Re: Summer book check out?

[Irene Clise <iclise1@MICKEY.ESD113.WEDNET.EDU>]

Thanks, Sandra for opening the dialog on summer check-out.  I'm in a
newly opened high school that was given quite a substantial budget for
materials (video, CDROM resources, books, periodicals--i.e. any kind of
information resources) and as we came to the end of the year last year I
knew I did not want all those wonderful resources to lay fallow for the
summer--it seemed so unfair.

One thing I have realized for a long time is that a lot of high school
students really like to read--they just don't have a lot of spare time
during the school year--with academics, athletics, clubs, jobs, etc.  So
I offered to ALL students AND staff that anyone could check out up to
four items (videos, included) over the summer. Since we do have a fairly
high transcient population because of being close to two military base
and for other reasons, I had students interested take home a form
informing the parents what their child wanted to do and have them sign
permission for them to check items out and stating the parents would
assist in accepting responsibility for getting items back if they did move.

We had over 1000 items checked out for the summer (including some CD-ROM
programs and several videos).  All of them except three items were
returned within the first week of school!!  I even had four items
returned to me from Korea!

I produced a list of suggested reading for college-bound students, but
encouraged any student to take advantage of this.  I will continue this
this summer, and hopefully get even a better response.  I feel it's not
only beneficial to the kids, but great public relations for the
community.  Some of the videos and some books (like Tom Clancy, etc) were
checked out for parents to read (the kids told me that).  I approve and
encourage all schools to try this.  It's such a shame to have all these
great materials just sit!!

I did let staff know when we would be in during the summer (both my
library technician and I have extended contracts.  She has twenty days
and I have ten days.) We divide our time during the summer when we know
shipments will be coming in and try to work some days together.  Some
staff came in those dates to check our more videos to view -- some for
pleasure and some for checking for curriculum use while they had down
time.  We allowed more than four items to be checked out by them.

I apologize for such a lengthy response, but I am so glad you asked this
question.

Irene Clise
Library Media Specialist
River Ridge High School
Olympia, Washington
iclise1@mickey.esd113.wednet.edu

On Sun, 30 Oct 1994, Sandra M Barron wrote:

> Our high school is investigating a summer reading program i.e. a list of
> books students "should" read over the summer to prepare for the next
> grade. If you have such a program, please forward the any information.
> Questions:  How do you check out and keep track of the books?
> For the whole summer? or for a period of time? is the school library open
> during the summer? is the librarian paid extra? are the students
> "required" to read the books? are they tested upon return to school? are
> students encouraged to buy the books? is the reading list for one subject
> (ex. English) or across the curriculum?  ANY info would be helpful.
> Thanks.
>
> Sandy Barron
> Tomball High School                  "Making a difference"
> Tomball, Texas
> sbarron@tenet.edu
>