#BooksOut4Summer
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exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
@teacherkjohnson.bsky.social
Great to see you promoting #SetTheBooksFree in @bctf.bsky.social Teacher mag.
Hard to believe we weren’t instantly able to get more #TeacherLibrarians onboard.

(Alas, I might not get to #BooksOut4Summer 😢 due to big switchover, Follett to Insignia happening right now)
June 10, 2026 at 3:13 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
UPDATE:
Just starting Week 2 of the new school year and ALL #BooksOut4Summer loans are back—ZERO BOOKS LOST!(again)

Nice!

Stats:
A wacky digital collage poster featuring images of me with various word bubbles and text boxes offering these thoughts and stats: #BooksOut4Summer STATS 2025 26 families participated 34 kids in total Each student allowed up to 20 (or more) books for the summer 474 books borrowed! Summer loans were chosen in the final week of June. Popularity of genre/form of book... 1. early/shorter chapter books (129) 2. graphic novels (118) 3. non-fiction (109) 4. picture books (63) 5. longer novels (55) Set The Books Free! This summer consider lending your amazing school LLC collection to your students Hmmm... all those fantastic books... just sitting lonely on the shelves all summer... we should set them free! Our collections are helping no one sitting gathering dust over the summer. @teacherkjohson & @exlibrismrhunt have presentations on summer loans for TL conferences. ZERO books lost! Day 1 of school, 372 books returned; Day 2, 68 returns; Day 3 & 4, 26 more; Week 2, all remaining checkouts came back! Universally appreciated by all participants! This will continue as an annual event. Sardis Elementary Library Learning Commons Chilliwack, BC @ExLibrisMrHunt on Bluesky (+ Insta)
September 9, 2025 at 9:50 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Last Day of School (with students); just our admin day tomorrow, then…summer holidays!

The last families signed up for #BooksOut4Summer checked out today to help #SetTheBooksFree!
A #BooksOutForSummer 2025 promotional poster with information blurbs like… 26 families participated; 34 kids in total. Last year… 100% of borrowed books over the summer were returned within the first two weeks of school. Usually, I put in the totals of what form/category of books get signed out, but I have a note on the poster that I’ve not collated those numbers yet.
June 26, 2025 at 9:35 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
YES! The first 11 kids signed up to borrow #BooksOut4Summer came in this morning…chose 20ish books each.

More families will come by after school and before/after school tomorrow.

I love to #SetTheBooksFree rather than leave them in the library shelves all summer.
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social @ExlibrisMrHunt @exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social · Jun 2
Here are some other past #BooksOut4Summer stats, which also show that, if you #SetTheBooksFree from abandonment on dusty shelves, they will be returned at the end of the holidays.

Summer losses aren’t an issue.

(More info in ALT)
June 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Here’s the doc link so that my info/promo form/email with family sign up sheet can be put through a screen reader for accessibility:

docs.google.com/document/d/1...
#BooksOut4Summer - Summer Library Loans @ Sardis Elem
#BooksOut4Summer Summer Library Loans @ Sardis Elementary What is #BooksOut4Summer ? The main idea: Instead of leaving the books unused, sad, and lonely on the Library shelves all summer long, we have...
docs.google.com
June 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Starting to receive a bunch of forms back from the #BooksOut4Summer / #SetTheBooksFree promo I started last week.

Yes!

The books won’t be sad, lonely, dusty on the shelves of the library this summer; they’ll go home with kid readers!

(See also, prev posts with those hashtags for more info + 🧵)
These are screenshots of the #BooksOutForSummer info/promo sheet/email and the family sign-up sheet… I’m including a Google doc link in the thread that can be put through a reader so that it is accessible. These are screenshots of the #BooksOutForSummer info/promo sheet/email and the family sign-up sheet… I’m including a Google doc link in the thread that can be put through a reader so that it is accessible. These are screenshots of the #BooksOutForSummer info/promo sheet/email and the family sign-up sheet… I’m including a Google doc link in the thread that can be put through a reader so that it is accessible. These are screenshots of the #BooksOutForSummer info/promo sheet/email and the family sign-up sheet… I’m including a Google doc link in the thread that can be put through a reader so that it is accessible.
June 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
#LibraryLife, year-end edition…

Inventory bookdropping:

Joy for all the books that actually came back on this deadline day; sadness for all the books still unaccounted for; sadness for all the shelving now to do; joy for the upcoming #BooksOut4Summer / #SetTheBooksFree opportunity.

Mixed bag!
The edge of my check in check out station my circulation desk that shows the scanner visible as well as the corner of my keyboard, plus my mouse and some stacks of books that have just been checked in… see also, next pic… A picture of the library dropbox a step away from the corner of the circulation desk in last picture… the box is half full, and there are stacks and stacks of books on the counter beside it and on the floor below it… See also, next pic… The other far end of my circulation desk covered in many sorted stacks of shorter novels series, plus tons more books (longer novels) piled on my workbench behind it… see also, next pic… Around the corner from all the other piles of books in the last photos is my book truck all piled up with 1 million returns (Graphic Novels, nonfic)…plus some stacks on a random table slightly visible…where I’m about to be sorting some more nonfic returns…WHEW! Chaos! But, getting organized.
June 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Here are some other past #BooksOut4Summer stats, which also show that, if you #SetTheBooksFree from abandonment on dusty shelves, they will be returned at the end of the holidays.

Summer losses aren’t an issue.

(More info in ALT)
Almost identical stats poster to the original post quoted/attached, just with different numbers: 33 families, 46 kids; approximately 800 books borrowed; only three books were not yet returned as of the second week of school, but my memory is that at least two of those came back within another week or two. Those were 2023 stats. Another similar stats poster, but for the year 2019. 39 families, 53 kids participating; 719 books borrowed. That year I did a pop-up library day in the middle of the summer where kids could bring back some of their books and exchange them for even more. Usually, I don’t do a summer pop-up day though. In 2019, by the end of the first week there were 20 books not returned— within another week or so almost all of those were back. If I recall, we lost 5 to 7 to a family that moved unexpectedly that summer. Then, there were a couple years of the pandemic where I didn’t do books out for summer.
June 2, 2025 at 9:59 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Starting to hype #BooksOut4Summer this week.

It’s definitely time to #SetTheBooksFree again for the summer holidays.

(See my hashtags above for tons more info on letting kids take school library books home for the summer.)
My very cluttered pic collage poster that sums up my books out for summer campaign from last year. It has information such as 100% of summer loan books were returned by day two of the first week back to school in September. It mentions that I got a very late start on promotions last June and so only had 16 families participate, which represented a total of 24 kids books. But, they signed out a total of 320 books. poster mentions that the popularity of genre and form for checkouts was in this order: graphic novels, non-fiction, picture books, early/shorter chapter books, longer novels.
June 2, 2025 at 4:08 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
#SetTheBooksFree or #BooksOut4Summer
data doesn’t lie.
+ Books won’t be lost, will get returned—let kids have them!

@teacherkjohnson.bsky.social
Summary:
researcharchive.canadianschoollibraries.ca/2025/05/06/s...

Whole research paper:
researcharchive.canadianschoollibraries.ca/wp-content/u...
Screenshot of text: These numbers provide a reassuring story of summer success! At all three sites, over the span of two summer, lending sessions, losses have proven statistically, insignificant at less than 1%. Engagement is high among students invited to participate, and the teacher librarians at all three sites remain committed to continuing summer lending practice into the future. Screenshot of text and word bubbles from the linked research paper: Text: “What do the kids say? Some of the data that are three schools collected was in the form of anecdotal evidence. Student students were asked,”What do you like about being able to borrow books for the summer?” Here is a sampling of their replies.” Two word bubbles: 1: “my parents both work so books help me entertain myself.” Joy, grade 3. 2: “I love summer reading because the books here I am more familiar with. At the public library, I just can’t find the books I want.”
May 28, 2025 at 12:27 AM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Celebrating 6 Years of #SetTheBooksFree

journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca/reading-joy-...

Last days of school:
#SetTheBooksFree
Let kids take them home, read them, love them for two months.
#BooksOut4Summer

#TLsky 📚 #Skybrarians

More info/ideas threaded below⬇️
May 26, 2025 at 2:20 AM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
“Reading Joy Should Not End in June! Set Your Books Free for the Summer”
journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca/reading-joy-...

Last days of school:
#SetTheBooksFree
#BooksOut4Summer

#TLsky 📚 #Skybrarians

More info/ideas threaded below⬇️
May 26, 2025 at 2:18 AM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
#TLskyChat
Inv every year if possible (as in, w/ help).
I do other major year-end re-org wh/ helps keep in touch w/ col’ns:
weeding, genrefying, regrouping, shifting shelving/location to alleviate space issues.
Try to sign out books till 2nd last week,all must be back.
Then, org for #BooksOut4Summer
techielibgrl.com Heather Turner @techielibgrl.com · May 22
Q7 for tonight’s #TLSkyChat!

Inventory Every year? Never? How do you handle it? Is your library closed? Open til the last day?

For more information visit: tlskychat.com
Alt text: A graphic for #TLSkyChat Question 7 asking, “Inventory every year? Never? How do you handle it?” Features a friendly barcode scanner illustration.
May 22, 2025 at 1:13 AM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Speaking of Decrees…

So Decrees This Librarian:

May Day is the day for all T-Ls to begin planning to institute a #BooksOut4Summer event for the summer holidays. No more books collecting dust for months!
#SetTheBooksFree!

Here’s how/why:
bsky.app/profile/exli...
And,
bsky.app/profile/exli...
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social @ExlibrisMrHunt @exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social · Nov 25
See also, 🧵
of more info ⬆️⬇️
about #BooksOut4Summer or #SetTheBooksFree,
letting kids checkout library books for the long summer holiday.

I want to know more about T-Ls who do this, how they run it, etc—hoping for more uptake ASAP from more school libraries.
bsky.app/profile/exli...
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social @ExlibrisMrHunt @exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social · Jun 18
I do this thing I call #BooksOut4Summer or #SetTheBooksFree, in which families can sign up to allow their kids to each take 20 of our school library books home for the summer (and there might be a Library POP UP for 2 hrs in late July to exchange for more).

Ideally…

docs.google.com/document/d/1...
May 2, 2025 at 1:09 AM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
A4: Library joy beyond library, in community:

Love doing #BooksOut4Summer

Love that so many kids/families see me at important events—Pride, Mural Fest, cultural celebrations, other community activism I do—they know I’m a safe, caring, involved person; in turn, they’re more connected to the library
March 20, 2025 at 12:49 AM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
So cool!

You might be interested in my and @teacherkjohnson.bsky.social hyping of summer loans for school library kids under #SetTheBooksFree or #BooksOut4Summer.

No more collecting dust on the shelves during summer holidays.
March 20, 2025 at 12:39 AM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Thinking ahead already to this conference, I’m also reminded of presenting a #BooksOut4Summer workshop last conf w/ @teacherkjohnson.bsky.social … and hoping #TLsky folks plan now to #SetTheBooksFree this summer.

Info on how/why here:
bsky.app/profile/exli...

(might propose a diff pro-d this time)
mshurtubise.bsky.social Nicole Hurtubise @mshurtubise.bsky.social · Feb 6
Calling all BC teacher-librarians! Save the date for the 2025 BCTLA conference with keynote @mychal3ts.bsky.social
Let’s celebrate how magical libraries - and teacher-librarians like you - are!
#sd36tl #BCTLA
February 9, 2025 at 2:49 AM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
You mentioned book stacks for summer vacation…I’m super passionate about school libraries doing summer loans…I could go on and on about it…access barriers down, incr use of resources…
@teacherkjohnson.bsky.social and I have even done workshops to spread the #BooksOut4Summer #SetTheBooksFree idea
January 16, 2025 at 3:02 AM
katiejmcnamara.bsky.social
I have bags and boxes ready. Due date is set to two weeks after school starts. There is no reason for the books to be on lock down over summer. #TLSky #SchoolLibrarians #BooksOut4Summer
December 8, 2024 at 3:01 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Exciting to see @teacherkjohnson.bsky.social taking the summer loans (of school library books) idea to a bigger audience…

#SetTheBooksFree
#BooksOut4Summer

Read about in this 🧵
and try it out yourself.

bsky.app/profile/teac...

#TLsky #SchoolLibrary #TeacherLibrarian
teacherkjohnson.bsky.social Kelly Johnson @teacherkjohnson.bsky.social · Dec 7
When I first started summer lending a few years ago, I never imagined it would grow to include workshops and journal articles co-constructed with @exlibrismrhunt & colleagues in my district. The movement grows! Join me at Treasure Mountain in Toronto in January where I’ll be sharing my research.
Treasure Mountain Canada. January 29-February 1, 2025. Join the school library community to learn about impactful programs and research going on across Canada.
December 7, 2024 at 6:26 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Recess Break PSA:

Don’t let books sit gathering dust over the long summer break ever again. Plan now for #SetTheBooksFree / #BooksOut4Summer

#TeacherLibrarians #SchoolLibrary
#TLsky

All the info + article⬇️
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social @ExlibrisMrHunt @exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social · Nov 25
School Librarians:
Do you let students take books home for the summer when school’s closed?
Yes? Do tell.
No? You should try.
Read latest online
CDN School Library Journal generally & the specific article by @teacherkjohnson.bsky.social & I on this:
journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca/compelling-r...
Compelling Reasons to #SetTheBooksFree: Plan Now for Summer Loans From Your School Library – Canadian School Libraries Journal
journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca
December 6, 2024 at 6:29 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
See also, 🧵
of more info ⬆️⬇️
about #BooksOut4Summer or #SetTheBooksFree,
letting kids checkout library books for the long summer holiday.

I want to know more about T-Ls who do this, how they run it, etc—hoping for more uptake ASAP from more school libraries.
bsky.app/profile/exli...
November 25, 2024 at 3:01 AM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Ready for the BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association conference here at Vic High in beautiful Victoria.

Excited to be presenting a workshop this afternoon on #SetTheBooksFree #BooksOut4Summer to encourage T-Ls to let kids take library books home for summer holidays.
#bctla #PSAday
October 25, 2024 at 5:28 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
Inspired young author:

Back in June, after reading Perfect to some classes and issuing a challenge, one quirky fellow was so obsessed, he borrowed it for #BooksOut4Summer loans. September, he started coming in every day or so to show me new pages in the epic pencil & eraser comic he’s making…
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social @ExlibrisMrHunt @exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social · Jun 4
I read Max Amato’s book Perfect to a few classes yesterday. I issued a challenge for kids to create sequels or inspired by books…said I’d have a prize for them if they did. One kid came back with this picture she’d made. Pretty cool! She got a book from the freebie cart.
October 8, 2024 at 3:14 PM
exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social
100% return rate!

People always worry that, if schools let kids take home piles of books for the whole summer, tons will be lost…but, it’s not true.

A T-L friend and I will be doing our #BooksOut4Summer workshop at the BCTLA conference in October to convince colleagues to try it.
September 6, 2024 at 10:32 PM