Our literacy library is quite amazing. We are both blessed and fortunate to have a principal who cares so much about literacy and has invested so much into the success of the guided reading program. She knew that in order to make it work, hundreds of books on various levels and genres had to be available for teachers. At the end of last year, we began receiving shipment after shipment of books. We were then able to set up two literacy libraries on our campus. One of the libraries is located in the lower grade wing (kinder, 1st, and 2nd grade), while the other library is located in the upper grade wing (3rd, 4th, and 5th grade). The books in the lower grade wing's literacy library are lower level books in the guided reading level range from A to J. The books in the upper grade wing's literacy library are upper level books from level J to Z. Even though the librarires are split, teachers are able to visit either of the literacy libraries to check out books based on student needs.
The literacy libraries are very well organized. Books are orgnaized into bins with the level clearly marked on the outside. To keep the books separated, cardstock dividers are placed in between each set of books. The divider is labeled with the book's title and reading level. There are multiple copies of each book placed behind the divider so that the teacher is able to check out enough books for each child in the group. The bins are then placed on the shelves in order of the reading level.
So how do teachers check books out of the literacy library? This is really a two step process. The first step in the process is to get the clothespins off of the chart with your room number on it. When the teacher has found a book that they would like to check out, they place their clothespin on the divider that contains the book's title. This makes it easy for the teacher to replace the books when they are returned.
The second step is to sign the books out on the clipboard by the door. The clipboard contains a place for the teacher to write the date the books are checked out, the date the books are returned, the name of the teacher, the book level, the number of books checked out of a particular title, and the book title itself. When the books are returned, the teacher must mark the date they are returned and how many books are returned.