When Patrons Want to Read the Single Copy You're Using for Read Alouds

This would happen every week at my last site. I loved the read-aloud experience and sharing books with classes, but I only had single copies of most of the books I read. Since the library collection was still being updated and I didn’t have a budget to purchase duplicates.

The storytimes were successful—students wanted to revisit the books again and again. But with only one copy, which I still needed for upcoming classes, I had to make sure students knew to return the book to the circulation desk and not check it out or shelve it elsewhere in the library.

To manage this, I created "In Use" bookmarks that I placed inside the story corner books I was still using. This allowed students to continue exploring the books while helping me keep track of them for future classes.

I always introduced the bookmarks during library orientation so students understood the expectations, and I’d remind them after holidays and breaks as needed.

It may seem like a small detail, but having something physical like the “In Use” bookmark really helped manage the space. Students learned to return books to the library circulation desk without me needing to constantly monitor the books, and because the system was introduced early on, everything ran more smoothly.

I'm excited to share the new comics-inspired “In Use for Read Alouds” Bookmark with you! I recommend printing it in color and making sure the top of the bookmark sticks out of the book so it's easy to see. It’s best to introduce it during the first weeks of library visits so students know what it means.

I hope you find this small but effective tool useful in your space. As always, feel free to reach out and let us know how our products are working for you. I hope you are enjoying the summer days and finding nice shade under tall trees to read books and rest. Have a great weekend!