Hit: Library catalog lessons

[Karen Bowyer <karenb@BATH.RANG.K12.VA.US>]

Thanks go to several people for suggestions for library (card) catalog
lessons:

I have an electronic catalog and have a "Treasure Hunt" that I do with
that.  Then, of
course, I have activities for finding the actual books given the call
numbers.
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Just giving the kids lists of subject, titles, etc to look up works fine
for me.  (I am talking
about 2nd and 2rd graders).  One favorite thing is the m and m hunt.  I
give the kids subjects to look up and they collect an m/m for correctly
located call numbers (immediate feedback)
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I demonstrate a title search.  Then I divide the kids into groups of
three by counting off.  In each group one kid is assigned the
typing, one kid is assigned the writing of the call slip, one kid is
assigned to carry the book.
    Groups go to the catalog stations with the title of book that I have
already made sure is in.  One types in the title, one fills out
a call slip (title, call numbers), and all three go look for the book
while the third kid gets to actually carry it.  They bring it to
me.  I check that it is the correct book, that the call slip is made out
properly, and then one kid makes sure the call slip is put in
the garbage can (call slip heaven).
    For the short wait to use the computer and after the search is over,
I put magazines on the tables to occupy that short down
time.
     I also enjoy giving the kids a jelly bean for a job well done.  One
jelly bean goes a long way.
    A follow up lesson is a subject search--the same way.  The last
lesson for older kids is a keyword search--the same way.
     The kids are successful because in a small group, somehow working
together they can figure it out.  They help each other in
the weak spots.
   Oh yes, I have sometimes done this exercise in total silence.  They
have to communicate with each other without talking--or
no jelly bean.  That is fun, and I allow a little whispering, if I can
pretend I don't hear it.
    It is empowering to go get that book.
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 We talk about title searches: what is a title,  when you would do one,
and how to do it, what other information can be found in
the marc record, etc. - I use transparencies
of each of the the computer screens, since I don't have an overhead
hooked up to any of my catalog computers.

The next week, each table of three or four students goes to a computer
together (I have 6 catalog computers).  Then I pose questions that can
be answered with a title search, like "Does the library own Old
Yeller?",  "When is Charlotte's Web due back?", "What is the dewey
decimal number of the Guiness book of world records?"  I have enough
questions so that each student gets a chance to do the actual typing on
the keyboard.  The typist changes with each new question.  It is
supposed to be teamwork, as other members of the team can offer
suggestions, etc.  Then the next week, I cover Author searches, followed

by practice the next week, until we have covered Title, Author, Subject,

Series and Keyword searches.  The final week, the questions are all
mixed up, and the first decision the student has to make is "what kind
of a search do I need to do?"

For several years I had a worksheet that had to be filled out with the
answers.  I decided this just was more time consuming.  So now I when it

looks like everyone is done with a question, I call for the correct
answer, and then check with each team.

I start a simple version of this with 1st grade, but really concentrate
on 2nd and 3rd.  My 4th-6th do not come for scheduled lessons (they are
flexible), so I expect all students by 4th grade to use the computer
catalogs independently - and they do very well after 2-3 years of
practicing with me!
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I have a set of cards with various subject heading on them. I also have
a set with authors names and one with titles. I divide the
students into teams. each team has a paper to fill their findings
on.When looking up the subject they write the title and call
number of the first book they locate in the OPAC. For title they list
the author and
call number, for the author they list the title and call number. After
doing it separately I then mix the  cards up and they search that way.
Since it is a
race it does get loud, and the kids do get excited. But it gets them
actually using the OPACS. I have all of the cards in a central place and

they bring a card to me and then I give them the next card, this slows
them down a little. They also must take turns looking the items up,
writing, getting the new card, etc. It has worked well with grades 4 &
5.
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I have the student work in pairs finding materials so they will know how
to
use the libary catalog.  I also have third graders do a basic search
project finding one fact of information using books. the internet,
electronic encyclopedia and harback encyclopedias.  They reinforces the
use
of the library catalog.  I teach them basic serach skill instead of card

catalog skills.
Skimming, Scanning and Keywords
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We use Follett, and refer to the look-up stations as OPACs - Online
Public
Access Catalogs.  I have a quarter-page worksheet that looks like this -

Call Number Title ________
_____                ________
_____           Author ______
_____           Subject _____

only with longer lines!  I fill in one element (title, author or
subject) and
the student must go to the OPAC, look up "what they know" (i.e. the info

provided on the sheet) to find a book of that title or by that author or

about that subject, then fill in the rest of the information on the
sheet
from the OPAC record, including Call Number.  Then they must go to the
shelves and find me the book.

I usually do this at the same time as another, bigger, multi-week
project so
that I can pull a few kids at a time off the bigger project to do their
OPAC
lesson.  It does take time to orient them, but I quickly find "experts"
who
are willing to help other students.

Karen Bowyer
Library Media Specialist
karenb@bath.rang.k12.va.us

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