LM_NET: Library Media Networking
I have never posted a HIT before so here goes. Thanks to all who shared=20
information about use of their libraries by "drop-in" students. As usual=
=20
on lm_net, there is a broad spectrum of approaches to a problem. In this=
=20
case, everything from the library-as-prison to total laissez-faire! I=20
hope these ideas help some of you with the same concerns.
Warning - this is pretty long - I had about 32 responses.
From: Catherine Dehn <0011ash@InforMNs.k12.MN.US>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
Debbie, Two weeks ago I posted a similar article. Our school will be going
to 8 periods over a two day cycle. One of those eight periods will be an
enrichment period of 85 minutes. We are a school of 2800 students and one
media specialist...me. I am trying to gear up for the fall to combat with
2800 students travelling during this time. If you have any results from
your query, I am most anxious to be enlightened. Thanks.In article
--=20
Catherine Dehn, Media Generalist
Anoka High School
Anoka, MN 55303-1261
From: Copiague High School <chslib@TRANSIT.NYSER.NET>
To: Multiple recipients of list LM_NET <LM_NET@suvm.acs.syr.EDU>
Subject: Re: the studyhall syndrome
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
From: Nancy Roberts <nroberts@clovis.esd171.wednet.edu>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
Debbie, Wow, I really sympathize with you. I did my student teaching at=20
Interlake High about 7 years ago and it was the librarian there=20
(Meredith...I've forgotten her last name) who really encouraged me to get=
=20
my MLS and not just an endorsement and to do an internship in a school=20
library. Thanks to her great advice, I got my MLS, worked for a year as=20
a children's librarian and now am a middle school librarian. About your=20
problem--could you organize some kind of rotating system? Certain grade=20
levels can spend their "free" period in the library on certain=20
days...people whose names begin with A - M can use the library certain=20
periods? Do the district librarian's meet as a group--a bunch of=20
intelligent, determined people should be able to come up with a plan to=20
satisfy the administration, the students and the teachers. Good luck.
Nancy Robertson
Cashmere Middle School
Cashmere, WA
nroberts@esd171.wednet.edu
=20
From: "K. Gary Ambridge" <kga@umd5.umd.edu>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
Debbie:
In my school district there are 26 high schools. Some are larger than the=
=20
ones you mentioned. Some have traditional schedules (7 periods) and some=20
have 4 period schedules- but none have any aides and all have only one=20
librarian per school.
Gary
kga@umd5.umd.edu, Baltimore, Maryland
From: Guusje Zimmerman Moore <guusje@tenet.edu>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
I find it sort of scary that 100-150 kids are "loose" for an hour each=20
day durng the school day wiht no place to go and no real supervision. =20
Granted Houston is big city with big city problems but I'd start to worry=
=20
about drug dealing in the parking lot, drive bys, crime, fights and any=20
number of other nasties..and the school district being liable.=20
Guusje Moore
Librarian, Housman Elementary School
Houston, Texas
guusje@tenet.edu
From=20athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us Thu Feb 9 10:38:47 1995
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 11:34:39 -0700
From: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
To: Multiple recipients of list LM_NET <LM_NET@suvm.acs.syr.EDU>
Subject: student "open periods"/library use
Over the past few months, discussions have developed around the problems
of maintaining a learning environment in a school library. In my school
district (Bellevue, Washington), we have four large (1000-1500) high
schools (yes, I suppose to some of you that's not large!). We also have
site-based management. Each of our high schools has adopted a schedule
which has seven periods, and students take only six classes (with a few
exceptions). The result is that 150-200 students are free each period,
and, as you might imagine, many of them choose to spend this time in the
library. Our teachers love this schedule - they have two prep periods
daily. We have none and have huge influxes of drop-ins, often with
nothing in particular to do. And of course, we are working with the
classes signed up to use the library. There is some variation between
buildings as to number of library staff (I have 2 - other schools have 3,
4 and 5) and as to what other places are available in the building for
kids to go. I feel as though this schedule is built on the backs of the
librarians. What we librarians would like to know is - is this a common
type of schedule, or are we in a really small minority? I have never
posted a HIT, but if there is interest in my responses, I will.
From: LCATALDO%ONONDAGA.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: student "open periods"/library use
From
Hi'
I am a media specialist in a small high school(560) and we have 8 per=
iods
a day. Some students have 2-3 study halls a day and choose to spend time =
in t
he media center. At the ASLA conference tthis year, I learned about a Read=
ing
for credit course that students with several study halls could take and get=
1/2
credit(elective) to use toward graduation. We are in the process of estab=
lish
ing such a course at our school. It would be open to all students and whil=
e it
doesn't solve the problem of the kids coming to the library, at least they =
woul
d have something to do with this time. If you want more information my e-m=
ail
address is lcataldo@ononadaga.bitnet
Lucia Cataldo
From=20MAGYAR@DRYCAS.CLUB.CC.CMU.EDU Thu Feb 9 10:40:18 1995
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 19:58:58 -0500 (EST)
From: MAGYAR@DRYCAS.CLUB.CC.CMU.EDU
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
We have an open policy in our library, and yes, we DO have problems with
noise levels and discipline problems, and the full-gamut of disciplinarians
from laissez-faire to "fifty demerits for smiling!". But we don't seem to
have any major problems, but then we also have 3 librarians and 3 FTE staff=
.
If you do come across any creative ideas, please post them to the list!
David Riley
Loyola Academy
Wilmette, IL
P.S. We are a 9-12 high school, coed, of around 2000 students.
From=20faithw@cais.cais.com Thu Feb 9 10:40:25 1995
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 20:31:13 -0500 (EST)
From: Faith Williams <faithw@cais.cais.com>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
Here at Cardozo H.S. in D.C., students need a pass to come during regular=
=20
class periods but not during lunch periods of which there are three each=20
day. Sometimes we are also teaching classes in this time and it gets very=
=20
noisy and unruly. We have three librarians, no aide, and need three=20
partly because of these wild lunchperiods so there will usually be two of=
=20
us. Then one can summon help if we need it. I will be interested to see=
=20
what others say. =20
>=20
From=20h9041025@llohio.wviz.csuohio.edu Thu Feb 9 10:40:32 1995
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 21:21:27 -0500 (EST)
From: Kathleen Marsh <h9041025@llohio.wviz.csuohio.edu>
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
=09Your situation sounds very much like mine. If someone sends you a
miraculous solution, please forward it to me. My current solution is to be
VERY strict with the students who are not doing library work (limiting the
number of students at a table, where they sit, no talking, no passes,
etc.)Unfortunately, it takes too much of my time to keep the bedlam to a
minimum, and this is at the expense of the students who really do need my
help. Our schedule is 8 periods a day, with one for lunch. And of course
the students who really would do research are motivated to take more classe=
s
- it's the underachievers who take it easy and schedule themselves a
studyhall or two. Are you working under a teaching contract? If so, you
should take a prep. =20
--=20
Kathleen Marsh (h9041025@llohio.wviz.csuohio.edu)
Euclid High School, library media specialist
711 East 222nd Street=09=09=09=09phone:(216)2600 ext.352
Euclid, Ohio 44143=09=09=09=09FAX: (216) 261-3655 =20
From=20bhamilt@tenet.edu Thu Feb 9 10:40:38 1995
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 21:56:42 -0600 (CST)
From: Betty Dawn Hamilton <bhamilt@tenet.edu>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
Yes, Debbie, our use has increased tremendously since we've gone to the=20
block schedule. That's great, but like you, my aides and I do not have=20
time for a break and hardly a bathroom stop! (not for general=20
publication of course :-) !)
Betty
From=20ac862@freenet.buffalo.edu Thu Feb 9 10:40:46 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 08:13:52 -0500
From: Donna Carroll <ac862@freenet.buffalo.edu>
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
Our students are assigned to a study hall teacher during"free"
time. They have the option/privilege of signing up in the
library if there are no classes schedlued for library use.
This system works very well. Maybe your teachers could use one=20
of their prep periods each day as a study hall too. Good luck!
--
=09Donna Carroll
=09=09Alden High School
=09=09=09Alden, NY 14004
=09=09=09=09ac862@freenet.buffalo.edu
From=20klowe@FSCVAX.FSC.MASS.EDU Thu Feb 9 10:40:51 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 08:32:36 EST
From: Kathy Lowe <klowe@FSCVAX.FSC.MASS.EDU>
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: Student library use
Debbie,
=09My high school also has a 7 period day. We have only 500 students.
Students are assigned to study halls when they have no classes. Some stude=
nts
take only 5 classes, so these students have two studies a day. Students ca=
n
come to the library during study periods only if they have signed up in
advance. I put out a set of sign-up sheets on the library desk everyday
for the next days studies. Students can stop in before school, on their wa=
y
to classes, or after school to sign up for the next day. When I have a cla=
ss
coming to the library, I either close the library that period (my library i=
s
very small, so I close it if the class is large), or I limit the number of
students who can sign up. When there are no classes scheduled to come to t=
he
library, 25 students can sign up. Once my list is full, that's it - others
students must remain in their study halls.
=09I've been using this system for two years now and I really like it.
It requires students to think ahead and it also makes them accountable to m=
e
for their behavior. They know that if they're not using the library appro-
priately, I won't let them sign up for awhile. We used to require that=20
students get passes from their subject teachers to come to the library. I
hated that system because I had to check passes (students sometimes forged
them) every period and when I did have a problem with a student, I had to
let the teacher who isssued the pass know and ask them to stop writing pass=
es
for that student. It was a real pain in the neck and it gave the impressio=
n
that the classroom teachers had more say over who used the library during
studies than I did. Now the students and the teachers know that I am in
charge. It makes things a little hectic before homeroom period in the=20
morning (when most students sign up for that day), but once everyone gets u=
sed
to the routine, it works quite smoothly and it totally eliminates the drop-=
in
problem. (I rarely allow students to come in if they haven't signed up in
advance unless there is a really good reason).
=09I hope this is helpful to you. Let me know what you decide to do.
=09Kathy Lowe
=09Lunenburg High School (MA)
=09klowe@fscvax.fsc.mass.edu
From=20TERESAH@SELCO.LIB.MN.US Thu Feb 9 10:40:58 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 8:32:33 -0600 (CST)
From: "Teresa Holten, Lyle Public School" <TERESAH@SELCO.LIB.MN.US>
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: Open periods
I find myself in a similar situation: I am a one-person department who is
expected to not only handle drop-ins, scheduled classes, and last-minute=20
projects, but also supervise seven study halls out of a seven-hour day! =20
The rationalebehind this stroke-of-genuis scheduling is that 1)the district
doesn't want to hire another person as a monitor, and 2) there is no place
else to put these warm bodies: all other classrooms are spoken for, often
shared by two or three teachers. Your situation is proof positive that
my situation could, indeed, be worse. At least I max out at 36 people!
I hope you can come up with a workable solution.
Teresa Holten=09=09Lyle Public School
Media Generalist=09Lyle, MN 55953
teresah@selco.lib.mn.us
From=20chslib@transit.nyser.net Thu Feb 9 10:41:06 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 10:00:02 -0500 (EST)
From: Copiague High School <chslib@transit.nyser.net>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
In my experience, most high schools have free periods for their=20
students. Even the ones that don't assign kids to "study halls" when=20
they don't have classes. And the kids do wind up in the library. =20
Because my school has the study hall system (loosely controlled) I am=20
able to control the traffic by setting quotas each period. I am also=20
able to close the library to s.h. students when I have classes. Any=20
teacher who has brought a class to the library can appreciate the need to=
=20
have my undivided attention. This is a problem that should be worked out=
=20
with your site-based management team. By the way, your staffing sounds=20
terrfic. Do you mean multiple professionals, or are you counting=20
clericals also?
Joyce Smith
Copiague HS
Copiague, NY
From=20popeda@heidelberg-emh2.army.mil Thu Feb 9 10:41:16 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 95 16:15:42 CET (1515Z)
From: Pope <popeda@heidelberg-emh2.army.mil>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
We too have 7 periods, teachers have 2 off, but there are no free periods
for kids. No study halls. If we need 7 periods, we ought to have kids
engaged for them all. If kids don't need 7 periods, forget them and have
6.
It will take staff, but either you need 7 or you don't.
Dana Pope
popeda@heidelberg-emh2.army.mil
From=20tpsterch@sacam.OREN.ORTN.EDU Thu Feb 9 10:41:21 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 10:16:50 -0500 (EST)
From: Teresa P Sterchi <tpsterch@sacam.OREN.ORTN.EDU>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
Please do post a hit. Our school is considering block scheduling and=20
this is one of the concerns we have about our library use. Thanksfor=20
your timely question.
Teresa P. Sterchi, Librarian=09=09tpsterch@sacam.oren.ortn.edu
McMinn County High School=09=09(615) 745-4142 (W)
Athens, TN 37303=09=09=09(615) 334-9749 (H)
From=20syahng@eis.calstate.edu Thu Feb 9 10:41:27 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 08:11:51 -0800 (PST)
From: Sue Yahng <syahng@eis.calstate.edu>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
We have 600 (and growing), 2 staff, and similar problems. I now am=20
assigned up to 6 students/period for "study hall" in the mornings. In the=
=20
afternoon, there are usually 30 kids in here who are waiting for the last=
=20
class. I try to keep them quiet and ignore them. Your situation sounds=20
worse as most of our unscheduled are periods 1, 6, & 7 so many go home.
Sue Yahng=09=09=09=09=09syahng@eis.calstate.edu
Piedmont High School =09=09=09=09VOICE (510)420-3631 or 3632
800 Magnolia Ave.
Piedmont, CA 94611-4087
From=20KBW_INGLIS@MEC.OHIO.GOV Thu Feb 9 10:41:39 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 11:58:08 -0500 (EST)
From: KBW_INGLIS@MEC.OHIO.GOV
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
[The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set]
[Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set]
[Some characters may be displayed incorrectly]
My hunchis that this is not the norm, especially in this day
of lawsuits and accountability. I=FF=FBt seems t=FF=FBo me that if
a school ims providing "free" time, they ought to have a var=EFkiety
of alternatives for students to use. What =FF=FBsome schools have
done is make library admission contingent upon a note from a
subject area teacher =FF=FB=FF=FB. Th=FF=FBisb=FF=FBso=FF=FBunds severe, b=
ut it works.
Yes we want to be a welcoming center, but we are not just an
alternate spaace. I apologize for any line noise that may have
garbled part of this message. Let me know what else you hear -
and I would love to know how big your library is. And I wish
we=FF=FB=FF=FB t=A9=FFere back in Seattle. We lived on=F8=C4 =FF=FBSand Po=
int Way for
6 years back in=FF=FB the 60s! Kari Inglis kbw_inglis@mec.ohio.gov
From=20lewisp@NICAD3.NIC.BC.CA Thu Feb 9 10:41:46 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 09:31:05 EST
From: lewisp@NICAD3.NIC.BC.CA
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: RE: student "open periods"/library use
We have the same problem, but on a smaller scale, as our school is only
800 students. Most of our seniors have "spares", and as we have no
cafeteria or other place for students to study together or talk, most come
to the library. We do have carpeted stairs in our foyer where they can go,
but the library is more comfortable. We seem to have reached a compromise
in which they are welcome here if they have quiet library work to do. If
they are not working, my aide or I quietly ask them to come again another
day. When they were given spares, they were told these rules, so there is
little complaint, and over the years it seems to have generally worked
out al right for all concerned. I should add, though, that we do have
lots of room. I wixh you luck in your struggle.
Pat Lewis
Teacher Librarian
Highland Secondary
Comox, B.C.
(Bellevue High, Class of '65)
From=20estewar@eis.calstate.edu Thu Feb 9 10:41:54 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 09:47:13 -0800 (PST)
From: "Eunice C. Stewart" <estewar@eis.calstate.edu>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
Debbie, I would be interested in your responses. Fortunately, in my=20
2,000 student high school we don't have an open period but we still have=20
your problem - before school and during our two lunch periods. Sorry, I=20
don't have any solutions for you, but I'd certainly be interested in your=
=20
sharing any that anyone else sends you. Thanks. Eunice Stewart, C.K.=20
McClatchy H.S., Sacramento (estewar@ctp.org)
From=20lrobert@odowd.pvt.k12.ca.us Thu Feb 9 10:41:59 1995
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 11:22:14 -0800
From: Lois Roberts <lrobert@odowd.pvt.k12.ca.us>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
>
>Dear Debbie--that doesn't feel fair at all. At our school, over the years
the head librarian (yes, we have two for a student body of 1050) has
established the support that no one may come to the library except with a
pass for research from the subject teacher for whom the research is being
done, or have a CSF card, or be a class which has signed up to come, except
for before school, after school, their lunch period (we have two), or
activity period (nutrition break). We have a seven period day (E period
overlaps in time on most schedules, but the students and teachers with E1
class lunch E2 and vice versa) but all students must have classes scheduled
for each period, or a study hall. Study hall is presumed to be a quiet
study, and students only come from study hall to the library with the above
mentioned pass or CSF card. Is all that clear as mud?
Write back if confused. (or call 510-577-9151) good luck. Lois
Lois Roberts Bishop O'Dowd HS Library, Oakland, Ca lrobert@odowd.pvt.k12.ca=
.us
From=20MISSNERM@vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu Thu Feb 9 10:42:05 1995
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 1995 07:20:48 -0600 (CST)
From: MISSNERM@vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: open periods
Date sent: 21-JAN-1995 07:18:05=20
We have the same kind of schedule. However, the school commons is open=20
all day and many students choose to go there to talk. We have some kids=20
who hang out in the LMC. The lunch periods are the worst, but not=20
unbearable. We have three media specialists and two of us are more relaxed=
=20
than the third which is a problem because of consistency. More students=
=20
are respectful and disciplined, but there is talking and it is not real=20
quiet place. Michele
Michele Missner
Appleton High School West
610 N. Badger
Appleton, wi 54914
voice (414) 832-4162 (business)
730-0768 (home)
fax (414) 832-6239
Bitnet - missnerm@oshkoshw
Internet - missnerm@vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu
From=20Bunkiew@aol.com Thu Feb 9 10:42:12 1995
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 1995 10:00:12 -0500
From: Bunkiew@aol.com
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/li...
Dear Debbie,
Our school is alot smaller (700, 7th-12th) here in Maine, but this is how w=
e
avoid "drop ins" into the Media. Students have free periods that we call
student prep. periods. When a student has this period he must sign into th=
e
Student Prep. room,(like a study hall) and from the student prep room he/sh=
e
may sign out to the media/library TO DO WORK. Once a student is in the Med=
ia
area he/she signs in. They must abide by the quiet area atmosphere (quiet
conversation, whispering or as close to it thats reasonable) or they are
asked to return to the Student Prep. room. A student who is not in a Stude=
nt
Prep. time and does come into the Media/library, must give us a pass that
states: room from, time left, checked off reason to Media (Book return,
research , other), we sign time arrived and then we sign time left when the=
y
leave to return to class room and we sign the pass. The pass eliminates t=
he
drifters that are not interested in working and usually end up causing
trouble. Even after school until late bus(5PM) the kids appreciate that the=
y
can come in to work. Its much more casual after school, but an area to wor=
k.
=20
We have a calendar in our work room where classes sign up to use the Media.
When a class is in the Media we reserve one half of the space for the clas=
s
and then that leaves one half for other student use. Students realize that
when a class is in, the noise level is higher, so we try to notify Student
Prep that a class will be in. That way students can decide if they want to
work in the Media from Student Prep.
Once in awhile when a teacher is in a panic time situation and HAS to use t=
he
Media on a certain day, we will allow two classes in, but we will shut down
the Media to other students during that period of time. We feel that closi=
ng
down the Media is a hardship on the student body as a whole, so we really =
do
not promote this and rarely do it. Teachers are respecting this and are
planning ahead and signing up. I think we have closed the Media down once
so far this year.
Teachers can send students to the Media from class, but six or more student=
s
from one class needs to be accompanied by the teacher.
=20
We also are open from 7:30AM to 7:30PM. The Media Specialist comes in at
7:30AM and I come in mid morning and stay til 7:30PM.=20
Hope this is helpful, let me know if you need more info..our Media, like al=
l
schools, is a very busy, hectic, hustle and bustle
area!! But, we have cut down on the student who is just passing thru who
could be a potential behaviorally problem. =20
Have a great day,
Bunkie Wilson
Readfield, Maine
Bunkiew@AOL.COM
From=20dlott@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu Thu Feb 9 10:42:29 1995
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 95 17:58 EST
From: "Doris V. Lott" <dlott@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu>
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
We have SRT, Student Resource Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays for one
and one half hours. At first we were getting 350 kids during this time.
This is standing room only in our library! So, we wrote a policy for
library use during this time, had it oked by the principal and published
it. Then, we stood at the door to greet every student to ask what they
were working on. They must be working on a research project. It took=20
a while to convince both students and teachers that they must follow
our rules. Now, we get around 100 students and they are mostly working.
We are able to help individuals and send those who are "goofing off"
back to class. I find this the hardest part of our job. How does one
keep the library warm and fuzzy and still maintain a place were education
can take place? The best way I have found is to manage by written policy.
Everyone can read the policy. Every question or happening can be responded
to by the policy. You are not trying to decide how to handle every=20
situation that comes up and you do not treat one student different than
another. Also, we try to treat every student and teacher as if they were
our most dearest friend or relative. Easy? Not always. I have to work on
it all the time. Good luck.
--
Doris V. Lott 313-214-1491
Monroe High School
901 Herr Road Monroe, MI 48161
dlott@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu
From=20library3@bit.csc.lsu.edu Thu Feb 9 10:42:35 1995
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 1995 21:47:11 -0600
From: Scotlandville HS #3 <library3@bit.csc.lsu.edu>
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: Re: open period
Debbie:
I sent this note earlier in the week, but it got bounced back. I'm having
some trouble with dropped and changed letters, but I'll try it anyway. The=
re
are no schools around here that have the type of schedule you described. I=
t
sounds like a nightmare. Do the students have a study hall for one period, =
or
are they actually free to go where they please? If they have to be somewhe=
re,
is the library one of the places they can choose to be? Our students take
7 classes, unless they are seniors and get out of school early. Some stude=
nts
do have an open period, but they are assigned as aides to library, office o=
r
guidance. Even so, we used to have quite a hassle dealilng with students w=
ho
roamed and wanted to drop in. We have instituted a very strict hall pass
policy. Unless the student has a hall pass from a teacher which specifical=
ly
states that she is to come to the library, we send her back to where we thi=
nk
whe belongs. If you don't get an answer you can use, you may want to go in=
to
the LM_NET archives at AskERIC. There was some discussion on this topic
during the past year, and I remember there were some good pieces of advice.
One was to have students sign in when coming into the library with their
names and their purpose for being there. Then you can check on them and se=
e
that they are really working/reading/viewing, and send them on their way if
they are not. It certainly is not fair to the teachers and students who ar=
e
in the library to accomplish a task to be disturbed by a group of kids who =
are
only there to hang out or socialize. Good luck.
=09~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=09Gail Hawkes
=09Istrouma High School and Technology Academy
=09Baton Rouge, Louisiana
=09ghawkes@scotmhs.fred.org
=09~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From=20dcarter@bud.peinet.pe.ca Thu Feb 9 10:42:47 1995
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 1995 17:16:49 -0400 (AST)
From: Don Carter <dcarter@bud.peinet.pe.ca>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
I operate in a senior H.>S of 1000+ students with a four period day. Most=
=20
of the grade 12 students have a free period and thus the pootential for=20
the same sort of problem you suffer from arises. The administration's=20
solution was to require each such student to choose an alternative for=20
that period from either library, study (cafeteria) or home (i.s. leave=20
the building within ten minutes of class ending). This has worked=20
reasonably well so far since it was made clear to them that only those=20
students seriously interested in doing some work should choose the=20
library option. I have had several students who did not take this warning=
=20
seriously transferred to the study period in the cafeteria over the past=20
several years and the news has got around apparently.
Hope this info is of some use to
Don carter, Colonel Gray H.S. Charlottetown, PEI, Canada.
--
"His had been an intellectual decision =20
founded on his conviction that if a little =20
knowledge was a dangerous thing, a lot =20
was lethal." - Tom Sharpe =20
From=20SCOLBY@LSUVM.SNCC.LSU.EDU Thu Feb 9 10:42:55 1995
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 1995 23:25:16 CST
From: Sandy Colby <SCOLBY@LSUVM.SNCC.LSU.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list LM_NET <LM_NET@suvm.acs.syr.EDU>
Subject: TARGET>assigned study hall in library
Netters:
Please show the knowledge and power of LM_NET by answering questions about
assigned study halls in the library, with an emphasis on secondary, but not
excluding others. I'm going to give your responses to a high school librari=
an
who has never witnessed the power of the net:
1. How do you manage when large numbers of students (up to 210 during the f=
inal
period) are assigned to the library for study hall?
2. and how have you approached your administrators/faculty about the dilemm=
a
the library staff confronts when given additional duties?
Thank you for your help. If there is a large response I'll post a hit.
=20
SANDY COLBY SCOLBY@LSUVM.SNCC.LSU.EDU GRADUATE STUDENT
SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
BATON ROUGE
************************************************************
From=20ejackson@k12.oit.umass.edu Thu Feb 9 10:43:03 1995
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 1995 08:00:12 -0500
From: Betsy Jackson <ejackson@k12.oit.umass.edu>
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: security
Thanks for your comments on the security system and open library periods.=
=20
We are looking at 3M system -- I guess nothing in foolproof. Does your
computer signal interfere with your system. How far away are the two in
order for them to function will ? My school (1000 or so boys hs) has no
study periods, so we get an average of 75 - 100 per period. sometimes I
just close off a particular area- I have one part time assistant. We are
not allowed to close at all during the eday, and while I do have assigned
faculty proctors during peak periods, we still spend lots of our time
patrolling, so to speak. Love to "chat" with you -- Betsy Jackson, Boston
--
From=20bookworm@teleport.com Thu Feb 9 10:43:09 1995
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 1995 10:37:05 -0800
From: Bette Dennerline <bookworm@teleport.com>
To: Debbie Athanases <athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us>
Subject: Re: student "open periods"/library use
Debbie,
I was MOST interesyted to see your situation because this is/has been an
issue with our library for YEARS. I am new to the school this year but have
been inundated with "past history". We have 8 periods and the majority of
students have "campus pass" one of those, our lunches (3) are 50 min. long
and the cafeteria is small and noisy so students eat and leave. We have, if
you can believe it i Oregon, a Califonia style campus with seperate
buildings and NO commons area. If students are not in class we are the only
place to go out of the rain except the cafeteria. It is a constant problem
but short of building a commons area I don't see a solution. We have 1600
students 10-12 .
Let me know what you hear from others.
Bette Dennerline, Library Media Specialist
Hillsboro High School Library
Hillsboro, Oregon 97123
Dennerb@hilhi.hillsborouh.k12.or.us
WWW page <http://spartan1.hillsborough.k12.or.us/HHS.home/>
From=20nvj000@admin.connect.more.net Thu Feb 9 10:43:15 1995
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 1995 11:11:41 -0600
From: Harriette Arkin <nvj000@admin.connect.more.net>
To: athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Subject: Student open periods in Library
Students in our school have many "free" periods a day. We have an
inovative program--students meet some classes only 3 days a week and are
free the other two days. They're supposed to use this time for study, etc.
Many try to use the library for a lounge. It's a problem!
LM_NET
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