Library Rules

I have been working all summer on re-drafting a number of things for the library.

This has included, but hasn't been limited to, handouts for any number of library skills and my lesson plans -- to get them to conform to all the aspects of the WV library/media curriculum standards requirements that I didn't realize I'd missed the first time around. 

The one I'm currently tackling is our class rules.

Because my library room is small, rules are essential.  That's especially true since we need to leave the doors open in order not to swelter when the weather is warm, and having a roar go out into the hallway is not acceptable on a constant basis.

Plus, come on, it is the library.  It needs to be mostly quiet.

But how to get that across to the kids in a way that is simple yet effective?  That's a huge question.

Last year, I put together an initial set of rules and had every child read through them with me in class, and then sign them, like a contract, after we talked about them all.  They had an opportunity to ask questions, and took a copy home with them for parents to also see, because behavior in the library was a big chunk of their grade since it is a sort of pass/fail grading scale for me and we don't have a behavior grade in addition to the curriculum one.

But I fear that my list of rules was too complicated, especially for the little kids, and I want to drill down and simplify them so that we can go over them and hit the ground at a very quiet walk when the school year begins.

Alas, I am struggling to pare them down in a meaningful way that doesn't reduce the point of each rule to nothing.  As much as I want to streamline these rules, I also want the kids to understand the why of them -- and the consequences of not following them.

So I decided to post what I have and see if anyone has suggestions.  I've been digging through these for an hour or so this morning and am getting nowhere, so I'd love whatever thoughts you all may have on paring these down to something easier and more manageable from a kid's perspective.


I am planning on doing a complete redraft for the smaller kids -- they need things like "listen quietly during story time" and "hands to ourselves" and not the larger explanations.

My initial thought was to make sure everyone had the same rules from the start, but it really is too much for the littlest kids and I'd rather there were less confusion than a whole lot of confusing constancy.

It's a bit of an evolutionary process for me.  But as I head into year two of teaching library, I find that I'm drawn to simplification where I can, to make things absolutely clear where it is important.  Starting the expectations and routines correctly from the first day is a good place to begin, I think.  Any comments or suggestions about these rules would be really appreciated.  Thanks in advance!

Here are last year's rules, without any redraft or modification:

Library Class Rules

1.  Respect the library and each other. A good start is to please keep your hands and feet to yourselves. Also, please help take good care of our library and the books and materials in it.

2.  Listen carefully when your teacher, any visitor or instructor is speaking.

3.  During story time, please listen quietly to the entire story.

4.  Be polite with the teacher and with one another and use good manners. Please be on your best behavior when a visitor is in the library for story time or some other presentation: they will have taken time out of their busy day for us, and being polite and listening well is a great way to say “thank you” to them for coming to talk with us at St. Mary’s.

5.  Do your work to the best of your ability. Listen to directions and follow them closely, but please do ask questions when you don’t understand something. Do assignments and return them in a timely fashion.

6.  Be prepared for class each Wednesday. Be productive in class: show up prepared each day and participate in discussions. Bring homework or requested notebooks to class when needed.

7.  Be safe and be smart. This means please do not touch the Coca-Cola machine, please do not jump on or otherwise launch yourself onto the beanbag chairs or benches, and please do not bump the bookshelves or jump around the room. Books can fall off shelves that are shaken too hard, and I would hate for them to land on a nearby head or a foot. The library is for learning, not for horseplay.

8.  Do not leave the library with a book until you have checked it out with the librarian. Please return your books on time. It is your responsibility to renew your book before it is overdue if you need additional reading time. Please take good, careful care of books that you check out from our library, and return them in good condition.

9.  Raise your hand and wait until the teacher calls on you to speak. When you are speaking, use a moderate tone -- the library is for quiet, indoor voices.

(Photo by Christy Hardin Smith.  This is a picture of the story time area in my library.  The Sesame Street and Pooh Bear wall designs are just vinyl clings that I bought and put up last year -- they are absolutely adorable and the little kids love them.  Really easy to put up in any classroom!)