How to Design a School Library That Fosters a Love of Reading
By Cindy Paul, Former Educator and Customer Success Specialist
At McGraw Hill, our work is informed by the experiences of the many former educators on our staff. This series highlights their perspectives.
Whether your school library is the oasis to explore new worlds or the “device fix-it shop,” form and function matter. Perhaps retooling “the shop” so it celebrates all the wonderment the library has to offer is a good place to start to launch a love of reading.
It’s All About the Space!
Keeping up with 21st-century expectations means your school library often serves as the central location for a myriad of school events. My bet is that yours could use a fresh look and clear definition to entice learners to visit more often. During my days as a Middle School Librarian Assistant, I accepted the challenge to design creative spaces to encourage reading across genres, highlight rich biography resources, and showcase updated digital learning labs. My goal ultimately included instilling a lasting love of reading!
Inspiration comes from several places, including idea boards and library conferences. The best research came when I observed students in motion as they meandered my library. I asked questions and listened to responses. What I learned was that if I was having FUN, my library learners were having FUN.
How Do We Create Space for Everything?
Intentionality. That’s how we create a “big tent” out of our library. Purposeful shelf arrangements, or “fluffing up” sitting areas, are easy fixes to improve the overall vibe of the library. Think upselling — when a student visits for a device tune-up, try digging deeper. You can steer the conversation to other parts of the library — like checking out a good book for the weekend.
But first, consider going on a sensory exploration in your library:
- What do you see from the front door?
- What visuals or inspirational quotes catch your eye?
- What do you hear happening in each corner?
- Are the books and materials easily accessible?
- What does the space smell like? Yes, smells create a vibe!
Here are some ideas to create new spaces in your library, from cozy classics to contemporary new looks:
Build Reading Nooks
Consider creating a central landmark such as a tall book tree to sit under or a town square with a fountain and bistro tables.
Many of your teacher-partners excel at this. Visit one of their classrooms for twinkle light ideas and comfy floor cushions, then take advantage of the natural light in your library.
Create Q-reader activities: Scavenger hunts, student book video reviews
Get those feet moving! For back-to-school, this scavenger hunt activity offers an engaging method for self-guided tours as the learners get to know their library space.
As the year progresses, collect video book reviews from students. Ask them to rate and review the books checked out.
Biography or Book Report Center
Coordinate with your classroom teachers on which months students work on biographies. Collect the most popular ones and display them on short shelves to draw attention.
Encourage young student actors to portray historical figures during a school-sponsored Biography Week — all while touting the books about their person.
Seasonal Surprises
- Fall, Winter, Spring, & Summer: All seasons foster sensory clues that can draw attention to a group or genre of books.
- October: Perfect to feature stories about ghosts or hauntings. These books flew off the shelves of my library.
- April: Good for surprises — we wrapped mystery books in construction paper. Students blindly checked out books without any clue what it was. It was an intriguing way to encourage reading across all types — fiction or non-fiction.
Reading Contests & Award Winners
Keep your State Award Winners in a convenient location to allow students to vote for their favorites. We ran a video loop of authors and readers “chatting up” the books on the list.
Author Visits
Take note of your check-out logs. Who is popular? Visit author websites to inquire about in-person or virtual visits. We discovered that a favorite author lived only a few miles away. He agreed to lower his honorarium to accommodate our local school. You never know until you ask.
Preview Texts with Students
Roll out the red carpet during those precious visits when the classroom teacher shares students with you. Be excited to welcome learners. Wow your guests with what you know about the books you plan to share or promote.
Students can also present to their class. Teach them the basics:
- Check out the Cover — Does the title or illustrations grab your attention?
- Take Inside Picture Walks — Graphic novels vs chapter books vs novels?
- Check out the Genre — Are you going outside your comfort zone?
- Read the First Line, blurb, back cover — Does it hook you?
- Look at the Lexile Level if available — Do you know your Lexile Level?
Maker Stations
Get those hands moving! Creating Maker Stations is a great kinetic way to drum up business for the library. While students engage in various activities with blocks and engineering challenges, you are surrounding them with chances to instill a love of learning.
The young builder will almost always want to check out a book afterward.
Digital Laboratory — a.k.a. — Device Fix-It Shop
Come and see you in the lab! We recognize that many librarians also serve as the in-house experts when distributing devices or repairing one in the lab.
Own this and go all out in setting up a high-functioning space complete with plenty of electrical outlets and strong wi-fi boards.
Use our free Augmented Reality app to set up an AR space in your library.
A Space for Everything, and Everything in its Space
Enticing young learners to seek out new experiences and worlds found within the words, “Once upon a time…and The End” is key to bringing the reader to your library. Some students naturally gravitate to the best room in the building, visit monthly with their classroom, and, yes, some only because their device is broken or needs a charge. Regardless of how the student gets there, make it your promise to deliver an engaging, fun environment. You will be rewarded with students who develop a lasting love of reading AND who will spread the joy your library exudes.
Cindy Paul is a K-12 Customer Success Specialist for McGraw Hill. Cindy travels the country ensuring McGraw Hill teachers can launch and navigate our solutions — with the goal to ensure their investment turns into student progress. Cindy is proud of her 20+ years of experience teaching adults and working with students in a variety of roles. One of her favorites was collaborating with the lead librarian, teachers, and students in a middle school library. Cindy lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
