Here are some comments from LM_NET members on the reasons why students shoul=
d=20
be allowed to come in small groups or individually to check out books. I=20
have 30 pages of notes from other websites including Donna Shannon and Doug=20
Johnson's pages. There are excellent sites with information for us. Only t=
he=20
Nebraska site took AASL's Information Power and broke it into reasons for=20
students, for teachers, for administrators. We need to start phrasing things=
for our=20
constituents. Kids and parents need to know why it's best to offer flexible=20
checkout times if we truly want to build support. Thank you for your comment=
s.
Diane Chen
Hickman Elementary School LMS
email: DianeRChen@aol.com
Libraries should be the intellectual, social, and emotional center of the=20
school for everyone.
Scheduling Access:
The library should be open all day, before and after school. Kids should be=20
allowed and encouraged to come in at lunch and work or read.
Public libraries do not force you to limit your access (other than operating=
=20
hours). If you told adults that they could use the public library or use the=
=20
internet only at a certain time once a week, how would they like it? Taxpaye=
rs=20
pay for access to public libraries and need to receive their value.
Students will not know how to go on their own to high school and middle=20
school libraries if you have a fixed schedule in the elementary. They will w=
ait=20
for someone to march them off to the library when they are older, and no one=
=20
will do that. Teachers know that students=E2=80=99 actively free reading b=
ooks=20
decreases in middle and high school. Part of that is time spent on academic=20=
studies,=20
part is the need for training in accessing school and public libraries.
Stephen Krashen's research shows that access to books is the key operative t=
o=20
getting kids to read. They need to be able to choose a book at their=20
leisure, take it home, read it for fun and KNOW that they can get another on=
when=20
they're done.
How do you reach ALL students when some never ask to go:
Some teachers rarely, if ever, allow their children the chance to come. =20
Some used library time as a privilege--only students who behaved, or did the=
ir=20
work, or whatever could come during open circulation. =20
Teachers should schedule periodic whole class visits to the library to ensur=
e=20
that every kid gets a chance to visit -- some wouldn't otherwise. We are not=
=20
sure if students actually READ any less without a whole class visit, but the=
re=20
are certain kids who won't visit the library and check out a book unless=20
they're forced to be there. Some students do not want to draw attention to=20
themselves by asking to go individually. Some are discouraged by teachers wh=
o solely=20
focus upon directed instruction.
Teachers should schedule classes for instruction.
Pacing and Reaching Avid Readers:
Students read books at differing rates of time. By being able to visit the=20
library when they want, they can pace their readings to their reading time=20
levels - replenishing their supplies as needed. Students should not have to=20=
wait=20
until a "scheduled" library time.=20
There is nothing worse than having nothing to read as an avid reader. I=20
sometimes find myself reading more slowly near the end of book to prolong th=
e=20
experience. When you need something to read, you need it NOW. Not tomorr=
ow,=20
not next week during a library class. By the time next week rolls around,=20=
you=20
might well have forgotten about that book and have trouble finding something=
=20
good "on demand", so to speak.
Children who love to read need to check out more often than the ones who=20
don't. Just because one of your children needs braces, do you take all of yo=
ur=20
children to the orthodontist?? And if one of your children needs braces, do=20=
you=20
deny them the braces until all of the children need them?
Preventing Abuse:
Teachers KNOW which kids use "going to the library" as a way to blow off=20
time...and should be the police of that. If they don't, then you need to ste=
p in.=20
But for the most part, kids coming to the library on their own are on a=20
mission. Give the kids passes and record times they leave and return to the=20
classroom. Don't allow kids who abuse to keep coming, but don't deny the r=
eal=20
readers this opportunity.
Hidden benefits:
Students do not socialize as much in small groups and certainly not alone.=20
Some teachers liked being able to separate certain children, so that Joe and=
=20
Frank wouldn't be in the library together (but both would get to go at some=20=
point=20
during the day). =20
Several of the Special Ed students enjoy getting to come at times when their=
=20
classmates weren't there to notice the lower level books they were checking=20
out.=20
Some children truly flourish with the open circulation time. They will=20
check out the maximum number of books they can and STILL be back the next da=
y for=20
more books. Through following their AR progress throughout the year, some=20
librarians noted that our school's highest AR scorers were also the most=20
frequent customers.
This way, children always have something to read for DEAR time (no excuses!)
Flex access benefits kids by - allowing librarian to provide service to=20
students as they visit library, you can engage sm. groups in conversations,=20=
help=20
them select books, interest them in a new genre. It's exciting to expand the=
K=20
boy that only reads dinosaur books to animal, space or ancient Egypt. It's=
=20
pretty difficult to provide the personal service
when you have 25 students checking out at once.
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