I sent my message to Karen but since she didn't mention posting a "HIT", and
since others have posted their ideas, I too will share what has worked for
me.
When I have "repeat offenders" I send them down (with a library pass) to the
office to call home. I have an arrangement with the school secretary and she
supports me even though it is a bother for her. Kids figure out pretty quick
they DON'T want to go to the office for something negative. If you have an
outside line in the library, you could do it from there; when I had one at a
previous site, it worked very well. I made the kids dial home (or parents'
work place) and speak themselves.
Of course the first thing they will tell you (before calling) is that
nobody's home. Too bad! Send them anyway. Half the time, there IS someone at
home. Boy, are they surprised! And if not, most people have an answering
service/message machine of some sort. I tell them to call and leave a
message for themselves. "Hi, this is a reminder for John to put my library
book(s) in my backpack as soon as I get home and return them to the school
library tomorrow."
Sometimes I have the kids wear a strip of construction paper around their
left wrist marked "Library." I stress to them that this is NOT a punishment
to embarrass them, but rather like the proverbial "string around their
finger" to remind them. I tell them NOT to remove it until they are at home
and they have found the book and placed it in their backpack. If they really
fuss, I tell them they do not have to wear it but they really MUST remember
their books the following day.
We start off at Orientation and we all learn our library "mantra" with hand
motions which I came up with years ago. The idea is that their book(s) can
only be in one of three places. I ask them: "What are the only three places
your library book can be?"
"My library book is in my hand, (raise and extend right hand forward as if
holding a book to read)
In my back pack, (bring up hand and over shoulder to indicate backpack)
Or in my desk AT SCHOOL!" (bring hand down, then forward, as if placing book
in desk).
We emphasize the AT SCHOOL part so they don't confuse it with a desk or
bookcase at home.
I have them repeat this with me several times WITH HAND MOTIONS - EVERYBODY!
at orientation, then occasionally throughout the year.
Because we have a very transitory population (lots of kids move during our
school year), I also tell them that they may take only 1 book home at a time
- the other(s) must remain in their desk at school. They can then switch the
books the next day if they wish. This works pretty well, except for the kids
who ignore it and take home 2 or 3 books, and then forget all or part of
them on library day. I emphasize that this is not to restrict them, but to
help them avoid losing expensive books (nearly all of ours are newer
hardbounds - so they are very expensive for our low-income families to
replace).
For the really die-hard loser/forgetters, I limit them to ONE paperback
(most of ours are old and ratty, and not much selection to choose from) or
magazine per checkout, and only if they remember to bring in the previous
item. They stay on this policy for at least a month until they have
established a perfect track record, but understand they immediately go back
if they slip up again. My automation program even alerts me with a special
signal whenever they check out, so I'm on top of it. They don't like this
but "Tough Toenails!" I reiterate that I did warn them and that this is the
result of THEIR choice and action (or lack thereof). These are all the same
kids who forget homework, etc. so at some point they need to understand that
their lack of responsibility has negative consequences. If the teacher says
they must have a hardbound for a report, I check it out to the teacher and
they keep it at their desk except when the student uses it. This has worked
out well.
Utilizing all these policies and procedures has helped us to see a dramatic
drop in lost materials over the years.
Joanne Ladewig (A.K.A. "Library Lady")
Library Media Tech
Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD
Garden Grove, California
shatz@verizon.net
Comments are my own and may not represent the views of GGUSD
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