Acquiring books for your classroom library can be both expensive and time-consuming. The spring and summer months, though, offer some great opportunities to stock up!
Tip 1: Shop during Teacher Appreciation Days
Most bookstores, whether chain or independent, offer special days several times a year with bigger than normal discounts for teachers. These discounts frequently occur in the spring and summer, so this is a great time to purchase new books. Many stores, like Barnes and Noble, will offer as much as 25 percent off. While that’s generous, sometimes it’s still not the best deal on new hardbacks (Amazon beats nearly everyone on most hardback copies), but paperbacks are typically a great bargain.
Tip 2: Sign up for free teacher discounts
If you haven’t already, make sure you are getting the best deal possible on a daily basis. Most bookstores offer Teacher Discounts that average 15 to 20 percent off. Make sure to sign up at every bookstore you frequent (usually you just need your school ID), and don’t forget to ask for a discount when you’re visiting bookstores in other towns.
Tip 3: Visit library book sales
Most community libraries have Friends of the Library sales once or twice a year to raise money for the library. Books generally come from two sources – old books being purged from the library’s holdings and donations from library patrons. The latter is usually the best deal. I’ve been to library sales in medium-sized towns as well as major cities, and I have always left with a large box of books. I’m highly selective, but there are usually many high quality options for 50 cents to a dollar or two. Many library sales give teachers an additional discount, which means an even better bargain. If you’re a middle school teacher, make sure you check both the children’s section and the YA section because books frequently overlap. I found some of my best bargains on “children’s” books that were most definitely middle grade novels.
Tip 4: Shop Scholastic Warehouse Sales
If you’re not already signed up to receive news about Scholastic sales, visit their website, so you can receive all upcoming news. Scholastic holds sales in my area about three times a year – usually there’s one in the fall, one in December, and one in the summer. Since the closest warehouse is about 45 minutes away (longer in traffic), I usually only go during the summer. You can also sign up to volunteer at the sales and receive additional savings. I spent about $150 last summer at my local sale, and I walked away with three boxes of brand new books. Be selective and looks for the best deals.
Tip 5: Shop used bookstores
You can stretch your money further when you buy used rather than new. There was a fantastic used bookstore where I used to live that I would visit every week. The turnover of books was tremendous because the store was popular, so I would always find two or three books during every visit. The closest used bookstore where I live now doesn’t have quite the turnover of inventory, so I only visit about once a month. Check out what options are available in your area. Don’t be afraid to ask for a teacher discount. Most used bookstores don’t advertise the discount, but when asked, I have rarely been rejected. My current bookstore offers the best deal I’ve ever seen – 50 percent off!
Tip 6: Check out local yard/garage sales
Summer means lots of time to visit garage sales and yard sales in your area. If you know families with high school or college-aged students, you have a better chance of picking up YA books. I hit the jackpot last summer when my neighbors across the street held a sale. Their college-bound daughters were avid readers and had dozens of YA books (including many popular titles in mint condition). At only $1 each, I quickly bought 24 books. What a deal! I couldn’t believe my luck.
Tip 7: Look for End-of-the-Year freebies
There are lots of great opportunities to pick up free books at the end of the school year. Let your students know that you would love any books they no longer want to keep. Many students curate their home collections with pride, but others are happy to toss away copies once they’ve finished them. I always tell students I will put a label in the front of the book noting who donated it to the class library, so their gift lives on for years.
On the last day of school when students are gone, make a beeline for the lost and found. Any books that don’t belong to the library (or a fellow teacher) are fair game. This is also true for locker cleanout. At my school, custodians open every locker to toss out anything that remains. If you have never taken part in this before, you might be surprised by what students leave behind. Between the lost-and-found box and locker cleanout, I scored about seven books last year, including extra copies of popular titles such as The Scorch Trials by James Dashner and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
Happy book hunting!
Follow me!