I'm sorry about this duplication but I have just realized that the way I
sent it the first time means that it is difficult for anybody to just
reply to LM_NET.
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Jean Townes, Media Specialist townesj@PEAK.ORG
Clover Ridge Elementary School Phone: 541-967-4565
Greater Albany Public Schools
2953 Clover Ridge Rd, NE
Albany, Or 97321
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I could sure use some fresh thoughts on the subject of reducing the number
of books that develop legs and walk out the door!
We are getting a distressing number of books returned that have never been
checked out. This last week it was more than 20 and we are a small
school. Then of course this generates serious worries about the ones that
DIDN'T come back. I not infrequently find myself looking for a book that
is supposed to be on the shelf and is not to be found. Some of this is due
to misshelving but not all. Judging from the titles I don't think the
primary culprits are teachers. Most of these unchecked out books are
being returned in our general return slot and not with the classroom
returns so we have no way of even narrowing down the problem to particular
classrooms.
What we are currently doing: Primary grades: Every child as they check
out gets one bookmark of the week in their books and I check for these as
they leave the library. Intermediate grades: They get a bookmark for
each book and I check for these as they leave. Students missing a bookmark
are just matter of factly told to go check with my library assistant who
is doing the checking out.
I very much dislike being the cop at the door and feel very
uncomfortable about what it adds to the atmosphere but it felt like we had
to do something. And apparently it isn't doing much good. I am aware
that students come through the line who DID check out and are missing a
bookmark or two. I suspect sometimes one of their bookmarks was taken by
another student and was used in a book that was not checked out. The
opportunity easily exists as students frequently have put their books down
at the table where they will be sitting while they wait to line up and
then leave briefly to do something else. I wonder if in the process of
trying to "police" the situation we are just creating a challenge to beat
the system. Perhaps an atmosphere of lack of trust is just inviting
untrustworthy behavior. But the problem was there before we instituted
this system.
What do you do to try to ensure that all books actually get checked out???
Do you do anything?
And no, security stripping is not an option for numerous reasons.
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Jean Townes, Media Specialist townesj@PEAK.ORG
Clover Ridge Elementary School Phone: 541-967-4565
Greater Albany Public Schools
2953 Clover Ridge Rd, NE
Albany, Or 97321
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