[LM_NET] HIT: elementary book check out - long

[Theresa McRae <77dragonfly@GMAIL.COM>]

Thanks to all that responded!

 

1.     We do class (en masse) checkout every two weeks but have
point-of-need access throughout the school day from 7:30 to the last bell.
Our class period is close to yours--45 minutes--20 for checkout, 25 for
lesson.

2.     This is an ongoing issue with the librarians in my district. 4
elementary schools, 40 minute periods,prep coverage 1 x a week each class. I
"try" to do a 10 minute lesson, 25 minute check out. It's not
easy,especially when students need help.  I am by myself and find that it's
not realistic to even think that all books will be checked in, out, and
shelved. Students 1-3 check out 1 book, 4-6 are allowed 2 but many students
beg for a 3rd and I can't say no.  I have tried the every other week and its
just as hard but it does relieve some pressure. 

3.     I am at a K - 6 and I see the little ones (K - 3) every week and the
4 -6 classes on alternate weeks. I have been doing alternate weeks for 4 - 6
for 6 years, ever since the first year here - I noticed right off that half
the class wanted to renew their thicker chapter books the next week, week
after week - too much bother! Now I let them check out 2 books and a
magazine for a 2 week period. Most don't need a renewal.

 

What I do is this: One week my 5th graders come at certain times, the next
week the 6th graders come, in those same time blocks. I post a (laminated -
make it once a year) notice on my outside door that says "This Week in the
Library: 5th grade" (or 6th grade) then the teachers' names and the day
their class comes (which for me is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). I avoid M
& F because so many holidays fall then. I put my Kinders on Monday and most
of my first grade classes on Friday; they can best afford to miss if
necessary.  

 

If there is a change for the 5th or 6th, I tack a post-it on the day and
write the new day. Each week I switch the signs. The signs can be read as
the classes pass by at lunch or recess. One week my 4th graders come just
for checkout, the next week I visit their classroom (my library is a very
small room with one table and five chairs - hardly room for 35 4th graders
to work on a lesson) and work on library skills. 

4.     I tried every other week check out with 3rd-6th grade.  The kids
wanted books more often than that, so I changed it back to once a week.  I
still have a lot of renewals with upper grades, but most kids get books
every week.  I understand your feeling of being rushed!!!!  I have 50 minute
classes too.

5.     I make good use of volunteers. They do nearly all my check outs and
put away everything. I do weekly check outs.

6.     We go every other week for a 1/2 hour.  The time is spent primarily
in book exchange and if we get that done quickly I usually read a book
and/or do a mini lesson.  We use a flexible schedule so teachers are able to
schedule in for additional lesson time(s) as needed.  So far this is working
well.  I only have 2 classes that come in weekly, one is a special needs
class who need the regularity of weekly visits and the other is a 1st grade
teacher who never knows what week it is so it's just easier to let her come
in weekly.  

The one thing that is really important about an A/B scheduel is to make sure
that it is clearly posted some where as to what week it is.

Otherwise you'll never see some people.

What you could try is a fixed 20 min. every other week for book exchange and
then lessons on the alternate or make lessons flexible and let the teacher
spick when they come in.

 

7.     My vote is for checking out books every time you see those children.
If you see them 50 min each week just keep up with 30 min
instruction/activity and 20 min check out.  Try changing your other
procedures to alleviate the feeling of rushing to get it all done.

8.      I have help, but kids borrow daily.  I think you should think of
another way to have more time - perhaps have the kids help shelve the
Everyone Fiction books - or older ones help shelve the Fiction.  Maybe
volunteers (I have a great one who shelves all our nonfiction)  Kids need
books to read.  

9.     I did every other week checkout for grades 2-5 in my elem. school. I
kept k-1 on a weekly schedule, because they were so young, I didn't want
them to forget that their books were due when they came to the library. (I
tried it with first grade, but they kept bringing back their books after a
week, so I left it at a week.) Two weeks was too much for them to remember.

10.  I do checkout every other week for my 3rd and 4th grade classes, but
checkout every week for K, 1st and 2nd. It works well, however I do have to
send out emails to remind teachers that it is or is not a checkout week.  I
also allow students to come in anytime with a pass, so if they really need a
book to read, they can get one.

11.  We seem to be in the same boat. I see my classes for 50 minutes each
week & am the lone ranger in my library. I have tried to change to 25
minutes instruction/25 minutes check out. I also have used a timer & given
students 5 minutes maximum (sometimes less time) to check out books. I hate
rushing kids, but some of them will take the entire time if I let them. I do
have open checkout before & after school so they can always come during that
time.



12.  I am having my students (grades 1-5) check out books every other
week.This is my first year in the library, and so far it is working.
Besides getting a break from shelving books every week, it also gives me
time to collaborate with teachers on skill lessons and do rotating centers
with PreK and Kinder classes. I have 45 minutes with each class and I have
them check out books a table at a time. Sometimes I have back to back
classes , so a timer works to keep everyone on track and finished by the
time the next class comes in. I need this structure because I am also  by
myself ,and  Library time is rotated with PE and Computer Lab so teachers
are on their conference time and do not come in with their classes

13.  I'm trying a new way of doing things with all of the students.

This year I finally feel less rushed, more in control, and at ease.

Students come in and immediately get to work on a Do Now! assignment.  

(Read and illustrate a poem, Journal writing, literature
puzzles)...something that they can work on independently.  Students are at
Team Tables...4 kids per table...each kid has a job.  One of the jobs is
Librarian.  Each team has a turn getting up to select a book (3 minutes
max).  The Librarian checks the books for the team out.  I trained them
(even the little ones) and I supervised for the first month.  

I made library cards for each student with the barcode on it and connected
each Team's cards w/ brass fastener.  We have our total checkout time down
to 10 minutes...and I hope to get it down to 8...I only see my kiddos for 35
minutes.

14.   My lessons are 40 minutes long.  I reserve the last 10 minutes for
check out.  I do have a full time media assistant though.  We have fourth
and fifth grade helpers.  They do check out during media time occasionally.
The students use the last ten minutes of class to check out on their media
day only.  I see 550 students per week.  My open circulation hours are 7:50
- 10:00 and 1:00 - 2:00.  Usually between 8:00 - 8:40, we see over 300 kids.
Some teachers did not see a problem with this.  I couldn't believe it.  They
should try teaching with all those kids in the media center.  We have it
worked out a little better now.  The teachers can only send 2 students at a
time from their classrooms during open circulation.  If the classes that
have media that day do not send their students during open circulation, but
during their scheduled media time, then that takes approximately 100 kids
out of the mix.  The students can also check out two books at one time.  I
haven't seen where this helps all this much yet.  They are to read two and
then return two.  They cannot read one, return it, check out another and
repeat the cycle.  The purpose was to ease up the numbers for circulation. 

 

Theresa McRae
SLMS, WCPS, MD
77dragonfly@gmail.com


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