Shelf markers

["Madeline L. Buchanan" <mlbuchan@hiwaay.net>]

I tried shelf markers for one class period and was quite frustrated.  The
students are more interested in looking at all the good books they see
instead of remembering to put the marker in the place of each book they pull
out.  Since my goal is to have them use their time to choose books and not
to worry about marking a place, I decided not to use them.  Sure, my shelves
get out of order, especially the easy shelves, but I feel that if I put too
much emphasis on putting the book back exactly where it is supposed to be
instead of encouraging the children to read the books, the students will not
enjoy using the library as much.  My fiction and non-fiction books don't
pose too much of a problem and I shelve easy books by the first letter of
the author's last name only and don't worry about the rest of it being in
order.  It may take a little more time to find a book when a teacher asks
for it, but I would rather do that than stifle the enthusiasm of the
students.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Madeline L. Buchanan, Library Media Specialist
W. J. Christian School, Birmingham, Alabama  35206
Phone (205) 838-7666 or 231-5277
Fax (205) 838-7673
mlbuchan@hiwaay.net
http://home.hiwaay.net/~mlbuchan/
http://home.hiwaay.net/~wjcs/

"If at first you do succeed --
Try to hide your astonishment."
--Harry F. Banks
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