I love having student helpers. In fact my motto is,

Don’t Do Anything a Student Can Do For You!

I started using helpers as an elementary librarian. I had 840 students, 34 classes and 45 teachers to support. As an elementary librarian, I used student helpers to:  

• Create & maintain bulletin boards
• Straighten book fair displays
• Herd kindergarteners
• Help shelve series books
• Help students get on and off computers and iPads

I’m now a middle school librarian & I use my student helpers to:

• Shelve books – my library is genred, so each student has one or two genres they are responsible for
• Check in & out books
• Pull books for teachers
• Set up & take down the book fair
• Stamp & barcode new books
• Update computers
• Take holds to students
• Help students & teachers find books

How to get started:

• What students do you already have a connection with?
• What students could benefit from a leadership role?
• What students are already your library ambassadors?
• Consider using an application or getting recommendations from teachers.

I’ve got helpers, now what? Have a training:

• Go over rules & expectations
• Discuss your cell phone policy (be consistent with the school policy)
• Practice shelving books
• Tour the library, technology, materials, and supplies
• Review how to look up books & put them on hold
• Discuss how the phone should be answered
• Review behavior expectations

FAQ

When do your helpers come? Students who want to be a helper give up their related arts class. They may stay a semester or all year.

How many helpers do you have? I have one helper each class period, but no more than two at a time, otherwise there isn’t enough to keep them busy.

What if there isn’t anything to do? My students bring homework or a book everyday “just in case.”

I’d love to hear how you use student helpers!