HIT: Kindergarten Circ. Policies, part 2

[Dunrobins@AOL.COM]

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Beth, I'm a believer in getting books into the hands and homes of
children as soon as possible.  We are an inner city school, pre-K to 5,
and many of the children do not own books.
     Both my preK and Kinder classes get one library class on book care and a
note to send home to parents about the nature of borrowing.  As soon as
that note is returned, they are allowed to borrow one book at a time.
They are given a book bag and told to transport the book back and forth to
school that way.  The computer is programmed to state the book is due one
week later--however I'm very liberal.  It can be brought back the next day
and exchanged for another, or it can be savored for a month.
     I can honestly tell you that we have not had ANY trouble with loss or
non-returns of these books (I have much more trouble getting my fifth graders
to return books.)  I DO have some difficulty with abuse of books--wet,
written in, torn--that type of thing.  I continue to reinforce book care in
all of my lessons, and the teachers work on it in the classroom.  We do
charge the families for destroyed books, as it states in the letter
they have signed in the beginning of the year.
     All in all, it has been a very gratifying experience.  The little ones
love to choose their books and bring them home, and I think it is VERY
important that the parents have the opportunity to read and share these
wonderful books.
Anne Knickerbocker                           Cedar Brook Elementary
Librarian                                    2121 Ojeman
SBISD     Houston, Texas 77080
aknicker@tenet.edu                           (713) 365-5020
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For two years I did K-5 in an itinerant position and there was no library
service on the days I was not there.  Teachers could come in and get
whatever they needed, but not students.
    I started checking books out to all students regardless of grade at their
first library period.  Some of the kindergarten teachers did not allow
their students to take the books home, others did.
     Students k-2 were restricted to the easy books unless they had a
recommendation from their teacher stating they could handle the reading
of the more difficult ones.  I sometimes made exceptions for nonfiction
books that were in a student's particular interest, reasoning that he
would at least get something from the pictures.
     I only allowed one book out per student and books were due the following
week.  If the book was not returned, the student could not check out another.
 With this system and the help of principals at year's end,
my book losses were minimal.
Va. Martinmartinv@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us
Ketron Middle School
Kingsport, TN
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While I was doing my library student teaching, I helped set up a checkout
system for kindergartners. For each kindergarten classroom we had a large
canvas bag. We hand-picked a selection of books, enough for each student to
have one and then a few extra for choice. We printed and laminated a list of
the books in each bag. The list had spaces for the title, the child's
name, and the dates checked out and returned. Each bag, with its laminated
list was checked out to a particular classroom, and every month the bags
were rotated so that each classroom had a changing collection of books.
Kindergarten teachers were responsible for checking out the books and
making sure they were all returned before the bag went to its next
location. In this way we limited the selection to books that were age
appropriate and did not include any of our autographed copies or more
valuable works. It gave the small ones a chance to take books home and
learn about borrowing and book care. This project wasn't begun until
sometime in March, and prior to that Kindergartners did not have check-out
privileges.

Hope this helps.
Gayle Hodur
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X-From:LYNNJA@TEN-NASH.TEN.K12.TN.US (Jo Ann Ayers Lynn)

Hi, Beth--I let kindergarteners check out books shortly after school
starts, too, but not take them home until perhaps after Thanksgiving...or
after Christmas...depends on whether the teacher and I think they're ready.
 A letter explaining check-out policies to the parents goes with the book
the first time.  I also ask the children to choose a "special place" to
keep their library book and, in the letter, I ask the parents to have the
child draw me a picture of the special place and send it back to school for
the bulletin board.  Believe it or not, this really seemed to help last
year in keeping up with books.  We loan for one week periods, but anytime a
child finished a book before the next library period, they are welcome to
return that book and choose another.  this usually happens the first 30
minutes of the day....depending on the teacher.  I hope my input helps back
you up!

Jo Ann Lynn
Librarian
St. Agnes Academy/St. Dominic School
Memphis, Tennessee
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I'm in a middle school now, but in my 15 years of tenure in an elementary
school, my K's took one book out the first time they visited the
library...sometimes the first day of school.  After story time, and before I
signed out the books,  I did a "lesson" about sharing, and how all the books
belonged to the whole school, etc., then emphasized that when the book was
returned the next time they came to the library, they could trade "their"
book for another one.  Along with the book,  a letter went home to
parent/guardian, stressing the due date "library day"  (i.e. your child has
library on Tuesday...help your child remember to return the book... with
other helpful hints on sharing literature with young children).  One thing
that REALLY helped out was that the upper level teachers (grades 5 or 6)
allowed some of their students (about 4) out of class to help in the library
with Kindergarten.  Each "helper got 5 or 6 little ones, and they became a
closely knit group.  It made the big kids feel great to know they could help.
 They helped me help "their" kids select books, then signed the K's names,
until after Winter Break (December) when I started to teach the K's how to
fit their names into the tiny space on the borrower's card.  Then the helpers
helped their kids accomplish this fine motor skill.
     The number of books was determined by age and degree of responsibility.
 An overdue meant no books  until the overdue was returned.  I used to do
K/Pre-1st/1st - 1 book, Grades 2 & 3 - 2 books, Grades 4 & 5 - 3 books, and
Grade 6 - no limit.  However, no matter the grade, the first overdue brought
permanent restriction to no more than 2 books at a time for the rest of the
year.  In my middle school, it is similar.  The kids start out with no limit,
but the first overdue limits them to two books at a time for the rest of the
year.  The "exceptions" are when a class is doing a project, the teacher sets
the restriction (i.e. one book per topic) and I have a traditional New Year's
present...if all overdues are returned by the New Year (Jan1) the kid starts
with a clean slate and no restrictions.
     The loan period in elementary school was two weeks for grades 2 thru 6,
one week for K, Pre-1st & 1st, with the due date falling on their library
day.  In middle school, their library day varies, so books are always due on
Friday, no matter the day the book was signed out, and they have 2 and a half
to 3 weeks for a loan period.

Cynthia L. McMillan, Librarian     work # 914-229-4030 ext. 20
Haviland Middle School          Hyde Park, NY  12538
       isc@delphi.com
          "SILENCE IS THE VOICE OF COMPLICITY"
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I need to talk to the kindergarten teachers about when the children
should start borrowing to take books home.  I am going to suggest that we
let parents know about this beforehand so they can be involved in
enjoying the books with their children as well as in helping to return
books to the library.
     At the beginning of the school year I have 3-6th graders sign a slip of
paper with our library rules on them.  We have a two week circulation for
most books.  Some reference books can go out overnight.  We have a .10
charge per day for overdue books.  This applies to 3rd grade and up.
     If a child has any fines or overdue books, she cannot checkout books.
Even with these rules, I had quite a few books outstanding at the end of
the year.  Most eventually were returned; for the remainder, we sent
bills to parents.

Hope this helps.

Karen Stockton
Sacred Hearts Academy
Honolulu, HI  96816
karen@amalfi.ifa.hawaii.edu
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I am in a K-5 schoolin Los Gatos, CA. I just completed my first year. The
previous policy was that first graders took out one book. All the others
could take 2. K teachers got 35 books which they rotated for take home via
the classroom. I didn't change the policy but would be interested in what
other library policies are. I think that about a dozen books were lost over
the year - that is from a school of 430 students.

Laura Manthey
LSMant@aol.com
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My kindergarteners take their books home on the second or third week of
school.  I do not see them for scheduled class, so the kdg teachers set up a
time for me to meet with them and establish the library rules, including
borrowing rules.  It has not been a problem.  They can check out only one
book.
     Kids in first grade start by taking out one book.  After a couple weeks
when they are "into the swing of things" I let them take two.  All other kids
take two during regular library time. (I do not have flexible scheduling.)
Books are due the following library day (one week).
If they are doing any type of research or project, I allow them two or three
others, but they are asked to keep them in their classroom, and only take
them home with teacher permission.  I agree, it is very easy to start
loosing tons of the "good" books in your collection.  Some people have said
that the older kids should be able to check out more than two, but I allow
them to come into the library at any time to exchange them, so there really
is no need to have more than 2 leisure reading books checked out.
     I hope this is helpful, and if you get any really neat ideas, please
post a
hit.  Thanks!

Cathy Rae
Harry S Truman Elementary School
1400 Gaskill Ave.
Allentown, PA   18103
crae@postoffice.ptd.net
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      This will be my 7th year in a K-5 school library.  My first two years,
the kindergarden classes didn't begin taking books home until after
Christmas.  My 3rd year here I begin to rethink that policy based on
several factors:  I felt I was being too possessive of "my"
collection and I also began to realize that many of these students had
been going to the public library for several years already and seemed to
be more aware of taking care of the books than some of the 5th graders.
  I relaxed that policy and began doing intensive review of book care
that included a letter home to the parents of our policy dealing with
damaged or lost books.  After the first 3 weeks of school the
kindergarden students were able to begin taking 1 book at a time.  In the
past 3 years I have had more loss and damage from other grades than from
kindergarden students.  This past year my schedule became more flexible
and students were allowed to come to the LRC to check out books any time
their teacher would let them.  We had around 65% of the kindergarden
students coming in every day to exchange books and I felt better than I
ever have about the access they had.  We also had fewer overdues because
they were exchanging almost daily rather than weekly.  I still let them
take out only 1 book at a time whereas the 1st-5th graders can take out
two at a time and more if they are doing a special project and need more
sources.  I haven't seen any increase in damage, loss or overdue books as
a result of being more open and I feel that we are meeting the needs of
the students better than ever.  I would be interested in reading what
others say.  I'm sure you will receive ideas across a huge spectrum!!

Vicki Maiden
LRC Director
Munhall Elementary
St. Charles, Illinois
v-maiden@dupagels.lib.il.us
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Kindergarteners don't come to the library until about the end of
Sept., (teacher preference) at which time I read a story, talk about book
care (sick books), rules of borrowing etc, over the course of a couple of
weeks.  By mid Oct. they are ready to take one home.  They check out only
one and keep it for one week.  I think the key to getting books returned
and in good condition lies in large part with the teachers themselves.
If they stress returning the book on the due date and follow through with
consequences if the book is damaged, you will have a successful borrowing
program as well as establish lifelong values for care of books.  We had
four books not returned at the end of the year from four classes of
kindergarteners!
Kdg. and 1st grade check out only one book for one week.  2-5th
check out two for two weeks. If they haven't returned one they may only
check out one.  This is easier to monitor if you're automated, but
elementary kids are so very truthful that they will tell you if they
should only check out one!  Hope this helps.

Marcia Jacques
Media Specialis
Kohl Elementary Broomfield, CO
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   Read your inquiry on lm-net.  I thoroughly cover library ettiquette and
book care before kdgn students take out books.  Past experience has shown
the need to discuss book care.  After those areas are covered I have them
check out one fiction book to go home and monitor the care and timely
returns.  The students seem to take over "instructing" their peers from
that point on.  By Nov.-Dec., kdgners can have a checkout routine the same
as 1-2-3rd graders.
   The kdgners love the story/literature nature of those first couple of
month's sessions.  Gets us off to a great start.
Julie Lepisto
Librarian/Media Director
0362lfsh@informns.k12.mn.us
"Only the truly ignorant think they know everything."
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I'm in two K-5 schools.  I let the kindergartners take one one book right
from the start of school.  The policy is if you dont bring the book back, you
can't take a new book out.  This works pretty well although it is even better
if the teachers help keep track of who brings the books back.  A few keep a
chart and kids check off on Library day when they bring their book back.
 Those teachers who do not tdo this have many more overdues and lost books.
 The first graders also take out one book, then in second they start to take
out two.  I make a big deal of it in second grade.  At first I tell them they
have to prove to me they are responsible enough to bring one books back, then
the class can begin to take out two.  Third and up to fifth graders take out
two books but often three or even four if there is a project.
     The K-2 come to library every week and their books are due every week.
 Since they usually take out picture books it is rationalized that they will
want a new book after 7 days.  The 3-5 come to library every other week and
their books are signed out for two weeks, figuring they are reading chapter
or longer books.  They also come on alternate week for book exchange if
needed.
     This policy works pretty well in one school, few lost at the end of the
year.  In the other school I am at my wits end.  60 hardcover books gone this
year in spite of notes, letters home, nagging in the class etc.  THAT is a
lot of money.  Any ideas on getting books back would be much appreciated.
     Oh yes, a book is overdue if it is two weeks late.  I keep trck on
computer and send a weekly list out to teachers as *reminders*.
Do let us know what turns up.  Im always open to new ideas.

Janet Rawdon
Newton MA
rawdonj@a1.mec.mass.edu
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I let Kindergarten check out books almost right away and they take them
home for a week.  They can check out two at a time, they can not get a
different book until they return the one that they have (ie. if they
bring back one book, they can get one new book).  One of our schools,
about mid-year started letting K students come to the library whenever
they needed to to check out, so if "Scott" checked out a book, brought it
home, read it, brought it back the next day, when he had some time the
teacher let him come and get another one.  I always like to think
positive, let them check out and take home, if there seems to be a
problem with a student ruining/losing books, we'll deal with that student
individually, why slow the others down because of a few "irresponsible" ones?

Jane Dodson
Elementary Media Specialist
Columbus, Nebraska
jdodson@gilligan.esu7.k12.ne.us
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I will admit that my policy is simply the policy that was in effect when
I took over the library--I taught in my school for 13 years then moved
into the library(I had had my library cert. all along...)
Kindergarten checks books out to the classroom all year long.  The
children do no have their own barcode number.  For the first couple of
months, they choose books already checked out and placed on the tables,
then I teach them to choose from the shelf and they use shelf markers and
choose one to check out, but it is still checked out to their teacher as
the patron.  One of the reasons for this is that that K teachers also
check out scads of books for the themes they are doing and the Kindy kids
do not have cubbies or desks--no personal storage space except their
backpacks in the closet, and the books get used several times per day for
reading time, center time, etc.  It is too easy for Joey's book to be in
Suzie's hands and they don't remember which was which, so they all go on
a shelf and when it's time to return them, everyone gets one from the
shelf and brings it back.  Since there are two classes per teacher in K,
with each teacher having two sessions of half-time K, this seems to be
working well.  In the spring, we talk about getting ready for first grade
and that we will be able to take our books home then.  In first grade,
the children learn about finding their name in the bar code book (it's
alpha by classroom--each grade level is printed on a different color, so
they can find their page and their name easily by the third week or so)
and getting their name and book "beeped".  Again, the limits are what was
before I came, seeing no reason to change them, I haven't, although I
have a policy of overriding limits for research purposes--I never make
anyone choose between pleasure reading and research.  The limits are:
first grade 1 book at a time, grades 2-6, 2 books.  There are a few older
kids who regularly override the limits simply because they are prolific
readers with inflexible teachers who don't allow them access to the
library except at their scheduled time.  For most, the teachers allow
free access at times when they won't miss an important lesson, so those
who finish before next week simply come in midweek...
     Hope this helps. I may be changing some of this next year as we are
changing grade configurations and I had to split my library into two-half
to the new building and I will be split between the two as well.  If only
I could figure out how to clone myself... (I plan to be a week in each
building, with a full time aide in each place I think I can provide the
best service that way.)
     Good luck.  don't you sometimes feel that as librarian you are a
lightening rod for criticism?  Remember what wonderful things you do when
they are pointing out what they don't like...

Molly Pearson
LaKewood Primary and English Crossing Elementary
Lakewood, WA
(north of Seattle)
mpearson@eagle.esd189.wednet.edu
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I"m in a similar position, 'inherited' some policies and procedures that
I didn't like, but several teachers did...:<
     I let the K's take their book (one per checkout, no new book till the
first is returned) home from the second weekly visit to the library.
my current schedule (and I'm not satisfied with some of it) is K and 1
get one book per visit, one week checkout, one scheduled visit a week,
overdues=no new checkout. 2-3 get two books, everything else is the same, but
can renew without bringing book in, 3-4 get three, every thing else the same,
5-6 get four books, 2 week checkout, renewable, can checkout with one
overdue... 3-6 can place holds...
     My philosophy is that we are trying to encourage, not limit use, but we
need to also encourage accountability.  One idea I'm working on is
overdue fines that could be 'worked off'. Straighten shelves, ABC order
carts, distribute Odue notices, etc, and increase checkout levels, etc.
Then those that like and want to have 2 books in K and show
responsibility could do so, for eMxamole.  I seems to me that a strict
policy only makes us police, and penalizes the patrons that we want to have.
     We are on Unison, so it is easy for