ORIGINAL QUESTION:
I would like to hear from media specialists who have established parent
collections with regards for what you included ---> specific topics
and
titles; good sources/vendors; and especially checkout procedures for
parents in your school. What are your circulation procedures for
parents?
Any and all suggestions/tips are appreciated
Robert Joyce
Pittsaylvania COunty Virginia Schools: Brosville Elementary
Library Media Specialist
robert@gcronline.com
REPLIES: ( "I" is from the original reply)
I have included books on child and teen development, learning issues,
social
develoopment and sticky situations, boy/girl differences in learning,
brain
development, etc. We include professional materials so it is a
Parent/Professional collection.
I am in the process of establishing a parent collection... I have a few
books set aside and have written a grant for 80 more. I used Titlewave
(Follett) to search and make a wish list. I chose 3-4 books each on
baby
care, raising boys, raising twins (only 1 title), adolescence, general
child care, family health books, child nutrition, grandparents,
ADD/ADHD, family finances, discipline, parents as educators, marriage,
divorce, etc.
I plan to give teachers a intro to the parent collection during a
faculty meeting and a list of the available titles. I want them to
encourage parents to check by the library when one of the topics we
cover is mentioned in a conference.
I also plan to send home a brochure introducing the library with each
child, mention it at PTO meetings, etc.
We already have about 80 parent and grandparent patrons who come to
check out extra books for their school age child or books for a
preschooler. I give them a library number and place their bar codes in
a
rolodex in alphabetical order. I list their location as parent... And
put the child's name in the info block. We allow parents to check out
4-5 books and see about 20 per day anyway so I will keep using this
same
plan if I am able to get funds to get a parent resource library off the
ground.
I'm in the process of putting together a parent library too. I have decided
that although we have our materials cataloged in an online circulation
system, it would be best to handle a parent library the old fashioned
way--through pockets with sign out cards. This way if the computer is shut
down and I'm not around (I'm part-time at 2 schools) parents can still feel
free to check materials out.
We have basic materials that were donated from the guidance counselor,
nurse, PTA, and principal, like videos and books about safety issues, ADHD,
special education students' needs, homework helpers, educational psychology,
etc.
In my elementary school I have a parent resource center that has math and
language arts flash cards and games. They all work on skills--math facts,
money, sequencingThere are also parenting books and videos. Those don't
circulate very much. The items that kids can use with their parents
circulate very well since I began a policy of letting kids take items home
and return them. We have so many parents who work and can't get to school
that I asked them to check a box on the application for their library card
that says their child may borrow on their account and that they will accept
responsibility if items are lost or damaged. Teachers decide which skill
needs work and will choose an appropriate game or flash card set for the
student to take home. Some teachers call parents to tell them a game is
coming home.
I also promote the parent resource center at BAck to School Night. Teachers
get parents to complete application cards at conferences.
Most of the items were purchased from Hammett and School Specialty
catalogs.I've just gotten some new language arts board games for 4th and 5th
graders and some Math Sharks that look like a video game control and let
kids practice different types and levels of math computation.
a source useful is "Once Upon a Heroine" by Alison Cooper-Mullin and
Jennifer Marmaduke Coye. ISBN 0-8092-3020-8 published by Contempory Books
1998
The book is a listing of 450 books with great Heroines, that are recommened
for girls who are tired of the boys getting all the glory. (I should say my
son loves as many of these books as my daughter does). The listings give the
title, authorcopyright date(s), publisher(s)/format(s) and a breif
description of the book. The books are arranged by reading/age levels
(Preschool read alouds, age 3 to 4).
I like to just read though it occassionaly and find things I want to read,
or to read the memories of famous women who talk about their favorite books
from childhood.
We have a small parent collection in our school (around 50
volumes ), and it is housed in the guidance counselor's office
(since she has more contact "need"- wise with the parents) but is
also inventoried by the library.So, the books are loaned out by the
guidance counselor. I chose the books for the Parent Resource
Center (PRC---goes above the book's cll number.) and selected
books on parenting, discipline, how parents can help with school,
Americn Medical Association books on childhood, also, book on
special education issues.
a Parenting Collection including books and even a couple of videos for
parents of certain groups of students -- gifted, LD, on meds, disabled,
etc.; standard books on human growth and development and especially
adolescence,teen health issues, discussing sex with children, parenting
techniques, dating, dealing with educators, college information, dealing
with school problems like homework, school phobias,etc.
When I see brochures of interest to parents at the public library, church,
wherever, I take some and add them to the Parenting Collection book shelf. I
have laminated a few articles that addressed parenting concerns of
middleschool families.
Admittedly, the books do not circulate a lot, but they have been
well-received by those that use them. Parents waiting in the library to meet
with a teacher or administrator are often looking for something to do so I
direct them to the collection. I try to either mention it at PTA or in the
PTA newsletter each year and also try to be available to check them out
before/after PTA meetings. If I can't attend, I usually leave an honor
signout sheet and put them in the computer the next day.
check out the books in the student's name if OK w/parent and child or
create a new patron for those that check out frequently or would rather
their child not know.
school was a school for students who are dyslexic. Our parent library
contained books dealing with dyslexia and other learning disabilities,
college oppurtunities for student with LD and career information. I know
this doesn't help in a regular school, but our parents appreciated the
collection and it was widely used. In a regular setting I would include
books about reading aloud, LD, homework resources, and books listing "family
friendly" web sites.
parents check out books for special projects, unusual circumstances, etc.
Our county has a parent resource center that provides all kinds of things
for parents. If you are in a poor rural county, you may very well have a
parent resource center somewhere in your county. Sometimes they are tied in
with Federal Funding for the schools.
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