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Home : 2002 : July : 6

Library
By Lori 2

One of the first things I would suggest is to teach the children to use some type of shelf marker -- I go to the paint stores in town and get those paint stirrers. Teach the children to mark the place where they pull the
book off the shelf with their "marker". If they decide against the book they know exactly where to reshelf the book themselves.
As for circulation, are you computerized? How big a school, how big is your inventory? Do you have any assistance? This will make a difference in your circulation procedures. If you are not computerized, I would not allow children more than two books check

out at any one time. Even with the computer, three is my limit. Few children will read more than three books a week. If they do, allow flexible scheduling times where children can come and check out other than their class times.

Reshelving is always a problem when you are the only person working in the library -- you have to process, you have to monitor circulation, you have to reshelve, and most importantly you must be available to students and teachers and you must teach. Shelving is not my main priority. I do try to do it every day, but . . . I have a book truck for my books to be reshelved. The book truck is divided into four sections -- fiction, easy/picture, non-fiction and biography. When I check in books I place the books on the proper place on the book truck. It makes it easier to reshelf when I can pick up a stack and know they are all from the fiction section, etc. Also, for older students who come in and ask for a book that their friend just turned in they can usually find it on the book truck by looking in the proper section -- for younger students asking -- you can locate the book easier too if you haven't gotten to shelving it.

Have a set procedure for classes -- my classes come in and sit in the story area for instructions, first. They then have a 15 minute checkout time and come back to the story area for a story or chapter from a chapter book. Older children once they have checked out return to the story area to quietly read their books until checkout is finished. Sometimes they will have a story, other times we will adjourn to the library instruction section for skills work. At any rate state your procedures and what your expectations are and stick to them. Children do much better when they know what to expect.

There is a site done by a librarian for Mt. Erie school where he has lesson plans and his rules and expectations. It is a good site to look over for ideas.

The URL is:

http://www.mte.anacortes.k12.wa.us/library/library.htm

I think you will find it helpful.

Good luck,
Lori