Our bookstore is housed in our outside bookroom and is open at all three recesses on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Anywhere between 2 and 4 students run the bookstore on any given day (depending on track schedules). At the very least we always have one cashier and one security guard (more when we have new arrivals and when we open for parent nights). All together, on a rotating basis we have 15 employees. The advertising executives work as needed putting up posters and signs and passing out fliers.
Tell us why you find this program has been so rewarding:
First, the high quality of books and wide selection available to the students and their families ensures that everyone is able to find readable and appealing books. Second, is the price. Children come to school with one or two dollars and are able to find great titles and leave with a book in hand. This is so much more rewarding than ordering a book and waiting two weeks to receive it!
Tell us about a great interaction you had with a student employee or customer while in the bookstore.
There are so many fulfilling moments to capture regarding the bookstore. I think one of my favorite is of a mother and child looking through the books for potential titles. The parent suggested one title and the student wanted another. They discussed what to do and decided that one title could be read together and the other could be read to the child. They only had enough funds to get one of the titles but I told them we had a special for parents and children who visit the store together and they could get both books for the price of one. They were so excited and continue to come back on a regular basis to purchase books together.
How does this fill a need in your school?
This is the only bookstore in the community. No book is over $2.00 (books are either $1.00 or $2.00). Parents, children, and community members can select and purchase affordable books to read outside of school, which is what we want for all our students.
What promotional activities do you conduct at your Student-Run Bookstore?
Name the bookstore was our first promotional activity. Students came up with great suggestions and the student council chose the winner. The other event that was most successful was when we opened our bookstore for Back-to-School night. Parents got to visit the store with their children and it was a great springboard activity to reading throughout the year.
Describe the excitement that your bookstore has generated for students.
Students come prepared to purchase books on certain days. They check out the titles and save their money to purchase specific titles. Many find similar titles or the same books so they read them together or have spontaneous book talks and book clubs of their own.
Any final thoughts on why someone should run a bookstore?
Once the store is up and running the payoff comes in the smiles and excitement on the students faces and when parents stop by to pick up a book for their child to read together. If you want to get kids to read on their own for fun this is a great way motivation for free voluntary reading!
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