Couldn't someone in the front office use Textbook plus to run the textbook
program? There is no reason librarians should do this. They could have a
terminal in the office, barcode the books and check them out. Would this
work? Is that the name of the program, Testbook Plus? or did I make that
up!
Thanks for writing,
Sandy in Florida
Media Specialist, Mulberry Middle School
http://schools.polk.net/mms
afn11720@afn.org
I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to
please everyone - Bill Cosby
On Mon, 31 Mar 2003, Michelle Walker wrote:
> Thanks to everyone who responded to my post. Every response I received was
> valuable, and I'll be using these to help make our decision to take on
> textbooks or not. I am looking into Textlink from Follett, as I really
> want to keep textbook stats separate from library materials. Below is my
> original post followed by the responses I received.
>
> My Original Post:
> One of our teachers has asked me to circulate classroom textbooks through
> our Follett system. (I knew this day would come!) As much as I would like
> to provide this service, I am very hesitant for a number of reasons,
> primarily because I know that if I do it for one teacher, I will need to
> provide this service to everybody, and I would like to hear your comments
> on the following issues:
>
> Your thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages of circulating textbooks
> through the library.
> How do you manage your reports (collection and circulation) with the
> addition of the textbooks?
> Do you have to close your library at the beginning and/or end of the year
> to deal with textbooks? (We are currently open every day of the school year.)
> Because I would not be given any extra help in this project, I would need
> to clearly separate library and teacher responsibilities (teachers
> responsible for barcoding, stamping, and dealing with damages and
> overdues) Anyone try this and have problems?
> And of course, storage is a concern...
>
> If you use a textbook-specific program, I'd love to hear about them as well.
>
> We are a small school with under 25 staff members, so we wouldn't be
> talking masses of teachers, but it is a busy library and just me...
>
> Again, your comments would be a BIG help in assisting me in my
> decision. Thanks in advance for your help!
>
> --------------------------
> REPLIES:
>
>
> I, too, work in a small school. I would never voluntarily start keeping
> track of textbooks. Our teachers are each responsible for passing out,
> collecting, and storing their own books. All they have to do is number
> them, write down the number when they give them out, and check them in
> according to number. If a book isn't returned, the student on record as
> having received it pays for it. When I taught, I had an index card that
> went with each book--numbers matched. Each student had to sign and date
> the card when they received the book. I put the cards away until the end
> of the year. That way there was no arguing about whether a student had
> received a book or not.
>
> To think of all the lugging around you'd have to do on all of those
> textbooks--ugh! I'd hate to get it started--it would soon all (barcoding,
> etc.) become your job. I have way too much to do to fool with
> textbooks--it's all I can do to take care of the library books.
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> Dear Michelle,
>
> from (bitter) past experience:
>
> For many schools, circulating text books through the library is an
> excellent management strategy for the whole school - at least from the
> budgetary viewpoint - but will create an extra workload for the
> library. Will your school supply a staffing suppliment to cover the extra
> work, or compensate for time lost to library-related activities ...
>
> This can create further demands on library space - is your school willing
> to extend your library building? Or do you lose yet more space to
> non-library related activities ...
>
> Just some thoughts.
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> Michelle,
>
> I saw your post on LM_NET.
>
> I have used Follett's Textlink program synchronized with the Follett Unision
> program for 3 years. The technical end works just fine. Overdues are from
> both systems on one slip of paper. That part of it is very effective. We
> tell students they don't get another textbook until the previous department
> (ie. math) textbook is returned or paid for. It takes about 3 weeks each at
> the beginning, semester, and end of the school year. We have a textbook
> room near the library and just put the texts on carts.
>
> It's the teacher relationship end of it that is now starting to cause me
> problems. I took it on when I got a .6 clerk. I had never had one before.
> We have 1682 students and around 80 teachers, so this is no small project.
>
> This year we're having budget cuts. My .2 teacher prep teacher was taken
> away. My position is that I was doing textbooks as along as the staffing
> remained the same, so now teachers will have to do their own textbooks.
> I've been told that my clerk will be cut if I refuse to do textbooks, so it
> really is a sticky problem.
>
> You could help them enter the data into the system, but require that they do
> the actual checking in and out of the books. They should do their own
> barcoding, as you wrote. And pay for all the barcode costs, etc.
>
> You could put the computer program on a cart (assuming you have a certain
> amount of networked jacks) and let the teachers take that to their rooms.
>
> You could also use volunteers.
>
> I'll forward some documents to you from school that might be helpful.
>
> Checking in (and out) library, textbooks and audiovisual equipment all at
> the same time is too much work for one person to do.
>
> --------------------------------------
>
> Do not go there! If the school uses Aeries for the student information
> system the teachers could use that to issue textbooks. SASI probably has
> the same feature. We use Text link from Follett. The problem is not with
> the students it is with the teachers and getting lists from them. Call
> me if you have other questions. Attached is a policy/procedure the
> principal and I came up with this year.
>
> --------------------------------------
> Advantages: Saves money for the school in the long run because the
> library is much more efficient at tracking books and collecting for loss
> and damage.
>
> Disadvantages: It is a time consuming job. You need to decide which of the
> things you currently do that you will stop doing to make time for it.
> Teachers don't want to do it because it cuts into teaching and planning
> time and they assume that you have time to spare.
>
> How do you manage your reports (collection and circulation) with the
> addition of the textbooks?
>
> Reports are fairly easy because of the software and because I have a full
> time assistant who is responsible for textbooks.
>
> Do you have to close your library at the beginning and/or end of the year
> to deal with textbooks? (We are currently open every day of the school
> year.)
>
> Yes. We are open to checkout reading books but we close the computer lab
> and we are closed to classes the first week and the last two weeks each
> year. We do not have a real textbook room (it doubles as a server room,
> periodical storage, and general storage) so textbooks are stacked on the
> tables and on the floor during the summer. We have about 1000 students so
> we have quite a few textbooks. The library is not available during summer
> school.
>
> Because I would not be given any extra help in this project, I would need
> to clearly separate library and teacher responsibilities (teachers
> responsible for barcoding, stamping, and dealing with damages and
> overdues) Anyone try this and have problems?
>
> I can't imagine doing this (relying on teachers to do part of the
> processing). Some teachers will do it and some will "forget" or do it
> wrong or otherwise make more work for you.
>
> And of course, storage is a concern...
>
> You bet (see comments above)
>
> If you use a textbook-specific program, I'd love to hear about them as
> well.
>
> We use Follett's Textlink. It works-most of the time. Follett's library
> circulation and cataloging programs are great, I really like them.
> Textlink is a different animal. It is a different type of database and it
> is less stable and requires more maintenance. It has gotten better with
> each iteration, but I don't understand why they didn't use the same
> database software as the Circ/Cat programs. We use it because it does
> share the patron database with the library software (which requires another
> piece of software) so students don't need to be entered into two systems.
> It also allows us to print a combined transaction list with textbook and
> library checkouts on one report. There are also ongoing costs with service
> and support (absolutely essential) and processing supplies. Overall it is
> a good program and, like I wrote above, it has improved with later
> releases.
>
> We are a small school with under 25 staff members, so we wouldn't be
> talking masses of teachers, but it is a busy library and just me...
>
> Again, your comments would be a BIG help in assisting me in my
> decision.
>
> Textbooks are a big job and I believe you are about to step onto a slippery
> slope where you will end up doing all of the ordering, processing,
> distribution, and recovery for the entire school in just a few short years.
> With out a full time aide I couldn't do it. Unless you are ordered to do
> it by your principal I would say no.
> Thanks in advance for your help!
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> We're using the Alexandria system from COMPanion Corporation. I have a Palm
> pilot that I use for Inventory and it can also be used for signing out
> books and returning them if you had a problem with a power outage. One
> middle school here purchased a Palm from COMPanion to use for signing out
> text books to the students. The Palm can be used anywhere.
>
> If the books were barcoded, teacher could use the Palm to sign them out to
> students. Of course as I'm writing this I think it's too much work for the
> teacher-librarian to have to enter everything into the system. I know that
> COMPanion does sell a text book program to.
>
> You can check their site at www.goalexandria.com
>
> In a perfect world we would all have clerks to help us and we'd have lots
> of library time.
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Most librarians treat textbooks like the plague! But I managed it, plus
> library plus tech with only a part-time aide (some times) and a few student
> aides.
>
> PRO: no more excuses about "Mr. Jones collected them all", "I didn't have
> that book" etc.
> Most programs will let you print by-teacher-by-period textbook lists which
> are MUCH more legible than the hand-written ones you have now.
> Yet another way to teach the kids responsibility (see the recent discussion
> of ID cards to check out books -- same rule applies to textbooks; on that
> one you'll have to get teacher cooperation, or they'll nag you about "Johnny
> HAS to have his book or he'll cause problems in class" blah blah blah.
>
> CON: One more job to do.
>
> I hired (with a bit of arm-twisting of the asst. supt for money) 5 boys for
> 5 days during late June and we barcoded 10,000 textbooks and I was only off
> by 71 barcodes!
> Storage was not a problem for me because textbooks had ALWAYS been
> associated with the library at my school.
>
> We used Dynix Scholar (don't go that way, their service is lousy) and are
> now using Follett, both of which can handle textbooks. Don't know about
> other software.
>
> ----------------------------------
>
> What automated system do you use?
> If you can install it on a local computer in the
> teacher's classroom she could do her own automation
> and circulation.
>
> ---------------------------------
>
> Are you aware that Follett puts out a software program to circulate
> textbooks called Textlink or Textbook Link?
>
> ----------------------------------
>
> Just say no! You should not be asked to do this...but if you decide to do
> it, please do us all a favor and demand a supplement to your
> salary....somethimes enough is just enough. The reason all these things
> get piled on us is that we are the most capable people in the school...but
> we can't be everything to everybody.
>
> ---------------------------------
>
> Do you know that Follett has a program to manage Texbooks? Of course you
> wouldn't buy it for just one class.
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> I have circulated textbooks through the library for several years. Follett
> has a textbook circ system. I'm currently in a large high school with a part
> time assistant but I also did it in a K-12 private school (only for grades
> 7-12) when it was just me. You can keep better track of textbooks but it is
> extra work, and yes we open late and close early to do it in Sept. and June.
>
> ----------------------------------
>
> I circulated all textbooks for the school at the last place I worked but
> used Follett's textbook system called Textlink. It works with circ plus but
> is a separate program. I believe it was $1,500. It is also a lot of work
> to get it set up, and I would not volunteer to take on the job unless
> you have an assistant, and get a stipend for the extra work.
>
> The textbooks are not library materials. I also inventoried all of the
> equipment in the school. It makes sense to use the library for circulating
> resources, but then you do need more help.
>
> ---------------------------------
>
> I'm not familiar with all the workings of Follett, but we are circulating
> all texbooks through our library on Winnebago Spectrum. Our school has
> 1123 students, so it's a much larger scale.
>
> Do you have the ability to give materials a type (1 = Fiction, 2=
> biography, 3= Reference, etc)? If so, you give all textbooks a material
> type of Textbooks (ours is 22 = textbooks). Then I set the circulation
> period for 260 days with a global due date of the end of the year.
>
> Things you need to consider:
> 1. Who will process the books for circulation? I buy preprinted barcodes
> in a range for textbooks (50000-75000 is my textbook barcode section).
> The teachers are responsible for processing the textbooks or getting
> someone to do it. That means you do NOT stamp, insert barcodes or number
> on the page edges. All you have to do is put one record into your catalog
> and add the copies to the record. (At first, the teachers balked at this
> work. I just held all teacher materials until the student books were
> done! If they waited for me to do it, they waited a LONG time for their
> materials.)
> 2. Where will the books be stored? If you don't have good storage for
> this, forget it! I have two locking storage rooms to keep the extra books
> in. During the summer, we use every flat surface in the library for book
> storage.
> 3. Time allowance for checking out and returning books? I take six
> school days to hand out books - no more than 5 sets during any one period.
> I take 8 days on returning as well as put books in numerical order when
> they are returned. We also take care of repairs and fines (it's just how
> we have it set up).
> 4. Who will do the fines and repairs? Make sure you know who does it
> before saying okay. It has become somewhat of a hassle, but I do have the
> backing of the principal -- parents who want to complain must talk to him.
> I have taught a couple of parents each year to do some of the simple
> repairs (broken corners, ripped spines, torn pages). If books need to go
> to the bindery, where does to money for that come? NOT out of the
> library budget. Tape and other repair supplies come out of the
> principal's budget; they don't get to use up the library repair materials!
>
> Actually, we have saved a ton of money over the years on textbooks because
> they go through the library system. Instead of replacing a set of books
> every year, we're going two to three years between book orders. Students
> who withdraw at the last minute used to get away with not returning
> textbooks. Now, even if they are coming through at the last minute they
> are required to clear the library. Students used to get away with turning
> a book in, whether it was theirs or not. Now the number has to match
> their record or they are responsible for payment. We are keeping better
> track than the teachers ever did in their classrooms and are holding the
> kids responsible.
>
> -------------------------------
>
> I, too, work in a small school. I would never voluntarily start keeping
> track of textbooks. Our teachers are each responsible for passing out,
> collecting, and storing their own books. All they have to do is number
> them, write down the number when they give them out, and check them in
> according to number. If a book isn't returned, the student on record as
> having received it pays for it. When I taught, I had an index card that
> went with each book--numbers matched. Each student had to sign and date
> the card when they received the book. I put the cards away until the end
> of the year. That way there was no arguing about whether a student had
> received a book or not.
>
> To think of all the lugging around you'd have to do on all of those
> textbooks--ugh! I'd hate to get it started--it would soon all (barcoding,
> etc.) become your job. I have way too much to do to fool with
> textbooks--it's all I can do to take care of the library books.
>
> ---------------------------------
>
> I don't use Follett, but all of our textbooks are in our system (Library
> Pro). I created a second data base and called it "textbooks". All
> classroom materials that were purchased with school funds are in this
> data base and checked out either to teachers or, as in the case of
> textbooks, to students. Because it is in a separate data base it is
> managed like the library materials but but is separate from them. We
> set the due date for the textbooks as the last day of school so there
> would be no overdues. Teachers and students are then responsible for
> the books checked out. I close the library two weeks before the end of
> school to inventory both the library and the classrooms. Last year we
> stored all the books in one classroom but this year I'm hoping to leave
> the books in the individual classrooms and check them out in the fall
> right in the room using a laptop.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Michelle Walker, Librarian / Technology Coordinator
> Hamilton Union High School
> Hamilton Union Elementary School
> P.O. Box 488 / Hwy 32 & Canal Street
> Hamilton City, CA 95951
> (530) 826-3261
> mwalker@glenn-co.k12.ca.us
> http://www.glenn-co.k12.ca.us/ham-hs/library.html
>
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