Home libraries help you inspire your kids to keep reading, respect their books, and add to their collection. Let’s explore some ideas for how to organize a new home library for your kids that will have them excited to pull books off the shelves.
Group Books Appropriately
If you have a child willing to adhere to the Dewey decimal system, more power to you. If not, don’t fret!
You have plenty of organizational options that can help you and your child create a system for library cleanup. You can group books alphabetically by title or author or separate books by genre. Some kids will also have fun organizing books by size and creating an aesthetically organized library. No matter what system you choose, a few labels on the shelves make it easier for both of you to put things where they belong.
Use Accessible Shelving Options
Building a library for kids doesn’t always mean capturing the whimsical fantasy aesthetic of your own dream library in miniature form. It’s important to keep your child’s needs in mind as you create a space that inspires them to get reading. Step stools are risky business and invite more trouble than they’re worth, so it’s wise to keep shelving low and accessible.
Book racks, short standing shelves, and floating shelves are all great options for setting up the library while staying within your child’s bedroom aesthetic. Just ensure that you secure any shelf well. It should be able to handle the weight of the books and then some.
Make New Books Look Exciting
We aren’t here to question the ethicality of influencing which books your kid wants to read. We won’t judge. Sometimes, it’s just time to graduate from a book that they’ve read 10 or 20 times already. Luckily, you can help point your child in the direction of newer reading material.
On a separate shelf or on top of your library shelving, you can add books that are new and fit your child’s current interests. Book display stands are a more long-lasting option than simply opening books and standing them on the shelf, though that works, too. With easily visible, bright, and exciting covers, kids tend to go for these display books first.
When your kids take up new books, it’s a great opportunity to fix up the well-loved, significantly damaged classics. Just keep in mind that some book repair techniques do more harm than good, so it’s important to know what mistakes to avoid before starting repairs.
Organizing a new home library for your kids isn’t a one-and-done kind of deal. Remember that in a few years, their library will have to grow with them! For now, keep an eye on how your child interacts with their library. When their bookshelves show growing pains, get ready to do it all again.
