LM_NET: Library Media Networking
On Friday, March 20, I wrote:
Dear LM-NETters,
I work in a grade 9-12 public high school. I am disturbed by the number of
students who have left school and have taken MY library books with them.
Do any of you have any suggestions for me regarding how I might get these
materials back? I have asked the guidance office to hold transcripts when
a student's new school requests them, but my guidance people tell me that
is not legal. I tried once to contact the new school's librarian for
assistance, but feel that that is an unfair imposition on a colleague's
time and attention. Besides, often a student is not transferring but
simply dropping out.
I fight hard for my collection development funds, work hard on the
selection process, and really resent losing materials in this way! Any
suggestions would be gratefully received, and I will post a HIT if I get
some ideas.
This is a great group and I learn something useful every time I log on. TIA
for your help with this.
Chris Finer, LMG
Library Media Program
Newfound Regional High School
Bristol, NH
cfiner@newfound.k12.nh.us
And here is the HIT:
Sally Cochran of Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, NY wrote:
I should think the students leaving have to return textbooks, musical
instruments, etc. before they can get transfers. Why does your guidance
department say it's not legal when you ask for the return of school library
books?
Earl Sande, Upper School Librarian, of the International School of
Tanganyika wrote:
The problem is that your Administration does not have a signout procedure
that is working as effectively as it could. When we have a student leave,
he must take a form along to each appropriate area (textbook centre,
library, etc.) who must sign the form before the child is officially
withdrawn.
Chris responds:
Students following the procedure are not the problem. As Sally, Earl, and
many others wrote, there should be -- and is, in my case -- a provision for
the librarian to sign off on a withdrawing student. And, my principal is
very supportive. I know that when I ask for his help I will get it, so I=B9=
m
more determined than ever to do whatever I can on my own first. MY problem
comes from students who do not follow the procedure.
I said that my guidance office could not withhold transcripts on a student
if the new school requested it.
Michelle (I=B9m sorry I lost the rest of your ID!), speaking to this issue, =
wrote:
Not legal? Our district withholds transcripts if a student owes any
materials. We stop all checkouts on May 30 and then that gives me a couple
extra weeks to chase the seniors. Then I put lists out and spend the
summer (I'm the tech, so I work 11 months) calling parents, sending nasty
letters and threatening collection agency action. Then, in the fall, when
the new sophomores, juniors and seniors come to pick up their registration
materials, I get to bug them in case they escaped my wrath in the
spring....
Chris adds:
Students who leave in June owing me materials go on the Obligation List.
The school secretary spends much of her summer tracking down students who
owe not only library books but textbooks, lab materials, lunch money, and
so on. If they arrive in September and are still on the obligation list,
then they are not eligible for library privileges or ANY class materials
for the start of the new school year. This does not work well in practice,
however, because my teachers, after several days of denying textbooks to
students, generally relent so that the student won=B9t be hopelessly lost
bythe time the obligation is met. Some students have learned that they can
outwait the process and get away with not meeting obligations.
I mentioned that I am reluctant to ask students=B9 new librarians for help,
but I might change my mind about that: many of you said that they did not
mind helping me, including:
Sally Lantz from West Frederick Middle School in Frederick, MD says:
I don't mind one bit when media specialists from other school contact me to
ask me to try to retrieve wayward books from wayward students. I will
*try* but that's all I can do....After that I don't dwell on it (but do
continue to ask occasionally) as there is no sense in beating a dead horse.
Some books, unfortunately, we will just never get back. However, some
books are packed with household goods by mistake and they do show up later
when the family unpacks and settles.
Lynn Johnson from North Marion Middle School, Citra, FL says...:
I don't consider it an imposition by any of my peers asking me to try to
track down a book. I am even willing to mail it myself if it is out of our
district because I am a firm believer of what you give comes back to
you....
...and Holly Wolf of Palmyra Macedon H.S. in Palmyra, NY...
As a (distant) colleague, I invite you to send me notice if and when one of
your students carries a book off to Palmyra, NY. I feel strongly that we
all are in this together. Several times, I have received a book from a
great distance by the hand of a student who claims he just "found" it. I
don't ask questions. I thank the kid and mail the book back to where it
belongs.
Martha Pankratz of Pueblo High School said:
I am new to the high school and am amazed at the number of books that we
are losing to dropped and moved students. We used to have a lot of moved
students at middle school but not quite this number--it also seems they
must all have books!! We are a school of 2000 and have loss 70+ books just
this year....
Ken Umbach suggests:
Small claims court? Criminal complaint for petty theft? (No, I am not
kidding.)
Neither am I, Ken! Last, but not least, let me quote a portion of the
responses I received from Jeffrey E. Kirkpatrick from Aurora, CO...:
I...would offer a bit of perspective in acknowledgement of the realities
involved. Note your statement above, mentioning "MY library books." This
is admirable and understandable, even as it is taking things too
personally.... What we need to remember is this issue is much larger than
kids personally attacking and undermining us by neglecting to return
borrowed (entrusted) materials. To resolve this issue we must help--through
teaching and modeling--others realize how important THEIR actions are in
supporting, or undermining, their world....What is the true cost (or
benefit?) of sending a prized $5.00 paperback along with a kid, who can
thereby feel both valued for their individual self and also feel not a
thief for those books they would then care enough NOT to keep without
invitation? By comparison, how much does it co$t us (beyond the
$significant amount$ of time, effort and re$ource$) to try to recover
materials when devalued individuals do not voluntarily return them?
...and this, from Kathy Geronzin of Northeast Community Schools in Goose
Lake, IA:
Chris, As I read your post about missing library books I was struck by
the way you said MY library books. They are not your books. You maintain
the collection and fight for materials budgets, but they are NOT your
books.
Chris responds:
Jeff and Kathy, When I mentioned MY library books, I was being lightly
sarcastic, which my capital letters failed to convey adequately. I think
most librarians can relate to the possessiveness we feel for our
collections. I was all set to start apologizing for not being clearer in
my use of humor, but I=B9ve changed my mind.
One student, who has tried to stiff me several times before (=B3But I=B9m
SUUUURE I returned THAAAAT....=B2) showed up for the first week of school,
checked out $144.71 worth of brand new materials and left -- without going
through the withdrawal procedure. Despite phone calls, messages through
friends, and even a chance meeting on the street, she has made it clear
that she cannot be bothered to return the six books.
I am not ignoring the needs and circumstances of those students who
legitimately lose materials, or simply =B3cannot find=B2 a book they=B9ve
absolutely fallen in love with. I don=B9t know how many 362.2=B9s I=B9ve sa=
id
goodbye to because I knew they would do more good in the hands of one
troubled student than they would on MY shelf. (My gentle sarcasm again.)
=46inally, I am not just the librarian, but I am also a taxpayer, parent, an=
d
resident of the town in which I work. It is my JOB to be concerned about
these thefts. The Parable of the Lost Sheep not withstanding, my attention
is focused on the 499 students who are still here, not the one (well, at
this point, four) who are not.
So -- there=B9s my first request for help from this awesome group and my
first HIT. I posted my original message on Friday afternoon, and by Monday
morning had 37 responses. To all I say thank you. You are, as everybody
knows, a wonderfully helpful group!
I will share my original post and this HIT with my principal, who will be
as impressed by your willingness to help as I am. I am going to ask my him
for permission to send registered letters to the two of the four for whom I
have new addresses, detailing the books, the replacement costs, and the
fines in each case. I don=B9t know what I=B9ll do about the other two, and =
I
don=B9t know what I=B9ll do if the registed letters have no effect.
If any of your students ever transfer to my school owing you library
materials, please feel free to ask for my help in getting them back. In
any case, I would appreciate knowing, so that I can perhaps watch their
borrowing a bit more closely.
Again, thanks to all.
Chris Finer, LMG
Library Media Program
Newfound Regional High School
Bristol, NH
cfiner@newfound.k12.nh.us
There's no use going to school
unless your final destination is
the library.
--after Ray Bradbury
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
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/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
LM_NET
Archive Home