The Trapped Librarian

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You are here: Home / Library Helpers Newsletter

Library Helpers Newsletter

I know you’re working hard in your elementary library to meet the needs of your students and your school community. Since we’re usually the only librarian in the building, it can get lonely!

That’s why I teamed up with a creative friend to bring you a FREE newsletter for elementary librarians each month. Every issue contains helpful ideas for library lessons, activities, books, library management, bulletin boards, and more!

We want you to know that you’re not alone – you’ve got a team of library pals cheering you on!

Count on Your School Librarian Friends!

The Library Helpers Newsletter is brought to you by two veteran school librarians who love supporting colleagues with practical ideas that really work. Between us, we’ve spent decades in elementary libraries, collaborating with teachers, testing lessons with real students, and finding creative ways to make the library the center of the school.

Your librarian friends:

  • Julie Olson (That Library Girl)
  • Laura Trapp (That’s me! The Trapped Librarian)

The Library Helpers Newsletter comes out around the first of the month (we take a break in July). You can come here to grab them, or subscribe to my email list to get a preview delivered to your inbox each month.

The links below will take you to the PDF version of each newsletter. Feel free to download them, print them, or you can click the links right from your device.

I’m hoping you can feel our love and support!

Library Helpers Newsletters

Click the month below to access an issue of the Library Helpers Newsletter:

BACK-TO-SCHOOL 2026

MAY-JUNE 2026

APRIL 2026

MARCH 2026

FEBRUARY 2026

JANUARY 2026

2025 Newsletters:

DECEMBER 2025

NOVEMBER 2025

OCTOBER 2025

SEPTEMBER 2025

AUGUST 2025

MAY/JUNE 2025

APRIL 2025

MARCH 2025

FEBRUARY 2025

JANUARY 2025

Back Issues of the Elementary Library Ideas Newsletters:

December 2024

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024 (Back to School Double Issue!)

May 2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

December 2023

November 2023

October 2023

September 2023

August 2023 Double Issue!

Summer 2023 Elementary Library Newsletter

May 2023

April 2023

March 2023

February 2023

January 2023

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thetrappedlibrarian

📚 Elementary School Librarian
🌟 NBCT 2011
👩🏻‍🏫 Teacher Author
Blog: trappedlibrarian.org

⭐ GET YOUR FREE MONTH-BY-MONTH LIBRARY LESSONS GUI ⭐ GET YOUR FREE MONTH-BY-MONTH LIBRARY LESSONS GUIDE! ⭐

Get ready to feel organized and prepared for the month ahead. No more giving up your nights and weekends for lesson planning! This free resource will help you plan your lessons for the month, quarter, semester, or year!

✅ Take the guesswork out of what to teach and when
✅ Get idea for engaging interactive lessons
✅ Grab links to helpful products for every month of the school year

⭐ Grab this free guide today and make your library the center of your school! ⭐
➡ Link in Smart.Bio @thetrappedlibrarian 💜
https://the-trapped-librarian.myflodesk.com/3f88ae34-9844-4298-8238-66aa8a25836a

 #thetrappedlibrarian #elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrarians #elementarylibrarylessons #schoollibrarian #schoollibrary #librarymediaspecialist #teacherlibrarian #librariansofinstagram
Need inspiration for your October lessons? 🍁 🔥 Fir Need inspiration for your October lessons? 🍁
🔥 Fire Safety Week activities
👻 Spooktacular Halloween Storytime
📚 Seasonal book displays kids can’t resist
I’ve pulled together ideas you can use right away to make October memorable in your library!
➡️ Click to see my favorite October library lessons! https://trappedlibrarian.org/2021/10/25/october-library-lessons-2/
🍽️ What’s on the menu in your library? BOOKS! 📚 A 🍽️ What’s on the menu in your library? BOOKS! 📚

A Book Tasting event is such a fun way to help students explore your shelves and discover books they might otherwise pass right by!

Set out a variety of books, add the menus, table signs, and a little restaurant flair, and let your students start “tasting.” It’s a great beginning-of-the-year activity for getting kids excited about reading AND helping them add some new titles to their reading lists. ❤️

This Book Tasting Kit includes lesson plans for K–5, editable menus, bookmarks for younger students, genre and category table signs, posters, and more.

📚 Help your students discover their next great read!

⭐️ BONUS: It’s also included in my September Library Bundle, where you can save over 20%!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Book-Tasting-Activities-2082366?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=TL%20Book%20Tasting%20FB
📚 September is flying by! If you’re looking at you 📚 September is flying by! If you’re looking at your library lesson plans and wondering how you’re going to fit everything in, I’ve got some help for you. 💜

The September Library Bundle brings together some of my preferred activities and resources for this time of year, so you don’t have to spend hours searching and planning.

You’ll have resources to help you:
⭐️ Teach and practice important library skills
⭐️ Introduce digital citizenship
⭐️ Get students excited about books with a Book Tasting
⭐️ Organize your library and get your Library Helpers started

Best of all, you’ll save over 30% compared to purchasing the resources separately!

➡️ Take a look at the preview and see how this bundle can make the rest of the month go smoothly!

>>>>> https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/September-Library-BUNDLE-7141462?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=TL%20September%20Bundle%20FB
📚 “Where can I find a book about…?” Helping stude 📚 “Where can I find a book about…?”

Helping students learn to answer that question for themselves is such an important library skill!

My Library Catalog Practice for K–5 gives you scaffolded lessons and activities to help students build their catalog skills year after year. They’ll practice searching by:

🔎 Subject
🔎 Series
🔎 Title
🔎 Author
🔎 Keyword

The goal? Give students the skills and confidence they need to independently search for the books and information they want! 💜

➡️ Take a look at the preview and see how you can build library catalog skills from Kindergarten th#teacherlibrarian 

>>>>> https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Library-Catalog-Practice-for-K-5-Library-Lessons-968419?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=TL%20Library%20Catalog%20K5%20FB

#SchoolLibrarian #LibrarySkills #LibraryLessons #ElementaryLibrary #SchoolLibrary #LibraryCatalog #TeacherLibrarian
📚 New to the school library this year? Welcome! 💜 📚 New to the school library this year? Welcome! 💜

Maybe you're a brand-new librarian. Maybe you're a teacher or paraeducator who has stepped into the library role and you're figuring things out as you go.

💜Here's something I want you to remember: You don't have to learn everything at once!

In our FREE Back-to-School Library Helpers Newsletter, I'm sharing 4 tips for new school librarians that I would share with you over a cup of coffee. ☕️

⭐️ You'll also find practical back-to-school ideas, book recommendations, freebies, National Days, and plenty of encouragement from Julie and me.

And if you've been a librarian for years, take a look too! You might agree with my advice, and you may even find a new idea or two inside. 😊

⬇️ Head to the blog to download your FREE copy! >>>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/elementary-library-newsletter/
🩵 Need a few more ideas for your September lessons 🩵 Need a few more ideas for your September lessons? 

This month goes by so fast, but it's not too late! 

Check out these engaging activities and lessons that will set the stage for a year full of active learning for all students. 

⭐️ Get ideas for your September library lessons over on the blog >>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/2021/09/22/september-library-lessons/
📚 Looking for a fun way to get your students excit 📚 Looking for a fun way to get your students excited about books at the beginning of the school year?

Try a Book Tasting Event! 🍽️📚

A Book Tasting gives students a chance to sample books they might normally pass right by, while adding a little fun and excitement to your library lessons.

I’ve hosted these events with my own students, and I’m sharing 5 of my favorite tips on the blog, from building excitement and setting the stage to organizing your books and giving students plenty of choice.

➡️ Head over to the blog for all 5 tips and start planning your own Book Tasting!

>>>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/2017/10/08/5-tips-for-a-fun-book-tasting/
One little way to spread some kindness and fun wit One little way to spread some kindness and fun with your staff…all year long! 💜

My Staff Morale Booster Bundle gives you a different themed activity for every month from September through May, so you can have your staff appreciation ideas planned and ready to go for the entire school year.

Each activity is low-prep, budget-friendly, and includes everything you need to get started. Just print, add an optional treat or note, and start spreading some encouragement!

And when you grab the whole bundle, you’ll save over 25% compared to purchasing each month separately. ⭐️

➡️ Take a look at the preview and get ready for a year of kindness, connection, and a little extra fun with your colleagues!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Staff-Morale-Booster-Bundle-for-Staff-Teacher-Appreciation-Youve-Been-Booed-16669185?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=TL%20Staff%20Morale%20Booster%20Bundle
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