Humor: Overdues

[Larry Parsons <lparsons@POTLATCH.ESD112.WEDNET.EDU>]

I replied to Karen Frank's request for information about how we deal with
overdues. She suggested I share this with the group:

An off-the-wall idea that works for me to get long overdue books back.

When a student who has a book overdue for about a month or longer wants to
check another book out, I refuse to do it unless they agree to these
terms:
-- With my student assistant present, the kid (I work in a 7-12
school) with the overdue books agrees to make (not buy) one dozen cookies
and give them to the library staff if the books are NOT turned in within
48 hours. My student aide gets to select the type of cookies. And if the
books are not turned or if the cookies do not get made, I make a call
home. Parents really like this approach and have been very supportive.
One even thanked me afterwards for "making" her teenage boy spend some
time with her around the house. Seems a lot of folks & kids have started
talking things over during this time.

Anyway, about 70% of the girls forget and end up making cookies, while
almost 90% of the boys turn their books in on time. We live in a sexist
world, I guess.

Larry A. Parsons                        * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ocean Beach School District             *      Some nights      *
Long Beach, WA 98631                    * the wolves are silent *
360-642-3731                            *   and the moon howls  *
lparsons@potlatch.esd112.wednet.edu     * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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