Thank you for all your wonderful comments! Sometimes school officials
have a way of making you think that YOU are the one asking or doing
something that doesn't make sense! I now feel empowered!
Thank you!
J. Renee Thompson
School Librarian
Browne Academy
MY ORIGINAL POST:
I have a question about how everyone spends their budget when purchasing
books and videos/DVDs. I always consult teachers about items they wish
to see in the library and I try my best to order the things they want. I
think I have done a pretty good job of that, esp. considering I don't
have much money.
However, I wonder is there a line between supporting teacher curriculum
and buying books for them to TEACH curriculum. If a library has limited
funds, should it be responsible for purchasing multiple copies of books
(up to 7 copies of a title) for the teachers to teach reading? Or should
core reading materials be purchased with curriculum and instruction
money?
If so, how would I politely explain that to the powers that be?
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In my opinion, you should NOT use library dollars for a CLASSROOM set of
books ! My teachers have never asked me to do this, but they have asked
me to recommend titles for their purchase of classroom sets. After all,
library materials are to be used by everyone, not just one classroom.
Diane
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You should support the ENTIRE curriculum, not just reading. The library
isn't a reading lab, but the one place where every aspect of the
curriclum is reflected. I would stress that all teachers have equal
input into suggesting
library purchases.
At my previous school my teachers used Book Fair Wish Lists to obtain
class sets of books. Parents could purchase one of the books requested
and there wasn't a concern about getting a book already purchased.
Paula Laurita
Library Sciences Editor
http://librarysciences.bellaonline.com
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Hi Renee,
With my limited K-12 library budget, I only buy single copies of
requested books. Teachers requiring multiple copies, take the money out
of their allocated yearly budgets (ie. Reading).
Thanks, Sally Kramer, Minnesota State
Academy f/t Deaf Library
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Yes, multiple copies for a class should dome out of curriculuma and
instruction money. The library shouldn't have to pay for them.
--
Have a great day!
Louise Brooks, LMS
Berryville High School
P.O. Box 408
Berryville, AR 72616
870-423-3312, ext. 247
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Some years back, when I was in another district, I was told that money
budgeted for library books (in Texas) used to be considered capital
outlay.
I don't think that is the case anymore, but most teachers don't know
that. I still use that as an excuse.
I just had a teacher request that I purchase 25 copies of The Life of
Bees for her to use in her classroom. I told her that I could purchase 5
copies, but that I could not legally purchase more than 5 of one title
because of budget restrictions on my funding. She was very
understanding, requested the fund from the principal and he took it out
of instructional material. She didn't have to know that those
restrictions were my own!
Pam
Pamela McGhee, Librarian
Brownwood High School
2100 Slayden
Brownwood, TX 76801
325-646-9549
325-643-1965 (fax)
pamela.mcghee@brownwoodisd.org
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I have used some grant money to purchase several class sets of novels in
the past. Actually, the grant was written that way to help "sell" it to
the grant committee but it was very specific on numbers and the rest of
the funds were for the general collection. Otherwise, I expect
department budgets to cover.
I have also been able to supply multiple copies for classroom use from
book fairs. I rarely have enough sales to get cash and yet don't
want/need a lot of the inventory for myself. Teachers are usually
grateful for the assistance but I can NOT purchase class sets from my
regular budget. It just is not sufficient enough to do that.
Ann Jantzen, Media Specialist
South Central Jr. Sr. H.S.
6675 E. Highway 11 SE
Elizabeth, IN 47117
jantzena@south.shcsc.k12.in.us
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----
Correct! You should be purchasing things that support the curriculum,
but not those items directly used AS curriculum. Reading sets should be
purchased by the curriculum department.
The library budget should be supporting the reading interests of your
patrons.
Jean
R. Jean Gustafson
Teacher/Librarian
Selah Jr. High
Selah, WA 98942
jeangustafson@selah.k12.wa.us
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/JHS/Gustafson/Library.cfm
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Renee -
When teachers ask me to buy materials, I always tell them that materials
purchased by the library need to be cataloged, shelved and available to
all library users as part of regular circulation procedures. Items
specifically used as part of the teaching curriculum should be purchased
with department funds.
Jill Brown, LMS
Nardin Academy
Buffalo, NY
buflib@yahoo.com
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----
I feel that if a teacher is going to TEACH a book that the money should
be purchased with curriculum and instructional money, not library money.
Marna Watkins
Owasso High School Library
12901 East 86th Street North
Owasso, Oklahoma 74055
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----
NO you should not be buying multiple copies for the classroom, at least
not in my opinion. :-)
Your budget should be for you, and not for the classroom. We have a
separate literacy center where the classroom sets are stored and
teachers check those in and out on their own. Admittedly it cost a fair
amount to set up, but it is not super expensive to maintain.
Elizabeth Varley
Wilmington Montessori School
Infant/Toddler to Sixth Grade
1400 Harvey Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19810
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I don't know how you would explain iut, but no way would I spend my
money on multpile copies. That should come from their grade level or
Title I in my opinion. Luckily no one has tried to pull that one on me
yet! Good luck Beth Davis :-)
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Renee,
I also work closely with the teachers and as you have great responses
and feedback. I do not buy multiple copies of curriculum material. I
feel that is the relevant department's baby, and they should use their
money for that. I will buy a video or DVD or database to support the
teachers and help the students.
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----
Do the teachers have a budget for instructional materials?
I do not purchase sets. I do catalog a separate collection of paperback
sets purchased with federal funds, grants, etc. These levelized sets
are used in the classroom.
I maintain that the main purpose of the library collection is to provide
books for the students. Of course, I am more than willing to add
titles,
provide materials on magnets, etc. I do have a small video collection
but do not plan to add to it. We have access to many digital videos
through our state public television station. I recommend that teachers
use that source. I did not purchase many videos because I saw the DVD's
coming and did not want to have useless materials. I am old enough to
remember filmstrips and 16 mm films.
I do not have any polite words just support for your decision. You
might say this is how it is handled in AL.
I will help the teachers find a source for paperback books to add to
their collections. BMI is one source. I do not purchase materials that
will be kept in their classroom. I do not purchase bulbs for their
overhead, etc.
That caused somewhat of a stink but I showed them (from previous
librarian) a collection of unused bulbs and projector lamps that no
longer fit anything in the building. It was a waste of money. The
library does not provide pens for the teacher to use grading papers. We
do not provide overhead lamps, laminating film, etc.
Hope you find a solution.
Kim Johnson
Woodstock School K-4
Woodstock, AL
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----
Renee,
My policy has always been that whatever I purchase from my budget stays
in the library. I will purchase professional books, but they stay in
the library and are checked out by the teachers. Any books that are
purchased for the teachers to use in their classrooms are purchased from
other budgets.
Emily Jean Honaker, Library/Media Specialist Delaware Area Career Center
1610 St. Rt. 521 Delaware, Ohio 43015
740-363-1993 ext. 2231
honakere@delawareareacc.org
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----
By reminding them that the library is there to serve ALL the students-
and that 6 or 7 copies of titles that are used exclusively for teaching
reading by one or two teachers do not benefit the other x# of students
in the school - or even in the same class if the books are used for just
one
reading group. Bring out your mission statement which should say
something
to the effect that the library's mission is to complement and support
the entire curriculum. While helping to develop reading skills is a
part of what the library does, it does it so much better if there are a
wide diversity of materials available for readers rather than 7 copies
of the same book. In a controlled reading group it would be efficient
for them all to have the same book, but students need to be able to read
a lot of different books on different levels to become proficient and
that is where libraries excel.
Toni Koontz
Librarian
St.Charles Preparatory School
Columbus,Ohio
akoontz@cdeducation.org
Carpe Diem
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----
NO!!!!!!In Texas it comes out of classroom money function 11
Shirley Patrick, Librarian
Canton Junior High School
1115 South Buffalo St.
Canton, TX 75103
903-567-4329 x 3118
Fax903-567-1298
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----
Hi Renee,
Multiple copies of classroom materials are definitely curriculum and
instruction issues. The library is to supplement not provide curricular
materials. I might purchase a couple of copies of a book that is used
for classroom instruction, but not 7....
Joy Millam
Library Media Goddess/Teacher
Valencia High School
500 N. Bradford Ave
Placentia, CA 92870
714-996-4970 ext-3250
http://www.vhstigers.org/library/welcome.jsp?rn=6507
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----
Renee,
I have always made it my policy not to order classroom sets for
teachers. I help them find the cheapest source and I have used
Scholastic book fair points to purchase sets, but never my book budget.
It is just too small. If the admin wants to give me more money then
sure, I'll do it then.
Good luck
don
Donald Pippin, Librarian
Crystal City High School
-----------------------------------------------------------
Renee,
In my humble opinion, purchasing multiple copies of a book is not a good
use of library funds. Buying class sets is instructional, and as such,
the money used to purchase them should come from the instructional
budget. Buying one or two copies for anyone to use is library.
Trust me, no matter what size school you have, they get plenty of
instructional money to use at their (SBDM, CPOC, or principal)
discretion. I know, I now handle not only the library, but the school
budget.
Sincerely,
Cindy Cooksey
Librarian
ccooksey@psja.k12.tx.us
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----
First of all, realize that all money comes out of the same pocket (the
taxpayers'), so you might see a change in your budget numbers if you
insist that things be done properly. That said, your State accounting
laws might come into play here. Textbook funds are usually accounted for
differently than library funds as far as the auditors are concerned.
As far as explaining to the powers that be about this, you might try
explaining that library books are for everyone, so teachers should not
expect that all seven copies of their novel will be available to them
when they want them, and that you really can't call them back in just
because someone else wants the book. Holes, for example, is a popular
novel, and my three copies are usually out. If a teacher would want to
teach that book, they would be out of luck if they were depending on my
copies for the class. I have no objection to a teacher checking out an
extra copy or two if they are short. I'm not going to buy copies just to
cover their possible shortages, though.
Hope this helps.
--
David Lininger, kb0zke,
MS/HS librarian
Hickory County R-1 Schools
Urbana, MO 65767
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----
Isn't that what curriculum and instruction money is for - the texts that
teachers need to teach their curriculum? I never buy classroom sets of
books - that would be like buying math textbooks from my budget, instead
of the dept budget. I do buy almost everything I'm asked to, but always
make it clear that the item lives in the library, not the dept office. I
think the most of anything I've ever bought is two, because I anticipate
high interest. But I'd rather buy 7 different books for the collection
than 7 of the same book for a classroom teacher to teach with. Good luck
persuading the powers that be.
Teri
Teri Padua / Media Director
Northwestern Regional MS/HS
Winsted, CT 06098
tapadua@yahoo.com
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----
Renee,
It is my opinion that part of the library's mission is to support the
curriculum. I am always willing to purchase books and materials which
are used to support the curriculum. I am also happy to purchase titles
that are requested by teachers and students, if they meet our selection
policy. I will often purchase mutliple copies of fiction titles when
there is a demand for them.
I feel that it is the duty of individual departments and/or the
administration to purchase text books and multiple copies of books which
will be used in class. I am fortunate to belong to a regional
colaborative which has negotiated a generous discount for the purchase
of books and materials. I explain to department heads that I will be
happy to order class sets for them, through the library, with our
discount. The department is responsible for the costs of these items.
I do not have the shelf space to keep these sets in the library so I
don't wish to add them to our collection either.
I have found that most people respect my decisions when I explain the
mission of the library and my rationale for purchases. A good selection
policy would also address this issue.
Good Luck!
Bob Rioux
Robert C. Rioux
Unified Media Specialist
Diman Regional Vocational-Technical High School
251 Stonehaven Road
Fall River, MA 02723
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I have never purchased multiple copies to support curriculum. English
dept. makes those purchases through their budgets. I purchased two to
three copies of titles heavily requested primarily for AR reasons. As
far
as explaining it to the powers that be, I think just a simple statement
to the effect that my budget can't support that and take care of other
departments too. My budget must support the entire school not just one
department. Hope this helps
Maurice
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The only time that I order that many copies of one book is when it is on
the summer reading list. Otherwise teachers will have to buy their own
classroom set.
Saran McDonough
LMS Athens High School
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I would buy them. Your whole purpose is to support the district
curriculum, isn't it? For sets like that I have the prefix LC (for
Literature Circle) and they are shelved separately from my regular
fiction. Of course, when you say "limited budget" I don't know what
that means. I have 900 students and probably spent over $13,000 each
year on just books. My total budget is almost $30,000.
Beth Martin
Teacher Librarian
DC Everest Middle School IMC
bmartin@dce.k12.wi.us
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----
You could point out the unfairness of using library funds to buy books
that will only be used by one class...
Good luck.
Betty Winslow, Media Center Director
BGCA
Bowling Green, OH
bgcalib@wcnet.org
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I put a limit of 5 copies on what I purchase for "novel sets" for the
classroom. My priority is what's in the curriculum and then a balanced
collection. When I do a novel set order, I let the teachers know that
this means they can't have other things. I keep a list of priorities
for them to look at -- if they think they can justify that their
priority is more important than my priority, then we negotiate how we
can make it happen. My last novel set order was for 30 titles and half
the money came from their departments.
We go for bang for the buck and collaborative spending -- works well.
Terry Snodgrass, Librarian
Marysville Middle School Library
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Multiple copies should definitely be purchased with curriculum money.
You might point out that students are now being cheated out of access to
a variety of books since multiple copies for classroom use are being
purchased.
--
Anne Oelke
Library Media Specialist pK-12
Cambria-Friesland School District
Cambria, WI
mailto:cflibrary@cf.k12.wi.us
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Hi Renee,
I don't know what state you are in, but here in Texas, funding is very
carefully tracked--or is supposed to be--and anything used by the
teacher directly for student use in the classroom is considered a
curriculum item and must come from the principal's budget for curriculum
support materials, NOT from the library budget, which is strictly for
library materials (not even audio-video stuff unless used directly by
ONLY the librarian IN the library!!
Our district is really promoting literature circles, so some of the
secondary librarians got permission to purchase up to 5 copies of a book
for literature circles, but even then we are limited to only a very few
title purchases per year.
In addition, the state is really cracking down on classroom funding--65%
of public funds must be spent for IN-Classroom direct teaching materials
and teacher salaries; initially the library wasn't been included in
this, but I believe now it is intended to include libraries in that
65%--but we were pretty scared about budget cuts for awhile!!
My advice would be to first find out what library monies are intended
for, then go to your principal and find out how your school's budget
funds are allocated, explaining that the library is for curriculum
support, not curriculum. Hope you get support for your stand.
Barbara Paciotti, SLMIS
Barbara Bush MS, Irving TX
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Unfortunately, it's up to the PTB whether or not you pay for the books
or if it's under the curriculum and instruction budget instead... and in
theory, your budget can be changed if that is changed.
But, besides that....
It would depend greatly on the book, and the probability of it
circulating a couple of copies (at least) fairly regularly beyond the
single class use. If there was a Dr. Seuss book (for example) that
someone wanted multiple copies of, I might consider it (up to a
reasonable number) because I know that those circulate throughout the
year. The multiples might not all be worth it just for the media
center, but the combined use value is there. On the other hand, if it
was something like "Hatchet" for use only with 5th graders, and of
limited appeal to any others in the school, I'd definitely bring up the
"library/media center is for shared books, not just purchase and storage
for one grade or teacher" idea.
It might be beneficial to sit down with what you've drawn up as a
budget, the SLJ's average book costs, and explain why you're
uncomfortable spending X% of your budget on what are basically
once-a-year-use classroom materials (and the shelf space issue, if you
have one). The feedback after explaining your viewpoint will let you
know if that was taken into consideration when the budget planning was
created or not.
I'm fortunate in that, in general in my county, the line has already
been drawn. Not that I'd never consider it (in that example above, or
for a set of Atlases or similar that I might use in my classes), but the
media center budget isn't *intended* for that purpose, so turning it
down shouldn't cause bad feelings... especially with an explanation and
sympathetic smile.
-Liz Herman
Media Specialist
Hollifield Station and Forest Ridge Elementary Schools Howard County, MD
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