[aisle] Help me feel better about classroom libraries . . .

[Pam Meiser]

I was a classroom teacher as well. Having my own classroom library (which I
spent my own money to create) allowed me to sort many of my books by
reading level. Having those books close at hand after conferring with a
student allowed me to immediately put a book in the child's hand at the
appropriate level. I often had multiple copies for book groups or for
partner reading, which my library doesn't have. My library has books for
K-5, whereas my classroom library had books that matched the reading range
for my third graders.

As a librarian, I want my students to read whatever they'd like, despite
their reading level. Plus, I don't know each child's reading level!
Classroom teachers do not accompany their students to the library.

I believe the two can exist in harmony!

On Tue, Feb 23, 2021 at 3:58 PM Leah Krippner via AISLE <
aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> I understand their inclination. I was a classroom teacher with a meaty
> classroom library. It kept a lid on kids who claimed to need a new book and
> would spend virtually the entire hour down at the library "looking" for a
> new book. They weren't looking for anything other than a ticket to roam the
> halls. I amassed a sizable classroom collection to keep these non-readers
> on a short leash.
>
> Don't worry. We aren't trying to compete with the actual library. And the
> clients we're appeasing weren't your actual library users.
>
> --
> Leah Krippner
> Pronouns: she/her
> Librarian, Harlem High School
> Currently Reading: *Ready Player Two* by Ernest Cline
> Library Website
> <https://sites.google.com/harlem122.org/hhs/Harlem-High-School/IMC?authuser=0>
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 23, 2021 at 3:46 PM Renee Brown via AISLE <
> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>> Lately, I have been bothered (threatened?) by the number of books our
>> classroom teachers buy and collect and catalog in their classrooms. I don't
>> understand why they spend so much of their personal money to build
>> classroom collections when we have libraries in the schools to accommodate
>> reading. I would really feel jilted if my school was subsidizing their
>> classroom collections, but as far as I know, this is not happening. I had a
>> classroom teacher come to me to ask for help on how to catalog her
>> classroom collection using classroom.booksource.com.  Their classroom
>> collections are fabulous and full of current, popular titles.
>>
>> Why does this make me feel uneasy? I am glad they have so many books for
>> their students to choose from, I just don't understand why they feel the
>> need to build such massive collections.
>>
>> I know libraries offer more selections and are more organized and are
>> more diversified. I know we offer more than just books. I know we are a
>> resource to students and teachers. I know we provide programming and
>> instruction. Even though I know our worth, any words of comfort would
>> help me feel better about seeing all the shelves of really cool books in
>> the classrooms. (Which is actually a good thing. Right?)
>>
>>
>> Renee Brown
>> *District Librarian*
>> *Computer Teacher*
>> *Learn and Serve Team Coordinator*
>> Arthur CUSD #305
>> 217-578-2229
>>
>>
>> [image: See the source image]
>>
>> *        (Class of 2011)*
>>
>>
>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
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