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You have an administrative problem when students are actually assigned to the library as a study hall; you have no library! Your administrators have to realize this. Do you have the support of the staff? Surely they know the library can't be used for research, lessons, etc., when it is a dumping ground. In my own situation (a 9-12 high school), I control who and how many come in to the library, but I have a supportive principal. Study hall teachers are given "quota sheets" that specify the number of students permitted in the library that day for that period from each study hall. Students sign the sheets and arrive en masse with them. Stragglers or "extras" return to whence they came. Students from lunch may come to the library only with special passes that we printed up--large, bright papers with the period number on it (each period gets a different color, and the papers are laminated for durability). Fifteen passes are issued, and each is individually numbered. The student signs out of the lunchroom and then signs in at the library. During class time, a teacher may send up to five students to work in the library, but the operative word is work. I do not accept anyone who has nothing to do, or who cannot tell me his/her assignment. When I have a class scheduled to use the library, it is closed to study halls and lunchroom, except for special circumstances (my decision). This was not the case when I started this job, three years ago. But I sat down with the principal and talked about what my job is all about and what the library is all about. Fortunately, he agreed. And I believe the faculty is supportive of my efforts to build a good program. Joyce Smith Copiague HS Copiague, NY