Summer reading season is the perfect time to get creative with how you organize and share books. I love using Collections by Destiny® in this process as it makes everything easier than ever. Whether you’re a librarian or teacher, Collections can help you curate engaging, relevant resources that keep students reading all summer long.

Here are five ideas to inspire you, along with a few reminders to get the most out of Collections by Destiny too.

 

---

 

1. Build ready-to-go summer reading lists.

Take the pressure off students and families by creating pre-made summer reading Collections organized by:

• Grade level
• Reading ability
• Genres (mystery, fantasy, nonfiction, etc.)
• Themes (adventure, friendship, STEM)

Pro tip: Promote these as “Grab-and-Go” reading lists so students can quickly find something that interests them without feeling overwhelmed.

 

---

 

2. Highlight student favorites and staff picks.

Create Collections that feel personal and community-driven:

“Top Picks from 5th Grade”

“Teachers’ Summer Favorites”

“Your Librarian Recommends”

“Family Read-Alouds”

“Books To Read Outside” or “Books to Read on a Trip”

Adding short descriptions or reviews makes these Collections more engaging and helps students feel connected to the choices.

 

---

 

3. Don’t forget: Collections aren’t just for books.

One of the most underused features? You can include a lot of different media types to Collections, making use of almost all of your holdings!

You can also add:

• eBooks and audiobooks
• Websites and databases
• Videos and multimedia resources
• Articles, documents, or research links

This is a great way to support different learning styles and keep students engaged beyond traditional reading.

 

---

 

4. Create themed learning journeys.

Turn summer reading into an experience by building themed Collections like:

• “Travel the World Through Books”
• “Summer of Science Exploration”
• “Historical Adventures”

Pair books with videos, articles, and interactive content to create a richer, more immersive journey.

 

---

 

5. Remind users to share and use Collections.

Sometimes the easiest win is simply reminding users to share and to use what’s already available. If your district or library system has created Collections:

• Encourage staff to create and share their own Collections
• Share them among library, curriculum, and teaching staff to raise awareness of what’s available
• Feature them on your homepage
• Share them in your LMS, newsletters, or emails
• Highlight them before summer break
• Use the Create PDF feature to share Collections with parents and in non-digital environments

Many users don’t realize that Collections they create can be used by others, so a quick reminder can significantly boost engagement.

 

---

 

For Summer Reading or Anytime Reading and Learning

Collections by Destiny is more than just a curation and organizational tool. Collections are a fantastic and easy way to inspire curiosity, support diverse learners, and make summer reading accessible and fun.

By mixing pre-made lists, personalized recommendations, and multimedia resources, you can create a dynamic reading experience that keeps students learning all summer long.

 

---

 

About Collections by Destiny

Collections by Destiny is a powerful feature within Follett Destiny® Library Manager that helps you turn your resources into ready‑to‑use learning experiences to share across your district, school, or classroom. By combining books, eBooks, videos, web pages, documents, and more into organized, student‑friendly collections, it helps make learning more relevant, accessible, and engaging for every student.

Whether you’re a librarian curating material, a teacher pairing content to instruction, or a student exploring a topic in depth, Collections by Destiny helps everyone discover and use the right resources at the right time.

 

---

 

Shannon McClintock Miller
District Teacher Librarian & Innovation Director

Shannon McClintock Miller is the Innovation Director of Instructional Technology and Library Media at Van Meter Community School in Van Meter, Iowa. She is also the Future Ready Librarians Spokesperson working with librarians, educators, and students around the world every day as an international speaker, consultant, and author who has a passion for education, librarianship, advocacy, technology, social media, and making a difference in the world and lives of others, especially children. Shannon brings a special expertise and vision to conversations around school libraries, education, technology, creativity, and student voice.