off of them, I buy treats and rewards for them and always am in need of supplies to do what I need to do. 

I've tried to slowly add to my collection by buying books off of Amazon and Books a Million. 

In addition, every once and a while I will go to Half Price Books and grab some bargains. 

This past summer I showed what I grabbed at the Clearance Sale.

This is probably the most affordable way to get books. 

It's so much more convenient to have the books in my room rather than having student trek down to the library, where they might find someone to talk to, to look for one. 

I will continue to add to my collection and have budgeted a small portion of money each month to buy books. 

As much as I want the students to have all of the latest and greatest books, it comes out of my pocket, and I can get a little picky on if I'd rather have a new top or new books for the classroom. 

This summer I bought a book scanner. 

In the past I had a sign out sheet where students were SUPPOSED to sign out their book, but as we all know that doesn't always happen!!

I was tired of losing books, especially ones that I just bought and were only read once. 

So, I asked my co-workers for suggestions, and I ended up purchasing a book scanner.

I love that it's meant for classroom libraries, didn't cost a fortune, and they gave a discount to educators!

I'm still working on getting used to it, but all I have to do is scan the barcode of the book and fill in what student wants to check it out. 

To add the books to the system you just scan the barcode. 

Unfortunately, there are some books that aren't registered, so you have to add a little tag and fill it in manually. 

I try to organize the books by genre, and then by series. 

I don't list them alphabetically. 

That is just too time consuming!!

Here's a little Science Fiction

And a little Fantasy...

I will continue to add to my collection as I find bargains. 

Do you guys have any tips on finding affordable yet current books?

Join me back on Monday when I'm sharing How you Start Your School Day!