Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Classroom Library Center Book Organization

    Posted 01-27-2023 03:30 PM
    Hello,

    I am wondering if there is a list of labels that NAEYC wants the children books in the classroom library to be organized by.

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    Karen Hill
    Locust NC
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  • 2.  RE: Classroom Library Center Book Organization

    Posted 01-28-2023 04:57 PM
    I doubt that you will find anything that specific in a publication or position statement. My advice is to muddle through and use categories that make sense for you and your program. I'm an infant-toddler family child care provider. Labels in my library include ABC's, animals, vehicles, and so on. But I also have labels for book series or authors that are meaningful to me. Examples are Boynton (an author), Spot books and "That's not my..." which are both series. Because I've had both dog and cat lovers, I have subcategories for them in animals. There is no one right way to do this. I've worked in public schools, Head Start, community child care and university Child Development laboratories. All had their own system (or no system which was frustrating). Good luck and get busy!

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    Loraine Dunn
    Provider
    Only Toddlers
    Norman OK
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  • 3.  RE: Classroom Library Center Book Organization

    Posted 01-30-2023 11:59 AM
      |   view attached
    Hi Karen,
    Loraine is right in that it's best to organize in a way that makes sense for you and your program.  I have a library catalog document where I categorize every book according to all the topics it could relate to.  For example one book might touch on 5 topics, so I input that book title under all those different topics.  This way I can easily see a list of all the books we have for any topic. (I'll attach the catalog so you can see what I mean) -Lorelei

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    Lorelei van Peborgh
    Preschool Director
    BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF NORTH LAKE TAHOE
    Kings Beach CA
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    Attachment(s)

    docx
    Library Catalog 3.1.docx   128 KB 1 version


  • 4.  RE: Classroom Library Center Book Organization

    Posted 01-30-2023 05:53 PM
    Wow! I love all the great responses to Karen's question. I agree that there are many "right" ways to organize. I aspire one day to be as organized as the amazing Lorelei with her library catalog file--what a treasure. I copied it for my own files.

    My friend, Mary Beth Nolan was a master preschool teacher. She passed away from Covid two years ago, but she taught me a great deal about helping children build independence in little ways. For example, I've attached a photo of her classroom library. She rotated books onto the shelves by placing them in sturdy plastic magazine file holders. She labeled the magazine holders with the subject area or, like Loraine suggested, a popular author's name such as Eric Carle. Then she provided each child with a clothespin with their name on it. The clothespins were stored in a "parking lot" (see second attached photo). When children selected a book, the took their clothespin and clipped it to the magazine holder from which they took the book. That way, when it was time to return the book, they just looked for their clip and put the book back in the correct holder.

    I hope this idea comes in handy!
    Carrie


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    Carrie Cutler
    Clinical Assistant Professor
    University of Houston
    The Woodlands TX
    www.carriecutler.com
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  • 5.  RE: Classroom Library Center Book Organization

    Posted 02-01-2023 10:46 AM
    Hi  Our Preschool uses an app called Libib that can scan books by the barcode or you can manually add them and all the information.  Then you can sort your collections and search them when you need a specific topic.  We use it for all kinds of books, games, and materials at our school.  Very handy!

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    Meaghan Fullerton
    194 Elk Ave
    New Rochelle NY
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