LM_NET: Library Media Networking
4. Does anyone charge any fines?
No fines here - if books are not returned on time, no other books can
be checked out until they are returned or paid for.
I quit that practice 30 years ago.
NO! We work really hard just to keep the kids checking out. We do hold
report cards at the end of the year for books that have been lost,
damaged beyond repair, or simply not turned in. That's it!
Definitely not - not worth the time, bookeeping, or image it suggests.
It had been in place in my previous school, but I dropped it and would
never consider it in a public school setting.
I don't charge fines but do charge for the books that are damaged or not
returned.
No. Just think it would be more work than worse the hassle with
elementary kids. My goal is just to get them to bring it back. My
procedure is that they may not have another book if they still have an
overdue book. Then, if they don't return it, I send a bill for the lost
book.
5. How do you set up for book fairs? When?
Book fair salespersons will contact school if not you can call them
and arrange it. Get parent volunteers or sga to help! Best return if
done after your parent's paydays! Book Week; National library week ;
American Education Week; Christmas - early December. Be aware that if
you do a fall fair you will get Halloween titles - depending on
clientele can be controversial sometimes. You can request: Georgia
Book
Award Titles; special series - boxcar children; goosebumps; clifford;
spanish language; etc. Tell the book fair rep it is your first fair
and
they will explain in detail. Usually I have teachers bring classes for
a scheduled visit to "browse" then they send them to buy at their
convenience. I also do a "reserve" for teachers as they often browse
several times.
Book Fairs are a terrific way raise funds for your library! I do a big
annual fair in Feb.. Try and schedule it with another big school event -
art and science fair, open house, etc. I love Scholastic fairs and have
done Troll successfully , too. They are so easy to do! Call your rep. -
they will have lots of tips. Just get lots of volunteers to help out. I
raise thousands of dollars a year with mine. Some schools do two - I
have only been willing to committ one week a year to mine.
PTA handles it for me. We schedule so that a PTA meeting happens
during fair so that parents can purchase at night. We have 2--one in
spring and 1 in fall.
We have ours in the winter as a nice winter break! Parent volunteers
do almost everything. One of our media center secretaries handles all
the arrangements.
The book fair was set up for October when I first started my job. I
freaked out when I learned that and cancelled it immediately (since I
felt like I wouldn't have my feet completely under me by then). I
rescheduled it for February. That seems to be the best time. There is
nothing else going on school wise (like Thanksgiving, Colonial Day,
Rennaisance Day, ad naseum) so you won't have any compitition. Also, we
had a PTO night the beginning of the month, and I made sure to schedule
the fair week to coincide with that day and stayed open for PTO. Made
BIG bucks that night! Call whoever you are dealing with and see if they
will send someone over to help you set up. I did this past February
because we moved into a renovated library and had more space (so, I got
the bigger fair). You will need AT LEAST four to six tables for
miscellaneous "stuff" that doesn't come in the book cases.
I set up my book fair the afternoon before it begins (if it begins on
Monday, I set it up on Friday afternoon). If you gt Scholastic, try to
keep the fair for two weeks and then you can run a Monday to Friday
fair. In my area, they only deliver on Tuesday and it was a little
confusing running the fair from Wednesday to Tuesday last year. I tear
down the fair the morning of the day after it ends.
Education Week in November - school Open House so one evening is
available. I call Scholastic, rearrange the tables, roll in the carts,
cancel regular library activities, sell the books, roll out the carts.
Toying with the idea of having a second one in Spring time, but there
are so many other fundraisers, and so much going on in Spring, so far
I've only had the one in fall. It's easy if you remember that for that
week you are a store and not a library. period, end of discussion.
I have one big book fair a year. This was already set before I got
there. I have it in February to coincide with the "Family Dinner"
scheduled by the PTA. On one night they have the dinner, a class
presents a musical concert, and the PE department has a demonstration. I
run the book fair for
a week but most of my sales come that one night. I always use Scholastic
and keep my profit in money so I can decorate the media center, buy
books I need right away, and supplies that aren't covered by the school
budget. I made about $2100.00 last year.
Our PTA handles the books fairs. They set up during the day on the day
of a General PTA meeting night. We open each fair for PTA night and
continue it through the next Tuesday's classes. The book fair closes ½
hour after school lets out each day. When? We have three per year;
September, February, and a buy 1 get 1 free in May.
I usually have 2 a year. Centered around a PTA event (increase people
in the building usually makes the most$$$). One in November and one in
May. I have always used Scholastic Bookfairs and been very impressed.
They usually walk you through it the first time.
Call Scholastic and for a rep to meet with you about scheduling a book
fair. But first make sure your PTA hasn't already scheduled one.
Sometimes the parent group or some other group takes care of this. This
is an area where
the all-important secretary and custodian can help you if you really
can't talk to the former librarian.
I have a fall bookfair early December and a spring bookfair in March.
I set up in the library on the Friday afternoon prior to the week the
fair runs. My fair usually fits in the large area where my tables and
chairs are. I move out all the chairs and stack them somewhere in a
corner, use some of the tables in the middle for displays and move
out/stack tables that I don't need to use. The checkout desk by the
door becomes the cashier. I take down any of MY book displays from the
shelf tops in case I need to use them for display also.
6. Where did you get or use funds to decorate the Media Center? Did
you do major decorations (like painting) during the summer?
Love to hear someone else likes an attractive center! I use PTO funds,
and funds from my book fair to buy stuff to decorate with. I had to
totally replace all that kind of stuff when I moved into my current
center 3 years ago.. A great idea for bulletin boards is fabric - it is
so pretty, versatile, - I have used the same background for several
displays and it always looks different with a new boarder and book
covers or posters. I invested personal money into silk plants to put
here and there. I always buy my posters laminated - they last forever
and always look fresh , after seasonal storing. Teachers and students
love the displays, little reading stuffed animals that I put here and
there. Props are especially a favorite of mine - I frequent the area
thrift stores for old baskets, stuffed animals on a theme, old hats,
whatever might go with a book or theme.
Basic painting can be done in the summers if requested from
Maintenance. My decorations consist of lots of posters (mostly
freebies
from conferences, etc.), lots of book related stuffed animals (some
freebies, some purchased from Demco, etc.), personal framed prints and
statuary (my husband buys these for me as gifts! - anything with anyone
reading!) Some mobiles... I use funds from both my supply account
and
my book fair profits. Also, I inherited lots of silk plants - they
kind
of give it a homey feel.
AV budget & my own pocket
This money would come out of the book fair or supplies money. We don't
get money specifically for that purpose.
We have a supply budget for this but the PTA has also donated money for
stuff. Did >you do major decorations (like painting) during the summer?
No..this is up to the maintenance dept. of the school district, not
you.
You'll probably get catalogues that have posters etc. that you can
order
from your supply budget. Also, try to go to conventions with BIG
vendor
sections. The book companies have lots of posters to give away.
If you are ambitious you can paint over summer! You can also
purchase premade displays from school supply houses for bulletin
boards. Book fair funds do our decorating. I have found figurines and
stuffed animals at yard sales. Work out a rotating display from the
art
center/museum if they do those in your area. If you have a craft store
nearby see if anyone would like to display their crafts. Sometimes
stores can be generous and donate displays they are doing away with.
Upstart - division of Highsmith Inc. has posters, mobiles, etc for
sale.
We don't do that. We do pick up posters now and then, that's it. No
time to do any more.
Painting is done by district during summer. Most of decorations are
my personal money. Some come from supply budget.
No special funds. There were already plenty of nicknacks when I
arrived. A parent helped to get quilts put on rods and the district
office people hung them up. Quilts are great for noise buffering and
decoration.
I order from Demco, ALA, or Upstart, etc. for posters, and cutesy
things. Comes out of the regular book budget. I spend a lot of my own
money. I have not and probably would not consider painting or a major
job like that - put it in writing for custodial staff next summer.
We've used our funds to purchase posters and then created our own Author
Banners using book jackets and dye cut letters on bulletin board paper
banners. Did you do major decorations (like painting) during the
summer? The district is the only one who can paint our spaces. We have
sought permission to have the four huge decorative columns painted like
NC lighthouses! We shall see how long that takes!
I have painted a background for the puppet theater from my own funds
and a parent made me some trees (beautiful) with supplies I had from my
old school. I used "real" leaves that I got from Hobby Lobby and spent a
fortune on when I originally bought them. I take whatever I buy with my
own money when I leave a position, but hopefully that won't be for
awhile now. Through the years I have collected posters and things and
some of the deorations were left from the media specialist prior to me.
My media center is wallpapered so no painting, but I bought some things
myself and then used bookfair funds for other things I wanted. I've
also asked from time to time for my principal to frame a picture a
visiting illustrator left, etc. It just depends on the type of
decoration I want.
I do use book fair profit for "decorating" and for bookmarks to give to
the kids. Are you thinking of doing "major decorating like painting"
yourself. You might want to be sure this is OK before you go ahead.
But that's a judgment call. Sometimes it's better to present them with
a fait accomplished than ask for permission. Sometimes in our district,
we can request certain things be done by Buildings and grounds
(additional electric outlets, for example)
Tiffani De L'Eveille,Media Specialist
Cascade Elementary School, Atlanta, GA
stu7107@westga.edu
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