ABSTRACT
Classroom libraries can be expensive to create, but there are several options for building one without major damage to your budget. Look for books at yard or library sales, making sure to read through your choices to ensure they are appropriate to your grade level and school’s media guidelines. Another option is to set up a Books Offer Student’s Success (BOSS) program, as a Florida elementary school did to help its teachers build their classroom libraries. Ask parents to donate old books that their children have outgrown. Once books arrive, a small group of teacher volunteers meets after school to review books for content and determine an approximate reading level. The school’s first–year teachers receive a bundle of books for their classroom library as a welcoming gift. Parents benefit too because they clear space on their children’s bookshelves, knowing that other children can enjoy the books.
