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     I know I am not the only elementary librarian who limits the
number of books a child may check out. It is obviously not a popular
position, but unavoidable in my world. I cannot handle the shelving
that accompanies unlimited checkouts. I know--I believe in it, and have
tried it.
     But I can't do it. I'm the only one here. I have to do everything
that gets done, whether shelving, teaching, creating booklists, retro
conversion of my card catalog, and whatever else we do all day long.
All 450 of my students visit the library every 4 days.
     K-4 check out 1 book. 5th & 6th check out 1 for recreational
reading plus whatever they need for book reports, research, Book-It,
etc. Some return a finished book early, and the 5 & 6th graders spend
extra time in the library, with unlimited access (even when I have a
scheduled class). I also prepare monthly classroom collections for many
teachers to complement their reading programs.
     I do not feel they are deprived by being limited. I, however, am
maintaining a modicum of sanity. Someday I'll have help and be able to
allow even more access to this wonderful collection. Until then...


--- LFP <mary.lynn.potter@SHORELINE.WEDNET.EDU> wrote:
> I can't resist responding to this hit.  Why would you limit the
> number of books a
> child may check out, unless your collection is very small?  Don't we
> as adults
> get unlimited check out at public libraries?  Where will children
> learn how to
> handle unlimited check out unless they get the practice?  I have
> unlimited check
> out in my K - 6 library, I lose very few books and I feel kids love
> to read
> here.  When I first became a librarian, I did have a limit on the
> books a child
> could take.  Then I noticed that the non readers, the children who
> did not like
> to read, etc. figured out that if they took 2 books home and left
> them there all
> year, they would never need to check out another book.......that
> convinced me
> that a limited check out was detrimental to my goal of all kids
> reading all the
> time....so I changed my policy, I have unlimited check out and it
> works for me.
> I feel it trains kids to be responsible for books and trains them for
> adult use
> of libraries.
> ML Potter
>
> Debra Ventling wrote:
>
> > Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly to my request for check
> out
> > policies.    Someone requested a hit and it is worth reading
> because of the
> > variety of responses.
> >
> > Thanks again,
> > Deb Ventling
> > Berry Middle School
> > debravent@aol.com
> >  ***I was the only librarian at an K-8 school library for 12 years.
>  We
> > limited student checkout to two books.  If a student had a project
> or report
> > as well as a good return record, we allowed them to get any
> materials they
> > needed.  With a K student I encouraged the parents to check out
> additional
> > reading materials from us.  This got them into the library and
> involved in
> > our program.  I realized that often parents are working so I also
> tried to
> > accommodate special requests.  We had one K student on the
> Accelerated Reader
> > program.  She was gifted and reading by the age of three   My
> philosophy with
> > the little ones was the more they are read to the better.  The
> books don't do
> > anyone any good sitting on the shelves.  I would use the caveat
> that the
> > books should also be returned in a timely manner.  I had a few
> parents abuse
> > the privilege.
> >
> > ***I am totally amazed that your district has a check out policy.
> In my
> > experience that is a decision left to the building librarian.  As a
> librarian
> > I would have a problem with the district making that decision for
> me.  What
> > rationale do they have?  While 2 books may be standard, I let my
> consistent
> > readers check out up to 5.  When we are doing a reading incentive
> they can
> > check out as many as they want.  Some kids with consistent overdues
> are
> > limited to one at a time (or none).  I don't think there is one
> right answer.
> >  Can schools issue parent cards?  That may be a way around...
> Still, I vote
> > with the father.
> >
> > ***I permit first graders to check out one book, all others two,
> for two
> > weeks.  They come weekly.  I will permit another book if it is for
> a report.
> > I find many students return their books weekly, but many do not
> finish a
> > longer book in that time and must renew.  I hate to turn down those
> who beg
> > for more but it is a practical matter.  First, what kind of help do
> you have
> > with circulation and shelving?  This is all that we can handle
> without more
> > paid help.  Is your collection large enough to support increased
> circulation?
> >  If you allow one student to have more books, the others want it
> just as a
> > matter of principle.  If you had flexible scheduling, it would be a
> moot
> > point.  In my old school, I had open library before school for half
> an hour
> > every day.  Some kids were there almost every day.  Some first
> grade teachers
> > sent kids during the day every
> > day so that they got a new book to read every day, even though it
> was just
> > one.  But you need to be available and have staff to do the backup
> work.
> >
> > ***I usually have K take out one book, and then it goes up from
> there to a
> > maximum of six. The rule, however, is very flexible. If a child is
> a
> > voracious reader and the parent wants them to check out more books,
> I let
> > them. I also  let the overdue policy slide a little with younger
> readers who
> > are reading 2 or 3 years above their reading level. I don't expect
> a second
> > grader to finish a 400 page book in a week. If they need a month,
> they get it.
> >
> > *** Our school system has not district policy on the number of
> books students
> > may check out...that is left up to the school.  I can't speak for
> our middle
> > schools & high schools...though I remember when I was in high
> school back in
> > the early 1980's we could check out about as many as we wanted
> (could
> > carry...ha..).  I'm in a primary school (pre-3) and I allow only 1
> check out
> > for pre-2 and two for third grade.  May want to keep in mind, are
> the middle
> > school students dependable enough to check out more books.  How
> many books
> > does this parent want their child to be able to check out?  Some of
> our elem.
> > schools allow pre-3 to check out two books and 4-5
> > to check out three I think.  If you're willing you could do a
> "trial" month
> > to see.  That's what I did when we lost our 4-5 grades.  I told 3rd
> graders
> > they were on a "trial" basis with 2 book-checkout and if they
> demonstrated
> > they could deal with checking out two books...then that would
> benefit 3rd
> > graders from now on.  They seem to do better than the 4-5 grades!
> >
> > ***I tell K-2 three books but never stop them if they go over.
> Third and
> > fourth are not limited unless they have outstanding overdues.
> >
> > ***Violating their rights?  It sounds like a parent with a personal
> agenda to
> > me.  I always thought being able to check out books in a school
> library was a
> > privilege, not a "right".  Anyway, climbing down off the soapbox,
> we also
> > limit our kids to 2 books in grades 2-8, and 1 book in Pre-k, K,
> and grade 1
> >
> > ***We don't have "district" policy but I used to only allow two
> books (plus
> > other materials) because that's what I knew from my children's
> school
> > district.  Last year I increased to three for personal reading plus
> > whatever's needed (within reason and availability) for research.
> I haven't
> > seen a problem with it at all.
> > .
> > ***I have different levels for grades. K and 1 may have 3 out at a
> time--2nd
> > up to five-- and 3rd- 5th may have up to ten.  We limit all
> children to a
> > maximum of three Accelerated Readers at a time due to number of
> books.  If a
> > child can't keep up with his books, he knows we will decrease what
> he can
> > have.  If a child proves responsible, then we override the limits.
> > Fortunately, my collection has enough other books than Accelerated
> Readers to
> > support the numbers.  Since we are on a total open schedule for
> circulation,
> > the kids find they don't need to take as many books at
> > a time. Sometimes, a child will be in the library 2-3 times in a
> day.  The
> > longer readers come whenever they need.
> >
> > ***We actually state that the 2 is the MINIMUM that we would like
> them to
> > check out -- one to read during directed self-reading time (usually
> at grade
> > level; something they can read for themselves if grades 1 and up);
> and one at
> > whatever topic etc. that the child wishes.  They are allowed to
> take whatever
> > they can carry.  We do "suggest" at least 2 -- most are satisfied
> with that
> > and are assured they can return ANY DAY -- any time teacher will
> allow,
>
=== message truncated ===


=====
B. Kane, Librarian
Panama Elementary, Panama NY
bhkane@yahoo.com
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