Re: HIt: sec.access to library(2)

["Dr. Dana McDougald" <dmcdouga@COE.UGA.EDU>]

I feel this is a good opportunity for me to repeat what we do in our
library about passes -- we use a time clock! Every student is requried to
have a hall pass when coming to the library (because the school policy is
that no student will be out of class without a pass.)  We were sick of
signing passes all day long -- seemed like that was all we did.  So we put
the burden of proof upon the teachers.  We got a time clock.  When a
student comes into the library, he/she is supposed to "clock" in and then
when he/she leave, "clock" out.  It is up to the teacher to check the pass
upon the student's return to class.  I am not going to be a police! If the
student is behaving, I will not bother him. Every now and then we conduct
a surprise pass check, checking every pass so as not to disciminate.  If a
student is misbehaving, we make a copy of his pass and write a note to his
teacher on that copy, stating what the behavior was and how long it will
be before the student should return without the teacher's supervision.

This system has freed us to do what we like to do best -- help students
with their information needs!

On Thu, 28 Aug 1997, Jane Clark wrote:

> >We have a school of 2450 students so its important that students not
> miss-use their time in the library.  We have 12 "pass" seats located at 3
> tables that sit right in front of the circulation desk.  Teachers may only
> send 5 students from their class without coming to supervise.  Students
> must have a signed pass, must sign in and must leave when their work is
> complete.  We always say that if they are doing what they are suppose to
> do, we hardly notice that they are in the library.  If we see that
> students are talking excessively or are doing things that bother others
> those students are asked to leave.  If we have two classes in the library
> at one time we really stick to the only 12 on passes, otherwise we will
> allow a couple more if they are working.
>
> Of course there are always teachers who will send 5 to the library, 5 to
> the computer lab and 5 to the career center.....just think how that lowers
> their class size!
>
> >However, at a vocational school at which I worked, we required students:
> 1. Have a pass from the teacher giving an assignment. For instance, the
> English
> teacher might give that student a pass to work on a paper. Or a shop teacher
> might ask that student to research carburetors. You get the idea. The pass
> did
> not come from the study hall teacher.
> 2. All students had to sign in and identify what they were working on.
> It is important that all students are quietly working because you may be
> teaching another class...or you might not have enough seats for everyone.
> This
> is a major problem and when third quarter comes and everyone in the building
> wants to do the "research paper", you might have two or three classes signing
> up for library time.
> 3. Lunch hour is another problem. You hate to turn the serious students away
> BUT...you must remember that you are not a study hall. You are a classroom in
> which students learn important research techniques.
> I think you need building support on this. I would approach the building
> committee if there is one, present your problem and see how they solve it. If
> there is not building committee, form a committee of department chairs. Ask
> for
> their help. You want to do a good job on what you are hired to do....teach
> research. They have already hired a study hall teacher.
> >he way it worked before me wasn't working, so.......we made library cards.
> "Regular" kids could come up 3 times a week from their SH (this yr I'd
> only let them come up 2 times a week; 3 was too many).  If they wanted to
> use the Library, they'd come directly to the library, sign in on a sheet
> that would be sent down to study hall for attendance purposes, and they get
> their cards punched with a hole punch on the appropriate week #, and if
> they didn't have their cards they'd have to go back to SH.  I was very FIRM
> about not letting them in without a card.
>
> Now, we have a system in place whereby the kids who get good grades and/or
> have good attendance get a special card entitling them to special
> privileges, one of them being the opportunity to visit the library during
> ANY study hall they want any time of the week, as LONG as they have their
> cards AND we're open that period.  It worked just fine.
>
> ANYone who was a discipline problem was IMMEDIATELY returned (usually
> escorted by me) to Study Hall and given an office detention.  It didn't
> matter what kind of card they entered the library with; if they acted
> up/goofed off, they were "out" for a 2-week period of time (for 1st time
> offense; more weeks for 2nd and 3rd offenses)
> >I was faced with a similar problem several years ago when I left the
> classroom for the media center.  Initally the pricipal determined that only
> 12 students were allowed to come to the media center from studyhall; which
> in some cases was the entire studyhall (I then became the studyhall
> moderator) and in another instance there were over 80 students in studyhall
> with that being the only studyhall at least half of them had.  I was faced
> with studyhall teachers sending more than directed and dealt with the same
> problems.
>
> This past year with a new administrator we changed the policy.  As many as
> thirty students may come to the library from studyhall if there is room.
> Students coming from studyhall must have work to do.  Anyone not working or
> just socializing is now sent back to studyhall immediately.  The second time
> a student is sent back to studyhall they also loose their library privileges
> from a week to a month.  During that time the only way they are allowed to
> come is with a signed pass from a classroom teacher stating what the student
> is to being doing in the library.  Also any student with overdues are not
> permitted to use the library unless they have a signed pass from a classroom
>
> >Jane Clark                  (330) 296-3844x3012
> Ravenna High School      fax: (330)297-4158
> 345 E. Main St.             clarkjlc@aol.com
> Ravenna Ohio 44266
>
>  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>  To quit LM_NET (or set NOMAIL or DIGEST), Send an email message to:
>  listserv@listserv.syr.edu          In the message write either:
>  1)  SIGNOFF LM_NET         or
>  2)  SET LM_NET NOMAIL      or
>  3)  SET LM_NET DIGEST
>  For more help see LM_NET On The Web:  http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
>  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>

Dana McDougald, Librarianx
CSHS Library, A National Award-Winnning Library
Cedar Shoals H. S., A National Blue Ribbon School
1300 Cedar Shoals Dr.
Athens, Ga. 30605
dmcdouga@coe.uga.edu

 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 To quit LM_NET (or set NOMAIL or DIGEST), Send an email message to:
 listserv@listserv.syr.edu          In the message write either:
 1)  SIGNOFF LM_NET         or
 2)  SET LM_NET NOMAIL      or
 3)  SET LM_NET DIGEST
 For more help see LM_NET On The Web:  http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=