Practical Library Ideas to Try This May
May is often a point in the term where routines are set, but engagement can start to dip. It’s also a great opportunity to refresh your library in simple, manageable ways that keep students interested without adding extra pressure.
Rather than introducing anything too time-consuming, focusing on a few key themes across the month can help keep your space active, relevant, and useful to both students and staff.
Here are some practical ways to build around key moments in May.
1. Make Learning More Relevant with Local History Month (All Month)
Local History Month is a strong opportunity to connect reading with something familiar. When students can relate content to their own surroundings, it naturally becomes more engaging.
Instead of large displays, smaller and more interactive ideas tend to work better.
You could:
- create a simple “Did you know?” section with weekly facts about your local area
- highlight local authors or historical figures alongside related books
- set a short challenge such as “Find one interesting fact about where you live”
- encourage students to present what they discover in a creative way
This doesn’t just promote reading – it encourages curiosity and independent learning.
2. Support Wellbeing During Mental Health Awareness Week (11-17 May 2026)
LiLibraries play an important role in supporting student wellbeing by offering a calm and safe space during the school day. This week is a good opportunity to highlight that role while also encouraging awareness and understanding of wellbeing in a simple and accessible way.
Alongside creating a calm environment, schools can also use this time to promote inclusion and empathy. Small awareness displays can help students understand that everyone experiences school differently, and that some people may need quieter spaces, extra time, or different ways of learning. This helps normalise differences and encourages a more supportive school environment.
Simple approaches can include:
- setting up a quiet reading area with minimal distractions
- highlighting books that explore feelings, resilience, and wellbeing in an age-appropriate way
- creating a small awareness board that promotes kindness, understanding, and support for different needs
- encouraging students to use the library as a break from busy or stressful environments
- creating a relaxed space where there is no pressure to complete tasks
Even small changes can help students feel more supported and help build a more understanding school community.
3. Bring Cross-Curricular Learning into the Library on National Numeracy Day (20 May 2026)
The library can play a bigger role in learning across subjects, and National Numeracy Day is a good way to highlight that.
This doesn’t require specialist resources – it’s more about making connections visible.
You could:
- feature books that link maths to real-world topics
- create a simple problem-solving trail using different sections of the library
- include quick challenges that students can complete while browsing
- work with teaching staff to align with topics currently being covered
This helps position the library as part of the wider learning environment, not just a separate space.
4. Create a More Inclusive Space with World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (21 May)
Ensuring students see a range of perspectives in your library is an ongoing process, and this is a good moment to bring that into focus.
Rather than a one-off display, think about how representation can be more visible over time.
Some ideas include:
- rotating books that reflect different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences
- highlighting authors from a range of perspectives
- encouraging students to suggest books that represent them
- creating simple prompts such as “Read something from a different culture”
This helps build a library environment where more students feel included and engaged.
Supporting these activities in your library
Running activities like these is much easier when your library system helps you organise, manage, and promote everything in one place. Being able to quickly build themed reading lists, highlight relevant books for specific events, and keep your resources up to date helps save time and makes the activities more consistent and visible to students.
247lib.com supports staff by giving them a flexible and structured way to manage collections, promote resources, and update content quickly. It allows libraries to organise materials in a way that makes it easier to align with themes like Local History Month or Mental Health Awareness Week, while also helping staff keep everything accurate and accessible for users.
Hedgehog supports a more visual and user-friendly experience for students, making it easier for them to explore the library on their own. Its design helps younger users navigate collections more naturally, encouraging independent discovery and increasing engagement with available resources without needing constant guidance.
Visit www.247lib.com to learn more or get in touch with our team for a friendly chat about how we can support your library.
