Classroom Libraries Work How to Maximize the Impact of Your Classroom Library
For many children, especially in under-resourced communities, classroom libraries may be their primary source of books. That makes them more than a nice-to-have. They are a powerful tool to raise reading proficiency and amplify the effectiveness of classroom instruction. Every Classroom Needs a Library
When it comes to student success, literacy is the critical foundation.
Strong reading skills aren’t just essential for ELA—they’re the building blocks for understanding science, social studies, and every other subject. Classroom libraries offer students daily access to books that match—or challenge—their reading level, spark their interests, and build their knowledge and understanding of the world. Classroom libraries deserve a central place in every literacy strategy and budget. Because when we put the right books in the right place, we create classrooms where readers and learners thrive.
Research shows that students in classrooms with rich book access read 50–60% more , and greater reading volume leads to stronger academic performance.
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Scholastic Classroom Libraries |
When Built with Intention, Classroom Libraries Are Powerful Levers for Access and Achievement We know that students need to read more to grow as readers. But just telling them to read isn’t enough—they need easy, daily access to books they want to read. Research consistently demonstrates that the more students read, the more fluent, confident, and curious they become. A well-stocked library within the classroom makes it easy to integrate reading into the school day. It’s a visible, accessible invitation to explore, choose, and engage with reading. Whether it’s used for independent reading to deepen learning on core curricular content, or for whole-class read-alouds, a great classroom library strengthens every facet of literacy instruction.
Classroom libraries also help to establish and build strong reading habits. When books are just a few steps away, students:
Read more
Revisit favorites
Try new genres
See themselves as readers
Share books they love with classmates
For students who may not have a volume of books at home—or opportunities to visit the school or local libraries—this kind of in-class access can make all the difference. It’s not just a convenience. It’s a proven driver of reading volume, fluency, and motivation.
The single factor most strongly associated with reading achievement —more than socioeconomic status or any instructional
approach— is time spent reading . —Dr. Stephen Krashen, The Power of Reading
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Reading Percentile Rank 98 th
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Practice Makes Proficient The research supporting voluminous reading is as extensive as it is compelling. A high-quality classroom library gives students an abundance of opportunities to practice the skills they need to develop as readers.
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4.25 million
4 million
Anderson, R. C., Wilson, P. T., & Fielding, L. G. (1988)
3.75 million
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Reading Percentile Rank 90 th
2.75 million
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Reading Percentile Rank 80 th
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Reading Percentile Rank 70 th
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Reading Percentile Rank 60 th
1 million
750,000
500,000
10–15 min
15–20 min
25–30 min
30–35 min
60–70 min
Minutes spent reading per day
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Classroom Libraries Are an Essential Component of an Effective Instructional Literacy Strategy Evidence-based literacy instruction is most effective when paired with in-the-moment opportunities for students to apply and practice what they’re learning.
Research shows:
Choice and volume of reading matter. Access to interesting texts and student choice are two of the strongest motivators for increasing reading achievement. Research emphasizes motivation as a key factor in reading development. Text variety builds comprehension. Exposure to a wide range of genres, topics, and text complexities strengthens background knowledge and vocabulary. Read-alouds help cultivate oral language skills. Oral language competency predicts reading comprehension across a student’s entire academic career. Knowledge drives comprehension. Knowledge seems to have a greater impact on text comprehension than do general reading comprehension or decoding skills, and knowledge may help to compensate for lower levels of comprehension and decoding skills.
In short, a great classroom library doesn’t just sit on the sidelines. It plays an active, essential role in amplifying the effectiveness of literacy instruction turning theory into practice, every day.
If you can foster a love of reading, it’s a lot easier to foster that love of learning . —Erin Heffernan, Grade 4 teacher, Jersey City, NJ
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How to Build a High-Impact Classroom Library
When intentionally designed to support learning objectives and spark curiosity, a classroom library becomes a teacher’s most valuable tool for literacy instruction and achievement.
A well-designed classroom library will:
Support learning goals to help students deepen knowledge and skills through a wide range of texts and text types.
Reflect your students to make reading more relevant, meaningful, and enjoyable.
Introduce new topics and ideas outside of students’ lived experiences to broaden knowledge and build comprehension.
Provide access to high quality grade-level texts to ensure all students experience the depth and breadth of learning vital to school and life success.
Be codesigned to ensure books are read and read a lot. Asking students what they want to read builds both trust and reading buy-in.
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Classroom Libraries vs. School Libraries
School and classroom libraries play distinct but complementary roles in literacy and learning achievement.
Classroom Libraries
School Libraries
Located inside the classroom
Located in a centralized space
Easily accessible throughout the school day
Accessible during scheduled visits or free time
Support daily reading routines and instruction
Support research, media literacy, and exploration
Curated by the teacher based on students’ needs
Curated by a certified librarian across grades
Tied closely to classroom curriculum and reading levels
Offer broader selection for schoolwide interests
Promote spontaneous, independent reading
Support structured learning and inquiry skills
Books change frequently to match student interests
House long-term, diverse collections
Together, these libraries create a powerful ecosystem: one supports daily reading habits; the other supports deep learning and discovery.
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Scholastic Classroom Libraries |
Classroom libraries are endlessly versatile instructional tools. Here are just four ways educators can use them to enhance literacy instruction. Turn Your Classroom Library Into a Powerhouse for Literacy Achievement Take a Structured Approach to Independent Reading: Encourage students to choose books that interest them and use the reading and comprehension techniques they’ve been explicitly taught. Implementing conferring sessions with individual students during independent reading time increases the effectiveness of the practice. Target Specific Skill Gaps and Needs in Small Groups: With multiple copies of a single title or decodable, educators can ensure targeted skill development and reading practice that meets the needs of varying small groups. Build Oral Language Skills: Lay the foundation for oral language and print awareness through engaging and strategically scaffolded read-alouds of Big Books and picture books. Introduce Complex Topics in Whole Group: Introduce new or complex topics with more accessible texts to build the background knowledge and vocabulary needed to develop a deeper understanding of the content about to be taught.
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Digital Libraries Expand Possibility and Access
Print books are essential—but digital libraries can help districts expand access, stretch budgets, and meet the varied needs of today’s learners.
Adding a digital library can scale and support: Anywhere, anytime access: Students can read at school, at home, or on the go
Simultaneous use: Every student can read the same title at the same time
Cost-effective updates: Add new titles without replacing physical books
Multilingual learning: Books available in multiple languages with read- aloud features Built-in accessibility tools: Support students with visual, auditory, or processing differences
Real-time insights: Track student reading habits and progress
Personalized recommendations: Help students discover books they’re excited to read
Space-saving: Store thousands of titles without needing physical shelves
Classroom library updates: Easily refresh collections to reflect new topics and voices
While digital libraries aren’t a replacement for print, they are a smart, scalable way to expand access and engagement. Research comparing reading in print versus digital formats consistently shows that print reading tends to support better comprehension, retention, and deeper cognitive engagement, especially for complex or lengthy texts.
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There’s a Book for That
Is there any instructional tool more versatile than books? They’re used for every learning practice, including:
Whole-Class Instruction
Close Reading Skills Practice
Decoding Skills Practice
Independent Reading Time
Read-Alouds
Genre Studies
Building Vocabulary
Small-Group Differentiated Instruction
Building Fluency and Comprehension
Fostering Understanding
Igniting Learning Excitement
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Success Stories
Across the country, schools that invest in classroom libraries are seeing real results— both in student outcomes and in the school community. In St. Louis, one district placed red bins of books across schools: in buses, gyms, and cafeterias. The goal was simple—make books impossible to miss. The impact? Attendance improved. Disciplinary incidents dropped. And reading became part of the rhythm of the day. In Little Rock, educators are combining at-home access with classroom libraries to tackle deep-rooted book deserts. Their Reading in the Rock initiative is helping build a citywide focus on reading—starting in classrooms and growing outward. And in countless classrooms, teachers report students becoming more confident, curious, and engaged simply because they have the right books within reach. These aren’t isolated wins. They’re proof that when we prioritize daily access to books— especially in the spaces where students learn most—we create environments where reading can take root and students can succeed.
Knowledge Building
Facilitating Lively Discussions
Introducing Complex Concepts in an Approachable Way
Developing Critical Thinking Skills
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Literacy Gains Start Here
If we want to raise reading achievement, classroom libraries can’t be an afterthought. They need to be part of a school’s core literacy strategy—and that starts with leadership. When district leaders prioritize funding for classroom libraries, they send a powerful message: reading matters here. Without district support, classroom libraries are often an amalgamation of donations, yard sale finds, and discounted remainders, purchased by individual teachers who understand the value of a classroom library better than anyone, but cannot always fund its investment. While this approach is well-intentioned, it won’t have the same impact as a thoughtfully curated library customized to each classroom’s unique needs. When districts prioritize funding for classroom libraries, they take one of the most important steps to increasing reading proficiency for every student.
How District Leaders Can Support Ongoing Impact:
Dedicated budget lines for library refreshes
Guidelines for high-interest, high-quality collections
Professional development to help teachers maximize the impact of their libraries
Strategic integration of digital platforms to broaden access
You don’t need to do it all at once. Start with one grade. One collection. One team. Then build from there. Because when students have access to books—and the time and encouragement to read them—comprehension, confidence, and achievement all grow. The stakes for literacy have never been higher. When it comes to improving reading outcomes, classroom libraries have a critical
role to play. Classroom libraries are more than just books on shelves. They build daily reading habits, enhance classroom instruction, and directly contribute to academic growth and success.
Your classroom library starts with 750 books.
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Too often we know what we need to do but aren’t necessarily sure how or where to start. Now that you know what a classroom library should be comprised of to be most effective, how do you build it ? Breaking the work down into a multiyear approach can help make it more manageable. Our thought partners and experts recommend following this three-year plan to build your classroom libraries. Start Small, but Start
YEAR 3 1,500 classroom library books
+250 books
YEAR 2 1,250 classroom library books
+250 books
YEAR 1 1,000 classroom library books
+250 books
Allington, R. L., & Cunningham, P. M. (2007). Schools That Work: Where All Children Read and Write , Third Edition. Cabell, S. Q., & Hwang, H. (2020). Integrating literacy and content in early education: A call for intentionality. Reading Research Quarterly , 55(S1), S93–S103. Guthrie, J. T., & Humenick, N. M. (2004). Motivating students to read: Evidence for classroom practices that increase reading motivation and achievement. In J. T. Guthrie, A. Wigfield, & K. C. Perencevich (Eds.), Motivation and Reading Comprehension (pp. 55–86). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. National Reading Panel. (2000). Teaching children to read: An evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction. Reports of the Subgroups. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Bishop, R. S. (1990). Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom , 6(3). Catts et al., 2005; Fillmore & Snow, 2000; Foorman et al., 2015; Nation & Snowling, 2004; Storch & Whitehurst, 2002. Cervetti et al., 2016. Cabell & Hwang, 2020; Recht & Leslie, 1988; Smith et al., 2020.
A classroom library is more than a shelf of books. When curated with intention, it can drive greater engagement with reading, deeper comprehension of curriculum-aligned topics, and higher levels of reading achievement.
Are you ready to transform your bookshelves into a powerful lever for student success?
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