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Here are more suggestions for the "abandoned book" problem (continued from a preceding post): 11. It happens occasionally, usually they've left it at after-school care in our building. If the book comes back and it's in good condition, I don't worry about it. My attitude is that they are responsible for the book when they check it out. If they leave it at daycare or grandma's or dad's house, it's still their responsibility. If they get it back, fine, if not or it's been damaged, they pay for it. I can't worry about what they do with them when they walk out the door unless it's not returned at all or is damaged. I may give them a "lecture" about responsibility but that's about it. 12. The only policy I have for abandoned library books is if paid for they get no refund, because they didn't take the responsiblity to find and return it. 13. I think you've done a lot that is positive already. I'd call in the student who abandoned the book, and have a heart-to-heart talk. Point out how lucky he/she was that the book was found by someone responsible enough blah blah blah. Use the experience as a talking point (without mentioning names) to your classes, and the point will be made and taken by most students. I too have worked in a brand new library with brand new books. You really feel protective of them, much like a brand new car without a single "ding" on it. But as you know, the books are there to be used and enjoyed by the students, and while we want to ensure that they are taken VERY good care of, some mishaps, losses, and dings will occur. 14.Someone on the list charges cookies for overdues. Maybe if it was clear that the kid had to make you something to share with your helpers, you would have good response. It would be a time for parents to talk about responsibilities with their children. A phone call home might help. I'm not in the junior high so I can't speak to these ideas. If a book is abandoned at the high school and brought in, the person at fault is charged a 50 cent fine. Haven't had any this year. 15. I may be too lenient on this, but I usually just give the "loser" a talking to about responsibility, etc. Some of us are lucky we have firmly attached heads- I believe this applies to children as well as adults, and sad to say, we are all entitled to be forgetful now and again. I think the "Finder's Fee" is a really good idea, it will encourage others to return any more lost books they may find. If a student, or a staff member, has a chronic problem with misplaced items, then it might be time to consider a "sentence", say 2 weeks with no borrowing. I had a student return a book they found in the middle of the street once, I was glad to get it back before it got rwn over,and grateful that it got returned at all. Face it, the bottom line is that we want the book returned so that someone else can use it, we should be more worried about it coming back in usable condition than we are about the means of it's arrival. 16. My favorite exercise for this type of thing has always been the dreaded essay, length depending on age. I think a student who has to write a paragraph or two about why we're careful with library books has to think about it for at least a few minutes. And one day I'm going to publish all these essays about taking care of library books, being considerate of otherlibrary users, and not commanding fellow students to "drop dead," etc. 17. When "abandoned" books are found, I encourage their immediate return to the library, where they are checked back in and reshelved. About half the time the student will come looking for them. I then make them go get the books themselves, which sometimes results in a new search. When the student doesn't come looking for them, I figure that they were done with the books anyway, and probably would have waited for an overdue notice, so I have saved myself that work. Of course, if the book is already overdue a fine notice goes out to the student, and when they come in to pay I can remind them that someone saved them some money, since the book was returned by another person! ******************************************************** This completes the responses - I will post what my decision was in a following post. Again, many thanks to all who responded. Joanne Ladewig Information Center Director Fairgrove Academy (a K-8 public school focusing on the Visual and Performing Arts, and Technology) La Puente, CA jladewig@ns700-1.enet.hlpusd.k12.ca.us (all lower case) home email: shatz@lightside.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= 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 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST * NOTE: Please allow time for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help & Archives see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=