I'd rather have a book with a broken spine than a book in perfect condition not being read.
Before and After 4th Period
I've recently been struggling with keeping my Classroom Book Shelf in order. I find myself fixing the shelf almost between every class period — even if it's not a reading day!! I 'm not sure whether to be happy that they are at least browsing the books or annoyed that they have such disregard for not only the written word (a taste acquired) but classroom materials and my own personal possessions as well.
I suppose this is the price to pay for loaning out books to high school students. It's not the fact that the books are slowly but surely getting worn down from constant use and (of course) students' breaking the spines that bothers me; I'd rather have a book with a broken spine than a book in perfect condition not being read. It's more the fact that they have no idea how much time and money I have put into creating this library for the them; it's been my project for the last two years.
But despite the continuous work of fixing my bookshelf and reminding students that the harder they are on the books the fewer the people who will get to read it — I am glad that the books are being used (if even only browsed).