Overdues

[Mary Ludwick <ludwick@SWBELL.NET>]

For a time, if a child had checked out several books and had only one late
one, I let the child get more books with the promise of "I'll bring that one
tomorrow/ next time."
I found that more and more the book ended up missing and was eternally late.
        This year I began the policy of not letting a child get any books if
one book was still out.  ..with the exception of students keeping a
particuar book for  a class project.
     This has worked better than my past policy.
      Meanwhile, I (and all of us) continue to have the "hard core
offenders" who have books more than 30 days overdue.  Those children get
pursued with vigor.  Notes are sent home, phone calls are made etc.   By
this time of the year (my principal approves) children who do not have clear
library records cannot participate in field trips, field day, end of year
picnics etc.  I currently have 2 students with over 30 day late books.  All
others are either current or just a few days late.
           I recently finally got a child to clear his records, only because
he would miss the field trip.  He had 4 books missing since December...They
were due in January.  I heard the usual routine, never checked them out,
haven't seen them blah- blah - blah.  Finally mother paid but was hostile.
Two days later the books surfaced in the LEAP room with his project
materials.  Mother is waiting on her refund....


Mary Ludwick, Librarian         K-5 Elementary
Owen Elementary, The Colony, Texas (near Dallas)
ludwickm@lisd.net  (school address)
ludwick@swbell.net (home address)
Little known fact: "Don't Mess With Texas" is an
anti-litter campaign slogan.

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