****************************************************
I have used notebooks for the past 3 years happily. We have a four day
rotation - (I see all classes every 4 days) so I keep the notebooks
organized by day, sorting the cards by class, in the sequence that the
classes come. My circulation desk isn't large and the notebook takes
up
some space which is the only con.
I visited another elementary library that used the card system. The
cards were kept together by class and distributed when the children
arrived - the nice part is that the clerk would check them in advance
to
see if a child had returned his/her book, removing the cards of
students
who hadn't returned books. The kids also enjoyed being "grownup' and
scanning their card, especially the littlest ones. I'd like to use
this
system next year.
Sandra Griffing
Media Specialist
Sheridan Park Elemenatry
Hollywood, FL
*****************************************
I am a first year (ILT) media specialist in a preK-5
school. I inherited a DOS Follett system as well but one
with the capability to scan. When our classes come to the
library the students drop their books into the return slot
and move on to the instructional or read aloud areas. My
assistant checks the books in and then takes out the class
cards, running them through the "check out" feature. The
computer tells us if they still have a book out or a fine
(our fines are only for lost or damaged books. Students
elligible to check out books are given their cards. The
cards function as a ticket to check books out. No card, no
book. If a student questions the denial, we can show them
why they can't check out a book and the name of the book
that they still have checked out.
I am excited. Last week we received 2 new computers,
Follett on Windows, and Alliance Plus through out our
school system. Happy happy, joy, joy!
Hope this helps.
Anglea Wilcox
******************************************
When I did cards (we now use folders with reading logs) all students
had a
card. I liked them because I could tell at a glance who had checked
out
books and who had forgotten. In grades K-1 I wrote their first name
(with
last initial if more than one child with same first name) at the top of
the
card. They had no trouble finding their own card and actually helped
the
kindergartners to recognize their name in print.
Barbara Roberts
Media Specialist
Cherokee Ridge Elementary
Chickamauga, GA
*****************************************
I use the card system. I keep the cards in a photo album book so the
children don't have to worry about bringing their card. They have
enough
trouble remembering their books! Since I have a fixed schedule, the
cards
are arranged in the order in which the classes come to the library
under the
teacher's name. I have a separate section in the back for faculty.
Eleanor Jordan, Librarian
John F. Kennedy School K-5
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
*****************************************
If they come to library as a class (in elementary they usually do)
then
in a notebook makes the most sense. I keep mine in a 3-ring binder,
each teacher's students (plus teacher code) on a page and sorted by
grades. My aide at one school has them sorted by which day they come
to
library and color coded by grade, but that is a bit difficult for me
when individuals come in before school. ( What day do you usually
come
to library? grade? name...? Instead of just asking teachers
name....)
Good luck
Marcia Dressel
Osceola K-5 librarian
Osceola, WI
******************************************
I have used the notebook system for 6 years. I wouldn't switch.
However,
two years ago, I also made cards that the teachers could keep in their
rooms
and give out as each student's library pass. They cannot check out
without
it. I "borrowed" this idea from another librarian). Even using them
on
short jaunts to check out books, the cards are lost. I am making about
3-4
new ones a month. I then have to fall back on my lists, which are
always
there.
I will continue to make the cards as they streamline the process - no
need to
find the grade level, find the teacher, find the name in the notebook
while
in the midst of another class's check out - but I'm glad It's not my
main
list.
Jan Kuebler
Amy Parks-Heath Elementary
Heath TX
******************************************
The cards were certainly not be too hard for kids that age. Every
child in
my school (K-4) had a library card. We print barcodes onto label,
stick
them to rolodex cards, laminate them, punch a hole in them and then
tie
lacing through them. (The idea that the kids can then wear them
around
their necks to keep better track of them!) The cards stay in the
classrooms
and each teacher controls that differently. I only request that the
cards
ALWAYS come with the kids. We have two circulation computers (we use
Follett) and the kids scan their cards, they scan the books, and they
clear
the screen for the next user. We typically have an adult (and
sometimes it
is the classroom teacher) who monitors the computers in case of an
error,
but for the most part the kids do all the checking out themselves. We
recently started a PreK special education class in our building and
while
they need more help in getting their cards scanned, we still let them
try
and work with them so that they are doing it and not us. It certainly
has
given our students a lot of ownership of the LMC and they really enjoy
it,
too. Hope that helps.
Carl
*********************************
I am a media specialist in a K-5 elementary school near
Atlanta. Each student in the school has a card with name, teacher,
grade,
and barcode on it. It's an index card, with each grade level in a
different color. We write the teachr and grade at the very bottom of
the
card and cut it off each year as they are promoted. The card moves with
them
through their years at Camp Creek. We can always tell a 5th grader who
has
been there since kindergarten because their card is shorter than
others.
We laminate the cards and use a Sharpie to write teacher and grade as
students
promote each year.
Because the cards stay in the media center in drawers
near the checkout desk, they remain in good shape, even after 6 years
for a
students who attended Camp Creek K-5. The kindergarten teachers do,
when their
class comes as a whole for checkout, take their cards out and spread
them out on
a table. They may have to assist students in recognizing their names
on
the cards the first few times, but it is amazing how quickly they learn
their
names.
My own children attended a different elementary school
that used the cards in the notebook system. I remember being a
volunteer
in that library and feel that the individual student cards kept in
drawers or
baskets actually worked better. Since you are just a K-2 school,
though,
it might work for you. My school has 950+ students, with more coming
next
year, so it would take a large notebook if I kept all of the cards at
the
checkout desk.
Linda Houghton
Camp Creek ES
Lilburn, GA
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