13 Questions to Ask When Choosing New Books for Classroom Libraries

Whether you’re freshening up existing classroom libraries or starting a classroom library from scratch, consider how the books you choose will help students develop a lifelong love of reading. Here are some key questions to keep in mind when selecting titles for a classroom library.

1. Are there enough books in this classroom library?

The […]

Why Incidental Diversity is Important in Classroom Libraries + Booklist

The movement for more diversity and inclusion in fiction isn’t new, but because of current events and demands for social justice and equality, it has become more urgent. Not only are people more aware and talking about it, but new diverse books are also being published with more regularity. A significant difference between these books […]

Booksource’s 2022 Literacy Takeaways

Booksource Banter Blog helps educators select the best classroom library books for their students, manage their classroom libraries and foster engaged reading. Here’s a roundup of the best literacy takeaways of this year!

1. The Lifelong Benefits of Reading

While strong reading skills support academic success, engaged reading benefits students long after they leave the […]

10 Ways to Engage Readers for Long-term Success

While we know literacy impacts success across all subject areas, there are many factors that affect why students may struggle with or dislike reading. Luckily, there are also many reliable ways to engage readers and help them achieve long-term success!

1. Choose books across various topics and genres.

If a student is not excited to […]

5 Steps to Set Up Your Booksource Classroom Account

You created a Booksource Classroom account to help organize your classroom library. Whether you’re excited about analyzing your books for diversity with the LibraryLens™ feature or you’re just looking for a digital way to facilitate student checkout, there are a few things you’ll have to set up first.  

It can be overwhelming … we understand, and we are here to help! Below, we’ve listed the first five things to do after […]

By |November 25th, 2020|Classroom Library Resources, Classroom Technology|1 Comment

How to Quarantine Your Classroom Library Books for Student Safety

Whether you’ve spent a lot of time and care building your classroom library over the years or you’re just starting out, it probably felt unnerving to have everything grind to a halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly, educators were faced with the challenges of not only teaching online but also getting books in the hands […]

By |November 12th, 2020|Classroom Library Resources, Teacher Resources|2 Comments

What Is Project LIT Community?

We’re thrilled to offer Project LIT Collections! Not familiar with Project LIT Community? Read on to learn, in their own words, a little more about the mission that drives this passionate group of students and educators.

About Project LIT Community

In August 2016, my students (recent graduates of Maplewood High School) and I founded Project LIT to […]

By |October 28th, 2020|Classroom Library Resources|5 Comments

9 Resources for Building a Classroom Library that Will Change Your Life

Building a classroom library is one of the most important things you can do as an educator. Fostering a love of reading in your students is essential to developing the literacy skills that form the building blocks of all learning.  

If you’re looking at empty shelves and wondering where to begin, or if you’re curious about ways to improve your already amazing library, we’ve got the links you need below! Scroll […]

By |October 15th, 2020|Classroom Library Resources, Teacher Resources|2 Comments

How to Make Books Accessible for Students During the Pandemic

If your school or district is receiving CARES Act funding, you can use it to meet your students’ literacy needs. Because your students still need books, we are working with educators across the country to create custom solutions that capitalize on their CARES funding and ensure book access and choice for students. 

In March 2020, COVID-19 brought school as we know it […]

9 Proven Ways to Teach with Take Home Reading Packs During an Uncertain School Year

If your school or district is receiving CARES Act funding, you can use it to meet your students’ literacy needs. Because your students still need books, we are working with educators across the country to create custom solutions that capitalize on their CARES funding and ensure book access and choice for students. 

For many educators, this school year is a big […]