1. Beyond Bookshelves: Building Classroom Libraries that Create Readers

What if the secret to building lifelong readers isn’t a grand school library—but a small, thoughtfully curated shelf within the classroom?In this inaugural episode of The Chalk Talk Collective Podcast, host Lakshmi Karunakaran is joined by Thejaswi Shivanand, library educator at Champaca Children’s Library. Together, they explore what makes classroom libraries powerful, practical, and transformative—especially in resource-constrained school settings.From defining what a classroom library truly is to examining how it differs from traditional school libraries, this conversation offers grounded, experience-driven insights for educators, school leaders, and anyone invested in nurturing a culture of reading.The Chalk Talk Collective Podcast is brought to you by Teacher Plus magazine.What You’ll LearnWhat defines a classroom library—and why it’s more than just a collection of booksKey differences between classroom libraries and traditional school librariesHow purpose shapes usage, access, and impactPractical factors to consider when curating a classroom libraryHow teachers can build and sustain libraries with limited resourcesWays schools can meaningfully support teachers in this journeyKey TakeawaysA classroom library is defined by access, ownership, and daily engagement, not sizeProximity matters—children read more when books are within arm’s reachEffective curation reflects diversity, reading levels, and student choiceEven small, low-cost libraries can be powerful when they are actively usedTeacher ownership, supported by the school, is key to sustaining classroom libraries and building a reading cultureResources MentionedThe Nature Society Series by EklavyaDivaswapna by Gijubhai BadhekaAbout the Speakers:Lakshmi Karunakaran (Host)An art educator and development professional with over 20 years of experience, Lakshmi works as an independent consultant across education, children’s literature, and library initiatives. She is the Lead for the Harsha Parekh Library Awards instituted by the HT Parekh Foundation and collaborates with Eklavya’s publication programme.Thejaswi Shivanand (Guest)A library educator at Champaca Children’s Library, Thejaswi works with schools and library-focused organizations across India, supporting the development of vibrant reading communities and professional learning spaces.Who This Episode Is ForTeachers and educatorsSchool leaders and administratorsLibrarians and literacy practitionersOrganizations working in education and reading initiatives