How do you encourage good behavior in the library? As elementary librarians, we have the added challenge of keeping order in multiple classrooms. I've worked at several different schools during my education career, and I can tell you that this has never been an easy task. It's especially difficult if the librarian before you had different rules and expectations (or none at all, like some situations I've been in!). I wanted to share some behavior management strategies that have worked for me.
Establish Rules and Expectations
This should be #1 on your agenda every year. If you are on my mailing list, you should have received a sample of my library lesson plans. You'll see that I spend a lot of time going over my rules, and for good reason. I have very specific rules and expectations for my library, and I try to be very fair when enforcing them.
Have Meaningful Consequences and Follow Through
Explain the consequences of not following the rules, and when students don't follow them, do something about it. This sends a message to the other students: you're not messing around. I like to start with trying to handle the behavior issues with the classroom teacher, but if I'm still having trouble, I'll send notes home (it's always a good idea to have a paper trail when dealing with behavior issues) or call home. I've done a few office referrals for severe behavior, but luckily that doesn't happen too often. I've found that once you start taking action with one or two students, you usually don't have too many problems from that point on.
Use a Seating Chart
I can't stress this enough. It really is that important. I assign seats in the library because it gives the students a place in the library to call home. They don't have to wander around looking for a place to sit, because they always go to the same place. I am extremely inflexible when it comes to the seating chart, and the students know it. I know this because each time one of them asks me if they can sit with their friends, they always grin when I tell them no. I do too. It's a well known fact that you don't change your seat in the library.
Establish a Positive Behavior Reward System
By this point, you might be thinking that my library sounds like a prison. I can assure you that it is far from it. In fact, my students love the library. I rarely have any behavior issues, thanks to the systems I have in place. Rather than always concentrating on consequences for negative behavior, I like to reward positive behavior. I've done this several different ways. At my last school, I did a behavior bulletin board. Each classroom had a "bookshelf", which I stapled 4 paper books to at the beginning of each library class. If students were well-behaved, they might receive an extra book. If not, I would take books away. Once their homeroom's bookshelf was completely full, we would have a reward day. Reward days might consist of outside play time, outside reading time, or indoor game time when the weather didn't cooperate.
This year, I bought lots of small and large rewards to give away to students. I have scented bookmarks, candy, and lots of other kid-friendly trinkets that I give to people who are following the library's rules. You would be amazed at how the behavior of the entire class will change when I start handing out prizes. Want students to use shelf markers? Praise someone who's using them and give them a prize. Students not sitting in their assigned seats? Give out a prize or two to others who are following the rules. It's amazingly effective.
I also created a Library Treasure Box, which is in the picture at the top of the post. I used some of my book fair credit to buy a bunch of the book fair "junk" kids love so much - UV pens, drumstick pencils, cell phone erasers, bracelets, etc. When someone has really exceptional behavior, I let them choose something out of the Library Treasure Box. They love it at every grade level!
To create my Library Treasure Box, I found an old book fair box, covered it with bulletin board paper, and used the library's Cricut machine to make the letters and stars. I'm not completely finished decorating yet, but I know the finished product will be a hit!
How do you manage student behavior in your library? What works best for you? Share with us in the comments!
Betsy Damon says
I'm finding that I will need to institute seating charts in my classes. We have attendance software that lets me make seating charts with student pictures, but I can't figure out how to mark the seats so kids know which seat is theirs especially when meetings move the chairs (and sometimes tables!) around. I need a way that won't provide a distraction or plaything for the students. Any ideas?
Anne says
Thank you for sharing such wonderful information and ideas!
amy says
How do you manage the seating charts? I have six grade levels that come to my library with 4-5 classes per grade level.
Jocelyn says
Amy, I make a seating chart in Excel and I pull each class up each time they come in the library.
Jill Hietala says
I have used seating charts and feel that time spent setting them up is worth every minute. I use card stock paper with the tables drawn. I cut up post-it-notes and write kids' names. It is easy to move a kid's spot. Finally, I put each chart inside a clear page protector. Each morning, I take out that day's classes. I also use a highlighter to mark the kids who forgot to return books, so I don't give them a shelf marker. They have to stay in their seat and look at books already in the table while others are finding books to borrow.
brentwoodeagles says
I only see my 500+ students for class every other week since we are on an "A" "B" schedule. It is hard for me to get to know the students and I spend too much time re-seating students who "forget" where their assigned seat is between visits. Does anyone have a really easy way to manage the assigned seating? I've thought about using those plastic sleeves for name tags but that would require me to change them between classes and I'm lucky to have 5 minutes between classes.
Elem_Librarian says
I use an Excel spreadsheet for my seating chart. Each table has a number, and each seat is numbered as well. I just open the appropriate spreadsheet right before the kids come in. It's not perfect, but it works.
Tyra H. says
I don't assign seats at all. It all begins on the first day my students have library. I let them choose where they would like to sit, but I remind them that if that seat does not work for me, I will change is ASAP. I then pass out a sheet that has 7 circles representing the tables in my library. Each circle has the numbers 1-4, students write their name that represents the chair they are sitting in. I have the chairs labeled on the back. The numbers go clockwise. Students write their names and I put their seating chart with their check-out folder.
Mercedes says
I have 8 rectangular tables that my students sit at. I made a hand drawn template of 8 numbered rectangles (I know. Very old school). I write the students' names in pencil, so they can be changed. The kids learn their seats pretty quickly. I like it because I can take attendance quickly and easily. My question is, I would like to purchase your lesson plans and do centers, but I don't know how to do that with my room configuration. The computers center is easy, but I'm having trouble conceptualizing how to do the directed lesson center. We could move to the story rug area, but my Smart Board is at the front of the room in front of all the tables, and also, how do I keep from distracting the students that are working on the 3rd center?
Heather says
This was my experience as well, I ditched seating charts half-way through the year. Perhaps assigning students by TABLE and not worrying so much which seat? When I do centers I end up using the tables for centers so they are pre-set. I tend to move things around as well, tables in semi-circle for a couple weeks, tables in groups etc.. Its a work in progress...
Elem_Librarian says
Seating charts are definitely a personal preference thing. Do what works for you! Thanks for sharing your ideas! 🙂
Amy Penwell says
My story rug has rows of stars, a different color for each row. I named my work tables the same as the story rug rows. So if you sit on a blue star on the rug, you sit at the blue star table. I have more students in some classes than I have star spaces, so I brought in some carpet squares (blue ones and yellow ones). So kids are on blue stars, some are on blue squares, green stars, red stars, yellow stars, yellow squares.This helps - the kids only have to remember the color and the shape they sit on, and the visual is there for the tables. I keep a seating chart in a folder for each class, where I also hold the lesson plan for that day, their library barcode/shelfmarker, and any lesson extensions I will be using. It keeps everything handy, and it does help eliminate the 'I dont remember where I sit!" panic.
Rachel says
Each library student receives a Library Contract ( with Library Expectations and behavior guidelines) that they read together as a class and must have signed by their family BEFORE they are allowed to check out materials. This contract has their family's phone numbers and emails. (When new students enroll, they are given a contract and expected to have it signed.)
I keep these in a folder of the fixed schedule day that they visit the Library. Before each class enters, I place each student's contract at an assigned seat/table. Of course, I change this up weekly, and some students sit alone at first if they are repeat distractors.
Brenna Caldwell says
I know this is an old post, but I would love to see a copy of your contract if you don't mind sharing.
Nadine says
I have the tables numbered and students are assigned to a table. I write the table number and the students name under the number on one paper per class. When they come in, they go to their table. I keep the lists in a binder and in the morning I attach the classes that are going to come to a clipboard.
Angie Patterson says
I use laminated file folders with pockets for each table. Each pocket correlates to a seat at each table. The pockets serve as a home for their library cards as well as an adjustable seating chart. It has worked out really well for me in my library.
Diana says
I know this post is old but in case anyone is reading, I do have an easy seating chart system by table. I use Half sheets of construction paper and In black magic marker I write the names of the students that sit at each table and lay it in the middle of the table. I also put a table number on each sheet and the classroom teacher name. This way the students know that they are supposed to sit at that table it doesn’t matter which seat they sit in. I can easily gather these sheets of construction paper at the end of each class and put them in a class folder. The kids know that they have to stay at that table and I also get to learn their names a lot easier.