Last week, I slowly inventoried my classroom libraries. I keep track of two libraries: one bought & paid for by the school district, the other by me. In total there are about 750 books. As of Friday, 58 books were “missing”. A few were checked out, more were not. Monday morning I charted the missing titles. By Monday afternoon, only 41 were still outstanding.
We still have a week of school to go. I am confident that, come next Tuesday, most, if not all of the books will be back.
booksandbassets 
I used to offer a fun-sized candy bar in exchange for the return of a classroom library book. Some of my seniors got really into it, ransacking OTHER students’ lockers in an effort to find the books and get the candy! Good luck getting your books back!
Hopefully all books will be returned. If any is not, I hope it found its way to a home where it will be read over and over and shared with many others.
Lost books are inevitable when you have a classroom library. I love the faith you have that most will be found and returned, I hope you are right.
I know they won’t all come back. I just have faith that most will come back. With a little encouragement, they usually do.
Even with a check-out system for my 4th graders I lose books every year. It’s always the most popular ones, too.
Ahh…similar sentiments here, though not nearly as many missing! The way we found out some were missing is that Ss were doing a book talk on Flip Grid for themselves and future fourth grade classes on their “favorite” books of the year. Lo and behold, when some went to find their favorites, they were unsuccessful. A few did come back, and there are still 12 days of school remaining. I, too, will remain hopeful! Good luck and happy early summer!
Did you catch Colby Sharps Vlog about this? I had a girl show up with a giant stack of books she’d had in her locker! I’m now frantically searching for the lost library books that don’t belong in the classroom and students swear must be. And by “frantically” I mean I am looking now and then. 🙂
I didn’t see that but will loo for it now. There are a lot of books coming and going this time of year!
I stopped keeping track of books (especially ones that I have purchased) that didn’t return. However, the most popular books that never returned back to my shelf included Refugee, Living Dead Girl, Caged Warrior, and Smile (the graphic novel). I may see them again next year, but I also just imagine that the books are read, and then it does not bother me as much! Good luck tracking them down!