I know that we have limited budgets, I know that books are expensive, I
know what it feels like buying the same titles over and over or missing
that curriculum title for that paper, that it is important that students
take resresponsibility,but I also cringe... there will be parents who
remember their own shaming experience losing a library books, who will
pass on their library anxiety to thier children. Books get lost. Books
come back late, late, late.We do not cahrge fines to students. I do send
home a hand written note for late books. I ask the student who are they
going to ask for help in searching for or replacing the lost book. I
address the note to that person. Plan a-bring back the book, plan b-
replace the book with that title or another book on the high-interest
topic, plan c. work off the debt. We forgive $10 per hour of work.
Students straighten shelves, put bookcarts in order, repair books, open
my mail, file catalogs, stamp discards...
Lisa Von Drasek
Children's Librarian
Bank Street College of Education
School for Children Pre-K- 8
610 West 112th St
NY NY 10025
lisav@bnkst.edu
212 875 4452
>>> Paula Yohe <paula_yohe@YAHOO.COM> 03/12/05 8:15 AM >>>
And how many parents tell their children not to ever check out another
library book?
Sure makes us look like a collection agency --
Paula
Ladewig <shatz@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
May I offer a suggestion for your die-hard offenders? Give a letter
(better yet, have them called in to pick up the letter from the vice
principal or whoever does discipline) to the student advising them that
they have 24 hours to return the book or begin paying for it*. The
letter states that if, within 24 hours they do not make good, a call
will be placed to their home and the calls will begin at 6 (or 6:30)
a.m.! (Be sure that part is clear). (And if you don't get the books, DO
make the call! Word will get out and you'll have other kids returning
books too). My guess is that they will NOT want their parents harassed
at that time of the morning. On the bright side, a phone call then will
alert them to look for the book before coming to school.
Here at my elementary school, I have the student call home during the
day (they are sent to the office to call, so they're not too thrilled
about that!) and let parent know that a book is missing, and if no
answer, they leave a message on the recorder for themselves to remind
themselves when they get home. You could even make up a little card that
they could read; laminate it and hand it to them while they dial. "This
is a message for John to locate his library book at home and place it in
his backpack for return to the library tomorrow." Leaving themselves a
message usually works because the parent also hears the message. Most
families do have a machine and it ends the excuse of "Nobody's home."
I have used "wake up calls" when I worked at a K - 8 site. ("Good
morning! This is a courtesy call from the school librarian. Johnny's
book is overdue. Before I send home a bill with the principal's
signature on it, I wanted to give you an opportunity to drop his late
book off. The title of the book is _______ (and if you can describe the
book:) and it is small, blue, and has a yellow sticker on the spine."
The cost of replacing the book is currently $25.
Or, "The book is 3 weeks late and I have a bill prepared in the amount
of $25. If the book is returned to the library or school office this
morning, I won't need to take the bill to the principal for his
signature. Thanks for your assistance!"
My guess is that employing these techniques will give you a 70% return
rate within a week. It's worth a try.
*You might even have them sign a form that indicates they received the
letter and they understand the consequences. At my K - 8 I had the kids
sign the original bill and I made a photocopy which I kept on file. This
way they knew their parents would find out that they knew all about it,
instead of, "I never got it" or "I didn't know."
Joanne Ladewig, Library Media Technician (a.k.a. "Library Lady")
Lawrence Elementary School, GGUSD
Garden Grove, CA USA
shatz@verizon.net
---Comments are my own and may not reflect the views of GGUSD.
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Paula Yohe
Director Of Technology/Library Media Center
Dillon School District Two
405 West Washington Street
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: 843-841-3604 Fax:843-774-1214
paula_yohe@yahoo.com
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