How do schools maintain library access during a renovation?

Schools use several approaches to maintain book access during a library renovation: a rolling book cart system where the librarian brings a curated selection to classrooms weekly, a temporary book checkout station set up in a hallway or common area, digital library platforms like Sora or Epic that allow students to borrow ebooks and audiobooks, class sets of books stored in classrooms for the duration of the renovation, and partnerships with the public library for extended borrowing periods. Whatever system is in place should be described in detail in the newsletter so families know their student still has access to books.

What should a library renovation newsletter tell families about the new library?

Describe the specific improvements the renovation will make: expanded square footage, new furniture configured for collaborative work, a makerspace area, updated shelving systems, improved technology infrastructure, better natural lighting, an expanded media collection. Families who are experiencing the disruption of a renovation are more patient about it when they have a clear picture of what the improvement will look like. Be specific about what the new library will offer that the old one did not.

How do you communicate a library renovation to elementary school families specifically?

Elementary families are particularly invested in library access because library time and the reading log program are often central to younger students' reading development. Address the weekly class library visit schedule first: will it continue in a modified form? Will students still have a dedicated librarian period? What happens to the reading programs that depend on library access? Elementary students who lose library time unexpectedly without communication from the school often develop anxiety about the loss that parents have to manage at home.

What digital library resources should schools promote during a physical library renovation?

Most school districts have subscriptions to digital reading platforms that students can access from home. These are often underused because families do not know they exist. A library renovation newsletter is an ideal opportunity to promote these resources: Sora (available through most districts for ebook and audiobook borrowing), Epic (often available for K-6 students), databases through ProQuest or EBSCO, and the public library's digital borrowing systems like Libby and Overdrive. Include the specific login process and URL for each platform your district subscribes to.

Can Daystage help schools communicate library renovation information to families?

Yes. A library renovation newsletter works well in Daystage because you can organize the temporary access procedures, the digital resource links, and the renovation timeline in clearly labeled sections that families can reference throughout the renovation period. Schools that communicate library changes thoroughly at the start of a renovation receive far fewer calls from families asking where their student can get books.

School Newsletter: Library Renovation and Temporary

A library renovation is one of the most positive disruptions a school can cause. The library is getting better. But during the renovation, students lose access to a space and a program that matters, particularly for students whose home book access is limited. A newsletter that describes the temporary access plan clearly and promotes the new digital resources turns the disruption into an opportunity.

State the renovation dates and scope

"The [School Name] library will be closed for renovation beginning [date] and is expected to reopen on [date]. The renovation will [describe scope: expand the library by 1,800 square feet / replace the shelving and seating with a modern collaborative design / add a makerspace and a flexible reading area / update the technology infrastructure]. During the renovation, the library space will not be accessible to students or staff, but book borrowing and library services will continue through temporary arrangements described below."

Describe the physical book access system

Tell families exactly how their student will check out books. "During the renovation, book checkout will work as follows: [Option 1: The school librarian will bring a mobile book cart to each classroom during the weekly library period. Students will select books from the cart and check them out using the regular library system. The cart will be restocked weekly with new titles. Option 2: A temporary checkout station is set up in [location]. Students may visit the station with a hall pass during any class period to check out or return books. Option 3: A selection of 1,200 books has been packed into labeled bins organized by reading level and genre. Bins are located in [location]. Students check out books through their homeroom teacher.] Overdue fines will be suspended during the renovation period."

Promote digital library resources

"In addition to physical book access, our school provides the following digital library resources that students can access from home at any time during the renovation: Sora (ebooks and audiobooks): Log in at [link] with your school email and password. Search for titles by genre, reading level, or author. Titles are available instantly with no wait time. Epic (K-5): Access at [link] with the class code [code]. More than 40,000 books available at any reading level. [Additional platform]: Available at [link] using [login instructions]." Include the actual login information rather than telling families to "contact the library for digital access details." Every barrier between the family and the resource reduces usage.

Describe the class library visit schedule during renovation

"Weekly class library visits will continue on a modified schedule during the renovation. [Grade levels: K-2 will have a 20-minute librarian read-aloud and book selection period in their classrooms each Tuesday and Thursday. Grades 3-5 will visit the temporary checkout station weekly during their scheduled library period, accompanied by their classroom teacher. Middle school classes will use the school's digital platform for independent reading and research.] The school librarian remains fully available during the renovation to assist with book selection, research support, and reading program questions."

Describe the reading program accommodations

"Our reading programs will continue during the renovation with the following modifications: [AR / Accelerated Reader / reading log program]: No changes. Students continue to log reading time using [app or paper log]. Book report and independent reading assignments: Teachers will continue to assign independent reading. If a specific title is not available through the temporary system, teachers will provide an alternative. Summer reading program: Will be distributed digitally this year rather than through the library checkout system. Families will receive summer reading lists via email in [month]."

Preview the new library features

"When the renovation is complete, our new library will include [specific features: a makerspace with 3D printers and design tools, flexible furniture that reconfigures for different activities, 40% more seating, a dedicated audiovisual production space, expanded digital access points]. We are looking forward to welcoming students back to a library that was designed for the way they learn today."

Close with the librarian contact and the public library partnership

"Our school librarian, [name], is available at [email] for questions about book access, reading program modifications, or digital resource help during the renovation. We have also partnered with the [local public library] to offer our families extended checkout periods during our renovation. Families with a library card can check out up to [number] books at a time with no overdue fines for school-age readers through [date]."

School Newsletter: Library Renovation and Temporary Book Access