From the Classroom – Building and Organizing a Classroom Library

What better way to greet students as we head back to school than with an amazing classroom library! Whether you are building a classroom library or reorganizing one, here are a few ideas for you to consider.

Building a Classroom Library

A well-stocked, high-quality classroom library can generate interest and motivation, support differentiated reading instruction, and help develop expert readers in your classroom. But sometimes it’s overwhelming on knowing where to start. Below are some amazing resources if you are struggling to figure out where to find high quality books.

• ALA Book, Print and Media Awards (Newberry, Caldecott, Siebert Medal, etc.): https://www.ala.org/awards/books-media
• American library Association Booklist Online: https://www.booklistonline.com/
• Cooperative Children’s Book Center: https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/
• School Library Journal Best Books lists: https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/page/best-books-2025
• From the Mixed Up Files Book Lists: https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/mixed-up-files-book-lists/#

One rule of thumb is to have anywhere from 10-20 books per students in your classroom at a variety of text lengths, genres, grade levels, and so forth. The more diverse the better!

Organizing a Classroom Library

While there is no wrong way to set up a classroom library, the following questions should guide your thinking on how you organize your library and situate it in your classroom.

• When you walk in your classroom, does the library jump out or is it invisible?
• Does the library have display areas for “teacher recommended” and “student recommended” books?
• Are there books related to students’ cultural backgrounds and communities?
• Is there a clear system for organizing the books, a check-in and check-out system, and a way to monitor students’ selections?

Two of the best books I’ve seen that help organize your classroom library and answer all of the questions above and MUCH, MUCH MORE are below (click on each picture for the website link):

Of course a well-stocked, well-organized library is only good if you get students excited to use it! Make sure you plan lots of book talks, help your students find books they will like to read, and keep new books coming in throughout the school year to keep the classroom library fresh and a place to be!

What are your plans for your classroom library this year? Share your ideas in the comments section below!

Ben Boche

Ben Boche has tried to get himself locked in a museum overnight several times but keeps getting caught. Therefore he has to spend his time doing other things, primarily teaching children's literature at the university-level and writing middle grade adventures. He's at his happiest when reading, so please be quiet and leave him alone. :-)