[weslibrary]

I am going to be a K-4 librarian this year after 5 years of teaching first or third grades. I love all of the ideas for decorating with a theme. Does anyone have any fairly simple ideas for a library? I would like to incorporate reference skills for the older students and storytime for the younger students. I look forward to hearing your brilliant ideas!

[tinkerbelle81]

I wanted to say how fun that sounds! Good luck to you with your library!

[motbteach]

I love the way our media specialist has decorated in our library. She made a huge Clifford and huge Curious George outline on cardboard (like refrigerator boxes) and had the kids paint them (a sponge dipped in paint and each got just a small area to paint, but they loved it). We also have a couple hanging quilts where each classroom made a square representing a favorite book or author - so fun to look at. She has the shelves arranged to have a nice group storytime area - it's fabulous!

[laurathy]

Do you have a favorite book or series that the kids could relate to? I would choose something with memorable characters or settings-like The Jungle Book for example. You could make it a jungle/rainforest theme and use the characters as accents. This is just a suggestion though; adapt it to fit a book you like.

[pooh_girl]

Maybe have an author of the week/month section? You can have some kids write mini-reviews of the books and hang it nearby?

[mamabear]

I am a K-4 librarian. I like to do a yearly theme. I have done rainforest, western, camping, ocean, and this year will do an enchanted fairytale forest for the first time.
I decorate the library according to each particular theme.

For the Camping theme I had a small tent for a reading area. small pine trees, stuffed woodland animals. ice chest with books in it. picnic table with books displayed.

With the ocean theme I had a boat that kids were allowed to read in, and an old trunk with books that the kinders could take books from and read without having to worry about where the books are to be returned. There are lots of ocean items to use. I put pvc pipe above my desk and attached raffia to make a hut. Put Nemo, and Little Mermaid beach towels on the wall, and hung cute floaties from the ceiling. Used flip flops attached to leighs for bathroom passes.

Rainforest has been my favorite so far. I went to an army surplus and got mosquito netting and hung from ceiling, and attached frogs, monkeys, and greenery. Also found green raffia from Oriental Trading that I hung from the windows to look like grass. I used a turtle sandbox for the kinder books.

The young and older kids all love the different themes. I incorporate mini themes throughout the year around holidays,seasons, etc.. But keep the main theme up all year.

I am going to start teaching the Dewey Decimal system to the older students this year. I would like to have 4th graders help shelve books during lunch recess. I will have a sign up sheet for interested students.

My fairytale theme is still in the process.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

those themes sound great! would love to see pics of the rainforest one...
could you post some?
thanks!

[book girl]

Hi Mama Bear,

I liked your ideas for yearly themes. I am a Pre-K to 5th grade librarian. What mini themes do you incorporate through the year? What do you do to motivate kids to read and how do you excite them about coming to the library? Do you have guest readers every week? Do you have library helpers? I would also like to see pics of your themes. Thanks.

Book Girl