Springtime Reading Posters and Displays
March 13, 2019BONUS: Earth Day Poster!
March 26, 2019
School libraries tend to get cluttered—and fast! Outdated books, old files, broken technology, random craft supplies, and—in some cases—inheriting a cluttered library from a previous librarian/hoarder; the list is endless when it comes why our library is so messy!
Tidying up can give your library the refresh it needs. You can even accomplish this without spending a single dime. All that is required is the motivation to dig deep and clean out what no longer serves your library.
Taking a page out of
Marie Kondo’s book, we have five tips on how you can spark joy in your library space by clearing out the clutter and making room for inspiration!
Tidying Up Your Library
1| The Collection
In a perfect world, weeding is something that a librarian should be doing throughout the year. Like so many other things, weeding can fall by the wayside of higher priorities. Ultimately, before inventory season, you’ll want to give your library collection a good purge.
Start by taking a look at your circulation stats. If a book hasn’t been checked out in years, it's outdated, or damaged—get rid of it! Don’t fall back on those “what-ifs”. If a book isn’t being read by students, it’s wasting precious space in your library.
Even if your library budget is tight, it is better to have a small collection of quality books and resources. When your collection is too stuffed, the books your patrons do want to read become lost in the jumble. Weeding helps patrons easily find the gems of your collection and makes room for new books to be added.
2| Paperwork and Misc
Do you have drawers, cupboards, and filing cabinets hiding the “catch-all” items of your library? Take a week or two to tackle these areas. We guarantee you’ll find all sorts of things, most items you won’t even need. Gut everything and throw away the stuff you forgot about or no longer need. Rearrange important files and paperwork so you can easily locate them later.
Once everything is gutted, you’ll find that you have more room to store items for your makerspaces, lesson plans, or merely to be able to find essential items stored in these places.
4| Technology
Physically tidying up your library is essential, but so is tidying up your library automation software. We have a few tips on how you can tidy up your Alexandria software.
5| Furniture
Move furniture around to maximize your space. Shifting a few chairs, desks, or bookshelves can do a world of wonders for the atmosphere and flow in your library. You can make more room for your makerspace, technology, or relocate sections of your collection for better access. Most importantly, moving furniture around helps you get rid of items you no longer use.
Once your library is settled into an arrangement you like, create a map of your library so patrons can find the books in your collection.
Check out Alexandria’s map feature!
Sign up for Alexandria's Tip of the Week!
We send out weekly tips and tricks. From Circulation Management to Explore Builder, learn shortcuts and pointers on how to use your Alexandria software like an expert.
We're committed to your privacy. Alexandria uses this information to contact you about relevant content, products, and services. You may unsubscribe at any time. For more information, check out our Privacy Policy.
Sign up for Alexandria's Tip of the Week!
We send out weekly tips and tricks. From Circulation Management to Explore Builder, learn shortcuts and pointers on how to use your Alexandria software like an expert
We're committed to your privacy. Alexandria uses this information to contact you about relevant content, products, and services. You may unsubscribe at any time. For more information, check out our Privacy Policy.