Biography Genrefication in the Elementary Library in 5 Easy Steps

Is your elementary biography section underutilized? Bring interest to your biography section through genefication made easy with book browsing bins and labels. Here are 5 steps to get you started.

Step 1: Get Your Book Browsing Bins Ready

First, you’ll need some sturdy storage bins that will hold books for easy access by little hands. If you have a wealth of shelf space you could skip the bins and just use biography topic labels directly on the shelf, but investing in clear plastic storage bins like these is recommended. This way biography books can be forward facing allowing the colorful book covers to draw the attetion and curiosity of students.

• The 13.5″ x 9.3″ clear plastic storage bins by BINO on Amazon (pictured below) fit most any picture books. The smaller 9.5″ x 6.5″ bins are also great for smaller books and helps conserve shelf space in tighter spaces.
• IKEA also has some great bins. These white UPPDATERA Box 13 1/4×9 1/2″ storage bins are a great size and price if you want to go with white.

Step 2: Prepare Printable Biography Bin Labels

Next you’ll need some child friendly biography bin labels with different categories. This will make sorting your biography collection(Step 3) into categories much easier. You can create your own or save time and grab these here.

This set includes the following categories, which is way more than you will likely need. Editable blank labels are included so you can customize any extra ones you may need for your library. The pictures and uncrowded text on the labels support young readers in becoming more independent in finding books that interest them.

Categories in this set of biography bin labels include the following (listed below). Use them all or pick and choose the ones that best fit your biography collection. You may want to start small by just pulling your larger categories of books into bins and gradually add others to bins later. A combination of forward facing bins and small groups of books with spins out on the shelf works well in tighter spaces and is still student friendly compared to all spines only on a crowded shelf.

Step 3: Sort Your Biography Collection by Topic

The third step can get a bit messy, so be sure you set aside time when no one needs to use the library space so that you have plenty of room to sort through your collection.

• Sort and choose labels of biography categories that you think apply best to your collection. Use what works for your library.
• Place labels on tables throughout your space so you can easily sort by category. You can add the bins now or wait until you have your category stacks made.
• Some categories may need more than one book bin or you can use a combination of forward facing bins with a few small groups of books spine out on the shelf. This combination works well and still looks inviting when you have limited space. It allows you to feature forward facing books and makes the ones standing on the shelf less intimidating for young readers because they are in smaller groups. This makes the bookshelves appear less crowded and more accessable for young learners.
• You can print or copy duplicates of any extra labels needed. In my library, I have so many biographies of football athletes that I needed 3 bins and still had books left over. I put the extras on the shelf right beside of the bins. I printed extra football labels for my extra bins.

Step 4: Attach Biography Labels to Book Bins

Now it’s time to attach the bin labels to the book bins (or to the shelves if you aren’t using bins).

• Circle hook and look fasteners with sticky backs like these hold up well and make the labels interchangable.
• If you want to feature different mini collections of biography books throughout the year but are limited in the number of bins you have, just swap out the labels and books for a quick change for your book display.
• Be sure to note which side of the hook and loop stickers you put on the labels and bins. For example, use the prickly side of the hook and loop sticker on the bin and the soft side on the label so that they are all the same. It helps to use a template from the first label you make to be sure they are all spaced the same distance apart on the label and on the bin for ease in swaping out labels later.

Step 5: Unlock the Magic! Biography Book Bin Displays

The hard part is finished and it’s time to let the magic happen! Think about where your students would most likely look for those popular biography topics. For example, if you move your sports biography book bins to the corresponding nonfiction sports areas students are more likely to find them while looking for their favorite topics. It’s a great way to sneak in some biographies for them to discover alongside other books they are interested in.

When I first moved the baseball and football nonficiton sections of the library my students quickly noticed. I didn’t even have bin labels on the bins yet or advertise that I moved them. The students discovered them within 30 minutes with giggles and shouts of excitement, calling other students over to see the “new” baseball and football books!

Other ways to display biography book bins in creative spaces:

• Pull out related categories of biographies in bins that match holidays and events through out the year. For example:
  • Display Presidents biographies during voting season.
  • Display Amazing Women biographies during Women’s History Month.
  • Create a quick olympic themed display by pulling out the Olympic Athletes book bin during the Olypmic Games.
  • Collaborate with classroom teachers to set up displays to match curriculum as it is being taught in the regular classroom. For example, pull out the Colonial American Leaders bin for a feature display table when 3rd grade is studying colonial America in their regular classrooms.
  • Display Basketball biographies with a basketball themed display during March basketball tournament time.
  • Rotate the bins you feature in other high traffic areas of the library for variety and to help students discover inspiring role models and leaders any time of the year.

Book Browsing Bins Make Genrefying Your Elementary Library Easy

Genrefying a library can be overwhelming and incredibly time consuming. Book bins with student friendly labels simplify the process and create a more engaging library experience. Remember to start small with one section. Gradually add sections as you have time and resources.

Ready to try antoher section? The picture book section is a great area to add forward facing bins by topic. You can find over 100 labels for your picture book section here. For tips to get started with your picture book section click here.