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

Kirsten Innes innes.kirsten at d46.org
Wed Feb 24 11:58:50 CST 2021


I was a classroom teacher who had an extensive classroom library paid for
out of my own pocket as well as using book club points. Never once did I
think that our school library was lacking. My chapter books in my classroom
library were mostly paperbacks, which our library did not have much of.
Back then, students could only go to the library once a week. By having my
classroom library, students could get books whenever they wanted/needed and
keep them as long as they wanted. Some students were worried their library
books would get lost/ruined so they felt they could take home the classroom
books, but not the library's books. I gave several books away for summer
reading as well.

My students reorganized my classroom library every year it seemed! They
organized it in so many different ways, but it always seemed to work for
them.

I think the 2 can coexist well and there is nothing to be worried about. As
a classroom teacher, my library was huge, but nothing at all like our
school library.

When I left the classroom, most of my books were added to our school
library in my new district. A win win for all!

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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Prairieview

Information Specialist
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