Make Book Check Out Fun with Library Scanner Costumes

Have you tried dressing up your library barcode scanner in a costume? You can easily add fun to your library book check out with this creative idea!

This simple change has brought so many smiles to our school library. It encourages conversations with students and teachers at the circulation desk.

I just had to share it with you! I’ve added links to the specific products we used so that you can share the fun in YOUR library.

First, a Face

It all started with the wiggly eyes. And the pom pom nose. We have plenty of craft supplies in our library, and it was easy to add eyes and a colorful nose to the scanner so that it has a little face.

We were worried that a hot glue gun might damage the electrical wiring inside the scanner, so we used adhesive glue dots to attach the eyes and nose.

I use these glue dots all over our cinder block walls in the library, and they hold really well. The wiggly eyes and pom pom nose have stayed on my scanner (with thousands of book check outs) for several months….so far!

I’ve heard from other librarians who put the eyes and nose on the scanner stand, instead of the scanner itself. You can try both to see which way you like better.

Elf Hat and Reindeer Antlers

For December, we added elf hats and reindeer antlers to our two barcode scanners, by buying these small pet hats.

They both attach easily with a Velcro strap to the handle of the scanner.

Once the hat or antlers are strapped on with Velcro, we found it easier to leave the scanner in the stand, rather than detaching it. But why would you even want to detach it, when it’s so much fun to scan books with an elf? Or a reindeer?

Rabbit Hole Warning

I’ve gotta warn you–once you start searching “dog hats” or “cat hats” on Amazon, you’re going to find allllllll kinds of cuteness! But these little costumes are inexpensive, and they are great conversation starters during library book check out!

What’s Your Scanner’s Name?

Now that your scanner has a face, you can give it a name, too. Here are a few suggestions, gathered from our Learning Librarians Facebook group:

• Señor Scanner
• Sir Scansalot
• Scanley Cup
• Scan Lee
• Flat Scanley
• Tanner the Scanner
• Scanny Devito
• Scanny McScannerson
• Suzy Scanner
• Chelsea Checkout
• Dr. Scan Man
• Bob the Beeper
• Dewey Readmore
• Rumpelscankin
• 3-Scan-PO
• Darth Scanner

You may choose to let students get involved in choosing a name for your library barcode scanner. Holding an election in the library is a great opportunity to let your students experience the voting process.

You can explain to your younger students that the scanner eyes need to “read” the barcode on the library books! Once your scanner has a face and a name, you can train your students to help it “read” book barcodes!

Let’s Make Book Check Out Fun!

Here are two more ways that we as school librarians can make book check out more fun:

1. Give students a stamp or sticker on their library cards every time they check out. You’ll encourage your students to return or renew their library books so that they can get that stamp or sticker.
2. Have a treasure box of prizes like special bookmarks, pencils and erasers that students can earn when they fill a row of their library card with stamps. Often, the students who follow the rules don’t get the treats that the students with behavior challenges do. We as librarians can recognize and encourage good behaviors.

Happy reading!