Library Idea of the Week:  Teaching Book-Browsing Skills
Cathy Belben, Librarian, BEHS
January 31, 2005

I’ll bet this has never happened you…

Day after day, the same motley crew of students traipse in, released by a teacher who either isn’t paying attention or doesn’t care how often they come to the library to (allegedly) look for a book.  Despite your best efforts to assist or ignore them, they either leave empty-handed or they leave toting a 20-pound, 905 page book that you know they’ll never open. 

Although I know I’m never going to solve this problem completely, I’m making some stabs in the direction of alleviating my own misery by offering kids (and their teachers) some mini-lessons in how to browse for a book. I know many teacher don’t have the time to counsel students individually about finding books, and maybe don’t keep careful track of who asks to use the library or how often, and I’m not even blaming them. I’m trying to help kids learn, gently, and hopefully with some success, that a visit to the library doesn’t have to be just a frustrating stroll through the stacks followed by the check-out of a boring book they’ll never read. 

Here’s how I’m trying:

1. During all-class booktalks, I briefly review major ways students can find books that they’ll actually read and enjoy.
2. I remind teachers to remind kids, or at least ask them to think about HOW they’re going to find a book when they ask to leave class to go to the library.
3. When I work one-on-one with book browsers, I ask them about the strategy they’re currently using to find a book, and then I follow up with suggestions—do you have time to use the internet? I can show you how to use OPAC and/or access some reading recommendations on line. What are your friends reading? How would like to take a look at a booklist?
4. I also have an actual mini-lesson designed to train students how to look for books. 

Find-A-Book Mini Lesson

1. Students fill out this survey.
2. I go through a PowerPoint slide show and they take notes: Find-A-Book Slide Show