Learning to use shelf markers in an elementary media center

1. Meet Shelly the Shelf Marker!

2. Welcome
“Hi! I’m Shelly the
Shelf Marker.
Welcome to Steed
Library!”

3. Neat!
“There are a lot of
books in our library.
Doesn’t it look neat?”

4. Wow!
“But think what would
happen if the books
were just THROWN
into a pile?”

5. Ugh!
“Or, what if the books
were STUFFED into
the bookcase?”

6. Help!
“How would you
find anything?”

7. “That’s where I come
in. It’s my job to help
keep the books in
order.
(I’m VERY important,
but I try not to act like
it!)

8. You may be asking, “Why do
the librarians keep the library
so NEAT?
Why don’t they just put the
books anywhere?”

9. Start Digging!
It would take a
long time to find
a book if you
have to dig
through a mess.

10. Good Idea!
Librarians have to
keep the books in a
special order so you
can find the books
you want when you
want them.

11. Found it!
But if the books are in
order, you can find the
book you want FAST!
You go, girl!

12. That’s why librarians
work so hard to get
books in order, and
keep them that way.
They want you to find
that special book!

13. I’m Going to Miss Recess!
“Who likes to dig
through a mess?
Who has time?”

14. “I mark a book’s place
on the shelf while you
look at it.
But let me start from
the beginning.”

15. “That’s why I’m so
important!”

16. Hmmm…
“It takes time to find a
good book to read.”

17. Me First!
“When you find a book
that looks interesting, put
me on the shelf next to it.”

18. Don’t Let Me Fall!
“Don’t pull out the
book until I’m safely
on the shelf.”

19. “Help!
I’m falling!
OUCH!”

20. “Once you know I’m
in place, then you
can pull out the
book.”

21. Do I Want This Book?
“While you are
looking at the
book, to see if it is
right for you…

22. This Spot is Saved!
“I’m saving your
place on the shelf.”

23. Home, Sweet Home!
“If you decide you don’t want
the book, I remind you
where it belongs.
I’m sitting in the book’s
special spot. I’m protecting
its home until the book is
returned.”

24. Book First, Me Last!
“Once you decide you
don’t want the book, put it
back home BEFORE you
take me off the shelf. This
time, I’M LAST!”

25. “NEVER put a book back on the shelf without ME
marking its home.
Only librarians can do that. Are you a librarian?”

26. Don’t Leave Me Behind!
“If you decide to check out
the book, take me with
you. I don’t need to stay
on the shelf if you are
going to check the book
out. Just put me back in
the red bucket.”

27. Keep Me Busy!
“Return me to my
special spot in the
library so I can help
another friend.”

30. Save Your Valuable Brain
“Let me do my job! Let
me remind you where
the book belongs so you
don’t have to remember.
You need to save your
brain for more important
information!”

33. “If a book is not
returned to its
home, we think it’s
lost.”

34. Boo-Hoo! Where’s My Book?

35. Ah! Home Sweet Home!
“Just like you, every
book has a home.
Books belong at
home until someone
checks it out.”

36. Save Our Books!
“Speak up for books!
Help us keep them in
order and at home until
they are checked out.
Please don’t let the
poor little books get
lost from their homes!”

37. Mrs. Hartley adapted this PowerPoint with permission from Karen King,
a great school librarian in Hoover, Alabama.
Mrs. Hartley changed the pictures and some of the words to make it fit
better for Steed Library.
Many thanks to Mrs. King for her original PowerPoint idea.
Many thanks to B., A., and J. for helping me with the pictures.
Rocky Ridge Elementary School
Hoover, Alabama
Karen King, Library Media Specialist
Special thanks to Microsoft for their excellent selection of PowerPoint designs. Librarians are welcome to link
to this page. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. My e-mail address is: kaking@hoover.k12.al.us.