Our library is intentionally unleveled to  promote student choice because choice, not level, is the most important factor in creating life-long readers. So how can children find books they will love? By learning to use their hands!

To find a book you are sure to enjoy, use your fingers to remember the steps of a book tasting. 

• Read the title. 

• Look at the front and back cover of the book. The back of the book often has a blurb, or summary, telling the reader what the book is about. 

• Look at the table of contents, if there is one. In a non-fiction book, the table of contents tells the reader what information will be covered in the book. The chapter headings of a fiction book can be a great teaser for what the reader will find inside. 

• Flip through the book and take a look at the illustrations, if there are any. 

• Read the first couple of pages. If the book tasting has captured your interest it's likely to be a book you will enjoy. Dig in!

To find a book at your reading level, open to any page and start reading. Each time you encounter an unfamiliar word, raise one finger (you can stop if you get to five fingers). At the end of the page your fingers will tell you how difficult the book will be for you to read. 

• One finger? Easy peasy! 

• Two fingers? Just right! 

• Three fingers will let you know that this book might be a little challenging. Go ahead and try it. 

• Four fingers means the book will challenge you for sure, but you may still want to give it a try. 

• Five finger books are perfect for reading with a buddy or having someone read to you.

January 6, 2026

The purpose of the library is to encourage and provide choice, a critical pillar in the development of a life-long love of reading. 

> “The research based on student-selected reading is robust and conclusive. Students read more, understand more, and are more likely to continue reading when they have the opportunity to choose what they read” (Allington and Gabriel, 2012). 

> Self-selected reading is twice as powerful as teacher-selected reading in developing motivation and comprehension (Guthrie and Humenick, 2004). 

> An essential aspect of becoming a real reader is knowing yourself as a reader— made possible through wide reading driven by access to abundant books and personal choice (Wilhelm and Smith, 2014; Miller, 2013; Tatum, 2009, 2013; Allington and Gabriel, 2012).

>Nearly nine out of ten students ages 6–17 said their favorite books were the ones they had picked out themselves. A similar number said they were more likely to finish books they had chosen. However, less than two-thirds of children said they usually got to choose which books they read for fun (Kids & Family Reading Report, 2017).

>"Libraries have a different purpose for supporting English Language Arts than the classroom libraries. Library collections support the importance of books beyond the 90 minute reading block, focusing on choice, fun, and support of student interests (BSD English Language Arts TOSA Sarah Dunkin).”

August 29, 2025

We are so excited to welcome you back to the library! We have so many fun things planned for our students  this year! Here are a few dates to look forward to:

• August 26-September 3: First check out for students in grades 4-5

• September 4-12: First check out for students in grades 1-2-3

• September 15-17: First check out for students in Kinder

• October 6-15: OBOB orientation and registration kick off for 3-5th grade

• October 22-23: Fall Book Fair

• November 21: OBOB registration deadline

We need volunteers! Help is needed Monday and Friday mornings to check in returned books , every day at 11:50 to support our kindergarten rotation by checking out books or reading with small groups of students, and Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons to support our first and second grade classes. When we can train reliable volunteers to check books out, then we can supervise and support students in really meaningful and effective ways!