Two Part Classroom Library System
This classroom library system came to life because I wasn't able to find the right system that suited my needs. I wanted a spreadsheet that I could access from anywhere, that was easily shareable. I needed to be able to categorize books many different ways, input notes on how I use certain books in the classroom, and keep a book wish list, all in the same spot.
This classroom library system has two parts. The first part is a classroom library inventory spreadsheet using Google Sheets.
The second part is an online classroom library checkout system using Google Forms or a classroom library checkout template for students to fill out manually.
Classroom Library Inventory Spreadsheet
This classroom library inventory spreadsheet is to be used in Google Sheets. It can be edited and viewed anywhere. This is especially convenient when I'm book shopping at garage sales and used books stores to ensure I don't buy doubles. I talk more about how I grow my classroom library in this post.
Shareable
Easily share this classroom library inventory spreadsheet with anyone, including co-teachers, educational assistants, and students. I will be sharing viewing privileges with my students so they can search for books. This will help them as they are selecting books for their Daily 5 book boxes. Click to read this post where I talk more about why Daily 5 is my favourite time in my classroom.
Sharing this classroom library spreadsheet with students will help them to be able to find books within our classroom library. I've organized fiction books by authors' last names using Lessons with Laughter's book spine labels. Since students may not know the author's of the book they are looking for, they can easily find out using our classroom library spreadsheet.
Categories
Search and sort within the spreadsheet by any of the headers by sorting from A-Z or Z-A. The headers included are:
- Checked out
- Title
- Author
- Picture book
- Chapter book
- Fiction
- Non Fiction
- Genre
- Series
- Location
- Level
- Mentor Text
- Book Type
- Tags
- Topic
- Subtopic
- Notes
I am especially glad to be able to keep track of mentor texts. For example, I will be using mentor texts more often this year. After reading The Writing Thief, I hope to grow my mentor text collection to supplement my writing units. I will be able to “tag” mentor texts to easily find them when I need them.
Customizable
Choose between the colour version or the white version with colour headings.
You can also resize or delete any headers. Within the spreadsheet there is a separate sheet to create codes for tags, topics, subtopics, and/or genres to easily categorize books and search within those categories. See possible code examples below.
Wishlist
A wish list sheet is included in order to keep track of recommendations, books missing in a series, desired mentor texts, etc. I will be inputting picture book recommendation by Ramona Recommends into my wish list so that I can keep my eye out as I am book shopping as well as mentor texts recommendations from The Writing Thief.
Classroom Library Checkout System
Classroom Library Checkout Template
If you wish to have students checkout books from your classroom library, they can do so in two ways. The first way is to have students complete checkout manually by filling out the classroom library checkout system template. Download the classroom library checkout freebie pictured below.
As students check books out, you have the option to type in their name and the date on the inventory spreadsheet. This allows you to have an electronic record if you wish to do so. Names and dates can be erased as students return books to your classroom library return bin.
Online Classroom Library Checkout System
The second option to have students check out classroom library books is to have them fill out the online checkout form by sharing the Google Form with them within Google Classroom.
Form responses are automatically populated into the classroom library inventory spreadsheet so everyone can see which books are currently checked out. Once books are returned to the return bin, checked out books can be checked off on the list.
Developing this classroom library checkout system was my last step in revamping my classroom library. First, I worked on building up my book collection. Here's how I find cheap classroom library books. Second, I relabelled my entire library and organized it by author last name. Luckily, my students helped me with this onerous job. Lastly, I will input all of my books in my classroom library system to facilitate finding books for both myself and my students. I'm thinking about having students help input books into the system this. With some training, I'm sure they can do it and it would be a huge help!
