Printed books are important for learning and can be a large investment, but the wear and tear by students using them each school year causes frequent book damage and loss. Start extending the lifespan of classroom novel sets with:
- Book Labels
Durable “property of” book labels with the school’s name, classroom or grade levels inside each book makes it easier to recover books. Add labels for organization and to know which books are assigned to what department or grade level.
- Book Cover Protection for Durability
Extend the life of a book by either reinforcing the paperbacks or investing in a more durable binding. Laminate paperbacks with thick, durable plastic to strengthen the book covers. Mylar for hardcovers with dust jackets taped on the inside can also be an option for additional protection.
FollettBound® is also an option. While there are higher upfront costs compared to a paperback book, it offers a longer-lasting book cover and a lifetime guarantee. These aren’t just for school libraries – they can also be used for classroom book sets or student book club sets. FollettBound is as tough as a textbook, but available for popular novels and book series!
- Storage and Bins
Keeping class sets organized in bins with labels and stored on rolling carts helps to keep inventory together and easy to transfer from class-to-class sharing for resources or book sets.
- Barcodes with a Checkout School Book Management System
Online book checkout software isn’t just for school libraries! A district classroom library management system helps track and assign books to students to reduce loss or recuperate costs from damaged books. Using barcodes can provide electronic records for schools, allowing books to be checked out of classrooms and providing data on how your funding dollars are being put to good use. Plus, there are additional valuable tools to help with tracking student progress. For individual classroom libraries tracked by teachers, there’s a free lite version.
- We recommend considering investing in a schoolwide classroom book set distribution plan with labeling, cover protection, organization, storage, and a checkout system. Save your school from book loss and streamline future classroom novel set ordering! Our team of classroom book specialists can help with the planning and budgeting to get you started.
Even More Tips for Preventing Book Loss
- Regular Inventory Checks
Periodically check your inventory (e.g., After each unit, monthly, or by semester) to identify missing books early on. This helps you to address losses before too many accumulate. - Educating Students on Book Care
Regularly remind students of the importance of handling books carefully. Discuss why returning books is essential and how it helps the entire class. - Using Book Return Bins or Drop-Off Stations
Set up a specific location, like a return bin, where students can drop off books they’ve finished using. Check this spot daily to ensure books are accounted for.
