Top 10 Ways to Build Your Classroom Library on a Budget

Last updated on June 22nd, 2023 at 08:40 pm

Whether your classroom isn’t stocked with very many books when you arrive or it is overflowing with dusty, out-of-date books, there are several ways you can fill your classroom library with relevant, high-interest books for your students without spending a fortune. Here is my go-to list when I’m looking to spruce up my book selection for students:

1. Donations from friends and family-If you have any friends or relatives with children who are slightly older than the students you will be teaching, ask them if they would be willing to donate their child’s old books that they are no longer reading to your classroom library. You’ll get free books for your classroom and in exchange you are clearing out some of their storage space. It’s a win-win for both parties!

2. Other Teachers-Most schools have a spot in the building where teachers put items they no longer need. Check that spot for books and it doesn’t hurt to ask other teachers to let you know if they are getting rid of any books and if you can have first pick of them. Teachers that are retiring at the end of the year are an excellent resource, too, because they tend to be very generous when clearing out their classrooms at the end of the year.

3. Donor’s Choose-Donor’s Choose is a public platform for teachers where you can create a project to ask for items, such as books, and generous donors can choose whose project to sponsor. When your project is funded, you will receive the items you selected for your project. Be sure to follow your school’s crowdfunding procedures and fulfill the requirements of Donor’s Choose when using this method. Please use my referral code and you get your donations matched for a week and I get a $25 gift card to use on any project. Here is my code: http://share.donorschoose.org/6hT72N

4. Amazon Wish List-You can create an Amazon Wish List that includes your must-have books for your classroom library and share it with others. I have not personally used this method but have several teacher-friends who have had great success with it.  

5. Garage Sales-Watch for garage sales in nearby neighborhoods. You can usually find low-cost, quality books. It is, also, good to mention that you are a teacher buying books for your classroom while at the sale. Sometimes people will generously discount or donate the books you wish to purchase, since they will be put to good use.

6. Resale Stores/Goodwill-Local resale stores such as Once Upon a Child or Goodwill are another great source for purchasing books at a discounted price. Click these links to find a location near you: https://www.onceuponachild.com/home   https://www.goodwill.org/

7. Scholastic Book Clubs-Starting a teacher Scholastic Book Club account will help you earn books for free! Scholastic already has a fantastic selection of popular books at a bargain price, but by sending out your order code to families a few times a year for them to order books for their children will help you accrue points that you can use for a variety of products. Please use my referral code, if you choose to sign up: https://talkable-clubs.scholastic.com/x/IAm53D

8. First Book Marketplace-I only just found First Book Marketplace a couple years ago and they are amazing! At First Book you can buy single books or a selection of books in bulk.  They sometimes have coupon codes to use for further discounts, and they have programs that your school can be selected for to receive credit to purchase books for students. Please be sure to read their eligibility requirements before purchasing.  

9. Bulkbookstore.com-This website would be used it you are looking for a class set of a specific book/s for a discounted price. There is a $100 minimum order, however the reason I have included it on this list is because they have a monthly contest you can enter to win shopping sprees, book sets, and swag.  

10. Grants-Grants do exist for building classroom libraries. I put this last because these are typically competitive, on a timeline, and it is not guaranteed that you will receive the grant. Also, grant writing is more challenging than the previous ideas. Most school districts have a list of current grants that can be applied for and have classes you can take to learn how to write grants. An added bonus is grant writing can be used for renewal credit of a teaching certificate (at least in SC, check your state’s renewal matrix to see if it counts for your state).

By using one or more ideas from this list, you are on your way to creating a classroom library for students to enjoy and gain a love of reading without breaking your budget! And those old, dusty books can be put to good use, too. Let students choose what they want to take home with them to start a home library of their own!