Appropriate grades or age groups:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School

Estimated time to complete activity or implement technique:
30 min.(depending on how many books you have). 15 min. each day

Materials needed (if applicable):
A list of all of your books and a safe place for them to be set up at.

Home made library card. This is also a great craft you and your child can have fun making together.

Date stamper

post-it pads

spiral notebook or a designer notebook if you wish

Reading area. A den or family room is a great place to "set up" your library as either room most likely provides both reading areas and bookshelves (or stands).

A child's desk or a stand that can be used for the Librarian's desk.

Activity set-up/instructions or description of technique:
Categorize all the books in the style of your choice. Make sure you keep adult books seperated from your children's books. Put a post-it in the back of all the books so the 'Librarian' can stamp the date on it to preserve your books.

Sit down with your child and make the whole family library cards to the "American Readers Rock" library (or whatever name you want to call it).

Let you children take turns being the librarian.
Everyone searches for the book they wish to read for the evening.
Then they line up at the "librarian's" desk to "check out " their book/books.

Set the date stamper for the next day and let your child stamp the date on the post-it in the back of everyones book just like a real Librarian does!

When the 'visitors' are through selecting thier books and are reading quietly, it is the Librarian's turn to select a book.
After checking out his/her book of choice it is time to sit quietly at his/her desk and enjoy a cozy evening of reading fun.

After the desired amount of reading time is completed have the Librarian make a thorough check of the library to ensure that it is in a proper condition for the next evening's opening.
i.e. all the books are straightened out so that the hard work of 'constructing' the library is not in vain.

The next evening it is another childs turn to be the Librarian. Or if you only have one child make him or her you permanent household Librarian.

This takes approximately 20-30 min. to orginize all of your books, more or less depending on the amount of books you are including in your library. Your child also might like to participate in the 'construction' of the new American Readers Rock! library.

Another suggestion is to include a set amount of books for the library, holding some books back (maybe ones your child forgot he had or ones they have not read in a long time) for "Monthly" library book orders.
Pick a special day of the month (a child's b-day, Holloween, or Christmas-let your children choose-) and on that date every month make a big celebration (an extra tasty snack they do not always get or whatever you wish) out of the Library recieving 'new' books for it's collection.

Other suggestions or comments:
This subtle mixture of play and study is sure to be a hit for any child who ever enjoyed playing 'store'.

As a further incentive to this new reading program you can let the 'Librarian' offer a 'special conference dinner' to be held each night, that he gets to host for his Library friends.
Let your child help make the after school snack or dinner of her choice (depending on the time of day your Library 'opens')

This 'conference' will be held as an open discussion for all "Rockin'Readers!" to share their favorite parts in their books.

As an extra at the end of the week the 'manager' of the library (mom, dad, or an older sibling) can hand out 'Readers Choice Awards' for whatever topic your children read the previous week. Try to make sure you remember to include an award for a topic that each child has read, even if they are not the same one, so that everyone gets an award, that way noone is left out.

Another option would be to hold this 'conference' 1 night a week (a day on the weekend would be more convenient as there is no school) making it a Formal Dinner Party, whereas each 'extinguished guest' would be alloted an amount of time to talk about his or her book.
Let them dress in proper formal wear to enhance the effect of the formal dinner.
This also promotes practice speaking in front of an audience, even if it is only the family! A feat that alot of shy children, this includes my own daughter, could desperately use.
At the end of the 'Former Dinner' the manager can hand out appropriate awards, letting each child walk up to a makeshift podium (a table or stand or the librarian's desk used the previous week), to accept his or her award and be applauded by his peers. You can congratulate your child for his or her reading efforts and accomplishments and reassure him that he can do just as fine a job next week (or maybe take the opportunity to give him a challenge, whatever kind is best for the child).

After all....EVERY child deserves their moment in the spotlight!!!

OR

You can give out participation stickers at the end of the week to each child.
Let them keep these on a chart or in a 'participation log' (a spiral notebook or a special one that your child helped pick out) at the library.
If you want, each sticker can be worth a certain amount of money that can be applied to 'Book Order' day.
Let your children pick out new books to buy for the library each month with the money the library earned from their reading.

ALSO...

'Book Order' day can also be a great opportunity to have a monthly party celebration for your child.
Who ever said that birthdays were the only day you could celebrate your children?!?
Why not celebrate your child's effort and reading achievments as well?!!