8 Ways to Use Google Forms in the School Library

As school librarians, we have so much to keep track of! Students and entire classes come to us all day long, which we absolutely love! But before we know it, we’re buried under stacks of books, juggling eight post-it notes of reminders, and our email notifications are going off like crazy. To top it all off, we can’t even find that one important email we need. What if I told you there’s a way to turn this mess into organized chaos? Today, I’m going to share how I use Google Forms in the school library to streamline everything with this must-have Google Forms resource!

Why use Google Forms in the School Library?

If you haven’t started using Google Forms in your library yet, you’re missing out! Google Forms can be a game-changer when it comes to your school library’s systems. It offers endless ways to gather valuable information that can enhance your library’s instruction, programming, and collections. Plus, it’s fantastic for communication and scheduling. Let me share some of the amazing ways I use Google Forms in my library.

#1: Reading Interest Surveys

Using Google Forms in the school library is a great option to encourage and motivate our students to read! Using a Student Interest Survey helps you understand how your students feel about reading and the types of books they enjoy.

I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked, “Where are the good books”? What one student considers “good” might be “awful” to another. By using Google Forms, you can easily learn about student interests and spot trends in their preferences.

As librarians, we often see all the students in the school. We love building those connections with each one of them, but it does make it hard to collect and manage all the information. With Google Forms, you can get an overview of all the responses with just a click!

#2: Connecting with Teachers

Every year, I reach out to teachers for feedback on the library. I ask how they feel about the library and to identify any needs the library can address. This includes finding out how often they use the library, what types of materials they currently use, and what they’d like to see added to our collection. Google Forms in the school library makes this process seamless and efficient.

I also use a collaboration form when a teacher is interested in working together on a unit or research project. This form asks basic questions and helps streamline the planning process. It helps to ensure we cover all the necessary details and create a successful collaboration. Google Forms are perfect for these tasks, making it easy to collect and organize information quickly.

#3: Parent Contact Log

Usually, when I talk to a parent, it’s about something minor like a lost library book or an unpaid fine. Nothing that really needs a detailed record. Sometimes, I have conversations about more important issues, and keeping track of these can be challenging. Relying on memory just doesn’t cut it. That’s where Google Forms comes to the rescue.

I create a simple Google Form that includes all the necessary details: parent name, student name, reason for the conversation, and other relevant information. I bookmark the form, so it’s always at my fingertips when I need to fill it out. After the conversation, I submit the form, and all the details go straight into a spreadsheet. This way, I can easily refer back to the information whenever I need to, ensuring nothing important slips through the cracks. Google Forms makes this process smooth and hassle-free, giving me peace of mind that I have a reliable log of important conversations.

#4: Material Request Forms

We can greatly benefit from using material request forms, and Google Forms makes this process incredibly easy. With a simple form, our students and teachers can request specific books, resources, or materials they’d like to see added to the library collection. This not only helps us to stay aware of the needs and interests of our school community but also fosters a sense of involvement and engagement among students and staff.

Setting up a Google Form for material requests is quick and user-friendly. You can customize the form to include fields for the title, author, type of material, and any additional comments. Once submitted, all the responses are neatly organized in a spreadsheet, making it easy to review and prioritize requests. This streamlined process ensures that our library’s collection continues to evolve and meet the diverse needs of our students and teachers! And. . . you no longer have a pile of sticky notes with those requests scattered all around your office.

#5: Behavior Log

Just like with a parent contact log, you can easily track student behavior using Google Forms in the school library. This is especially handy if you need to monitor behavior for a specific class. Maybe you simply want to keep tabs on the types of behavior issues you’re encountering in the library.

I set up a straightforward Google Form where I note the student’s name, the date, the type of behavior, and any additional comments. By bookmarking this form, I can also quickly access it whenever I need to record an incident. Once submitted, all the details are stored in the spreadsheet so I can easily review and analyze patterns over time. This method helps me stay organized and ensures I have a clear record of student behavior. This can be incredibly valuable for addressing issues and making informed decisions.

#6: Assessments

Quickly creating quizzes and tests with Google Forms is a fantastic way to check for student understanding before and after teaching a lesson. Forms also work beautifully for exit tickets. Even though many librarians don’t assign grades, you can set up the form to be self-grading, giving students instant feedback.

This feature is incredibly useful because it allows students to see how they’re doing right away. You can easily share this information with parents, teachers, or administrators, keeping everyone in the loop about a student’s progress. Google Forms in the school library makes this process seamless, efficient, and interactive, adding a whole new level of engagement to your library lessons.

#7: Sign-in and Sign-out

Having students sign in and out of the library with a simple Google Form is a game-changer. Once you create the form, you can easily export the information to a spreadsheet. This spreadsheet can be shared with teachers, allowing them to see who has signed in and at what time. The best part? The spreadsheet automatically updates every time the form is used, so you always have the most current information at your fingertips.

This system not only keeps everything organized but also provides a clear record of student library usage. Google Forms in the school library makes managing student sign-ins and sign-outs a breeze. Plus, it enhances the overall functionality of the library.

#8: Volunteer Request Form

Use a Google Form to keep track of the names and contact information of volunteers. This method is so much better than my old system of Post-it notes! Plus, you can easily create a QR code with the link to the form and ask the PTO to include it in their newsletter or meeting agenda.

This way, volunteers can sign up quickly and conveniently. All their information is neatly organized in one place making it easy to access and schedule volunteers. Google Forms makes it super easy to manage volunteer sign-ups, ensuring you have all the help you need for weekly parent help, a successful book fair, or another special event.

Responses & Data From Google Forms in the School Library

One of my favorite reasons for using Google Forms in the library is how easy it is to view the results. Whether I want to look at a summary of the responses or each individual submission, Google Forms makes it easy. With the click of a button I can easily find the type of response information I need.

When I use Google Forms for a reading interest survey, I view the summary of all responses to quickly identify topics of books my students would be interested in. Google Forms takes the guesswork out of the equation making it easy for me to analyze responses for my entire school in a matter of seconds.

On the other hand, when using the Discipline Log, I can view a spreadsheet of each individual entry. I can sort that spreadsheet by student name and provide detailed information about a student’s behavior in the library if needed. This feature alone saves me so much time and makes accessing the information so easy.

Ready to try Google Forms in the School Library?

Creating and utilizing Google Forms in the school library has helped me step up my game as a school librarian. These forms have streamlined my workflow, making it easier to manage everything from student sign-ins to volunteer coordination. They provide a simple yet effective way to collect and analyze data, helping me understand student interests and needs better. By keeping everything organized and accessible, Google Forms set me up for success. This allows me to focus more on what I love, which is engaging with students and fostering a love for reading!

If you want to start using Google Forms in your library, grab a copy of my Google Forms for the Library resource. This fantastic resource offers 10 pre-made Google Forms tailored specifically for school librarians like you! You’ll find forms for student sign-ins, teacher and librarian collaboration forms, parent contact forms, and more. It’s perfect for keeping everything organized and easily accessible. Plus, the forms are customizable to fit your specific needs.

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