This is a tool to help students find read-alikes for popular books and/or books within a specific genre. Each page contains a different category of books for students to select from.

Initially, I will purchase one display tool and use templates found on the jlibrary.com website. The tool will live on the circulation desk so I can assist students as needed.

I will rotate and change the menu every month to keep interest high.  If the menu is successful, I will invest in additional display tools and place them within different library collections.

I will have three areas in the library showcased at any given time (ie. poetry, feelings picture books, and mystery chapter books). If students check out a book from one of the showcased areas, they will receive a ticket that will be entered into a prize drawing at the end of the month. Each book checked out earns one ticket.

There will be signage to identify the areas being showcased.

Rather than the typical Flexible Time (LEGO,board games, coloring, marble mazes, etc.), once per month, students will have quiet activity choices (reading, puzzles, coloring/drawing).  My hope with this strategy is to honor the students that prefer a quiet space while at the same time encouraging students that do not typically check out books to do so.

Book Menu: Success for book menus will be informal, as students make comments on the tool and borrow books found on it.

Book Showcase: Success for this program will be calculated by counting the number of tickets students earn each month.

Relaxed Reading: Success for the quiet activities initiative will mean a couple of things. First, more books will be checked out than they have been previously. Second, there will be a better balance between noisy and quieter library sessions.

Book Menu: I will have the first book menu on display in September and will change the content quarterly or seasonally as needed.

Book Showcase: This program will begin in October. The showcase will change every 2 to 4 weeks depending on the popularity of each area.

Relaxed Reading: I will introduce this idea to students in September and will continue doing it each month throughout the school year.

Book Menu: https://jbrary.com/?s=book+menu

• Idea from Facebook group School Library Media Specialists and Librarians member Jennifer Dion

Book Showcase: I got this idea from Michelle Carton, former Anchorage School District librarian.

Relaxed Reading: This idea was brainstormed during our School Librarian Leadership Academy. It was brought up by Stacey Roberts, a school librarian in Palmer.