Below are the responses I received on the subject "Target". This group is
GREAT!!!! Awesome ideas guys and thanks again for sharing!
Ronda
_________________
I actually have used the library card system you describe for the last 10 years
except i would place all cards out each week and print a list of those students
who had not returned their books and simply read names from the list and have those
students sit quietly at a table and read while the others chose their books - and
STILL I have a huge number of "missing" books at the end of each year. I probably
have equal numbers of picture books and chapter books missing each year. Like you
- I have no aide and actually no parent volunteers either - just too difficult for
the teacher (if she stays with the class - no always!) and me to monitor all 27
students every minute they are in the library. :-)
Here's an idea one of the other librarians in my district used to do before she
retired - but it takes lots of paper - and I haven't actually tried it - she swore
by it, however!. She would cut strips of paper - any size - preferably at least a
bookmark length by any width and/or she would photocopy bookmarks. When a book was
checked out, a bookmark/slip was placed in the book sticking out. When the class
lined up to leave it was easy for her and/or the teacher to glance at each
student's books as they lined up or left the library and see if the books had all
been checked out. Of course, my immediate thought is that you would have to be
sure and REMOVE all the slips - actually shake them out of the books - whenever
books are checked in. But it might be worth trying!
- - -
I actually use the cards for various "other" things too - for those grades
participating in Reading counts, their lexile goes on the back of their library
card. Their library card number is the same as their students ID, so they are
also useful when students forget their ID and can't log on to the computers. I'm
planning this year to do something like a sticker or a stamp on the back for every
week that their books are returned on time, or something like that, and then a
prize for x number of stickers each six weeks, semester, etc., - haven't quite
fleshed that out yet.
Having the cards really DOES help me with names! - since I always make a point to
read the name on the card when the student stands in front of me and presents it to
me for checkout. I do still have to rely on the PK teachers/aides & K teachers to
confirm - since those students will often agree that their name is whatever I
say!!! :-) But it also helps my PK and K students learn to recognize and spell
their names, since I spread the cards out on a table and they have to find their
card before they check out - the teacher/aide usually monitors this.
At the end of each school year, I use the cards for several drawings for books,
posters, teeshirts, etc. I file the cards by homeroom teacher throughout the
year, but at any time I can run a report of all students who still have materials.
So when the final deadline passes for returning materials at the end of the year -
I run that report, pull the cards of the students who have NOT returned or paid and
throw them away. Then all the others are dumped in a basket for the daily
drawings the last week of school.
_ _ _
I do a very similar thing. I put the barcodes on tagboard shelfmarkers. I cut
colored tagboard 4x 11 inches so I get 14 markers from a 22x28 sheet. I use a
different color for each classroom. Since you have lots more classrooms, you could
use a color per grade level. I keep these in cans (collected from the school
kitchen) by classroom. They could also be rubberbanded together and put into some
other type of container. Before class I also check to see who has not returned
books. Following storytime I
hand out the shelfmarkers, letting each child know how many books s/he can check
out. This encouraged the use of shelfmarkers to help keep the shelves in a little
better order.
One additional thing that I do is to have each child decorate his/her marker at the
beginning of the year. That's always the lesson for the first visit for gr2-5.
Then I laminate the marker. For Gr. K-1 I just print the child's name so that I
can read the name when I hand out the marker. At the end of the year each student
gets to take his
marker home when he has returned all his books.
_ _ _
We would have the books returned in the AM before classes began. They were checked
in and lists of missing books were run. Then as each class came in, I'd read the
names of the kids who couldn't check out books. Those were told not to look FOR
books but only to look AT books. It also served to remind me who had not returned a
book if I saw them leaving with a book (rarely happened). Usually the kids would
get upset if someone tired to leave with a book they had not checked out. My
biggest rule breakers: the teachers who borrowed books without scanning before or
after school. For that reason, I tried to keep room locked at those times.
_ _ _
At our K-5 school we use AR, so I have a lot of book turnover at open checkout
times and class time. Since we have them use reading logs, I put the barcode on
their reading log folder. They know that they CANNOT check out without this
folder.
I use the card system you talk about with my k-1 students. Everyone else had a
folder. Again, like you mention, it is a lot of work on the front end, but I only
had about 3 lost books last year, and about 5 the year before....it really
eliminates the shrugging of responsibility and the "I didn't check that book out!"
They know the only way their name got into my computer was if they gave me their
folder. My biggest losses are from the lower kids who don't have the
folders.....so I'm trying to decide on some type of similar thing for them. (We use
Lifetouch for our school pics and I have access to their software that allows us to
print some sort of ID card that I may try with the lower grades)
I work with another librarian who has always used the system you describe...and
loved it, but tried my way with the folders this year, and has told me it was the
"best idea ever!" I don't know about that....but it works for us. :-)
I'm sure I got it from someone on this listserv. If you don't do AR, maybe it
won't work with the folders, but maybe something similar.
_ _ _
I have 950 and almost no help. I have an every other week checkout/mini lesson.
Students are free to come in inbetween for more books. More time for projects is
scheduled in at the appropriate times. I make library cards and give them to the
teachers. Depending on the grade, the teacher may give them to the students. I do
see cards spread out before check out time. Some teachers keep track of students
who don't bring in books and don't put the cards out. Others will come and I'll
question them if they have a book out. Sometimes it's simply renewed. If they owe
books, I let them take out a magazine. Send out overdue notices as regularly as you
can. If you keep up your schedule, you probably don't have any time for overdue
notices. Maybe you need to eliminate the short check out time schedule inbetween by
saying they can check out more books during the other week.
_ _ _
I actually used the cards the first 7 years I was a librarian for the exact same
reasons you stated. When I changed schools and had an aide I didn't have to do it
that way...but if I am ever in that situation again I'd go right back to cards. I
kept the cards in an index box with dividers with the teacher's name, in the order
I saw the classes. Once I saw the class that week (fixed) I'd move them to the
back of the box. I encouraged them to memorize their number so that if they came
in during open time we could check out quickly.
_ _ _
I have a preK to 2nd gr school. I make barcodes for each kid and tape it onto a
catalog sized laminated card stock card that I make myself and put in the back book
pocket. Besides the student's name, I have their teacher's. I do the no card, no
book check out.....with one problem.....there are always those kids who lose their
cards. I probably
have at least 25 throughout the year that I need to eventually redo.
Frustrating.....but don't know of any other way to do it.
_ _ _
I am a media specialist for seven elementary buildings. There are also two
library para-professionals. I teach library lessons and do the checkout with the
fourth and fifth graders at all of the buildings. The parapros do the checkout with
the K-3 graders. Here's a summary of the checkout procedure. I ask that books be
returned early the day of their library or even the night prior. When the class
arrives, I have already checked in their books. I read the list of people who have
missing books - if you have two books missing - no books today. If you have 1 book
missing and it's been missing for less than a month - one book today. When it's
time for checkout, I hand the classroom teacher their classroom bundle of checkout
cards. Their cards have their name and their barcode. Teacher calls them up and
they checkout with me. My classes
are usually anywhere from 25 to 32 students. The book selection and checkout takes
less than 20 minutes. Usually about 15 minutes. Their total class period is 40
minutes - so that leaves 20 minutes for the lesson. The classes that the parapros
see are 20 students or less and the class time is 20 minutes for K-2 and 30 minutes
for third grade. I'd like to reduce the K-3 time to 15 minutes.
_ _ _
For my Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade, I print a barcode label for each student
and put it on a paint stick. Before class, I run a list of overdues. I take the
sticks out for any student that did not return their books. Then, when it is time
to check out I pass out the sticks for only those that returned their books. The
sticks work double duty. First, they need a place holder when they are looking for
their books. Second, they take their stick and books to the computer. I scan the
barcode on their stick, scan their books and they either sit down quietly or line
up at the door. Any student that lines up at the door with their stick I know did
not check out their books.
_ _ _
I use cards too. I have over the years tried a variety of methods and this is the
one that I like the best. I have 700+ students and I don't have time at the
beginning of the day to check in books so all that must be done during class time.
No aide, but teachers stay and while I am doing a lesson the teacher checks in
books. Not the best solution, but it works. Last year I began giving stickers...
cheap little ones... to the students to put on their library cards when they
checked out. Every one who did not have a book overdue got a sticker for their
card. I have all students check their account during check-out. The stickers are
popular with students all the way through sixth grade. (I did not expect that!)
The stickers have helped in getting the books returned on time. Students hate not
getting a sticker and work harder at getting the books back. I will check out to
a student who has an overdue book (my students check out up to three books each
depending!
on the
grade), but I never give them a sticker with a book overdue.
The stickers are also a great visual for me. They help me know which students I
can trust with an extra book. Kindergarten starts with one book and when a
student has ten stickers on their card they can check out two books.
It is also great to be able to call each student by name when they come to the circ
desk. At a glance I can read the name on the card and greet them.
I do laminate the cards and they are given to each student at the end of year to be
used as a bookmark or whatever.
I order the old notced library cards that were used in the past to circulate books
before automation. They come in different colors and you can get them without
lines... much cheaper than index cards. Last year I ordered wooden boxes from a
library supplier that I keep on the circ. desk to hold the cards.
_ _ _
I have been a librarian for 11 years in two different libraries and the reason
for most of my lost books was due to teachers using the library as their
personal collection. They have a difficult time finding books they did checkout
imagine them finding those books they don't remember taking! If your library is
open when you are not there, people will take what they want. We had PTO and
Boy Scouts, etc. along with an after school program after I left the library for
the day. If you go through your lost list you will probably find books your
students probably wouldn't have checked out let alone wanted so much they stole
it.
Ask your principal to back you with putting a stop to this practice. They
wouldn't want someone coming into their classroom and taking whatever they want.
(I wouldn't say that to them). We had a discussion in WNY and a librarian added
up the cost of the books lost and related that to the teachers along with a list
of the lost books for them to help her find them. It made a big impact. You could
also add the percentage of your budget going to
replacing those books. The teachers may realize if everyone is taking books for
the library it adds up and thereby takes away from what you can offer students
and new materials you can add to the collection. Since you are new, you might
again want the principal to address the issue with teachers.
I am moving to a new school district and facing the same problem. I came in over
the summer to find a teacher taking two piles of books out of the library. the
principal mentioned that "there was a new sheriff in town". The principal
realizes the problem and backs efforts to have teachers checking out books. It
is a small library and the inventory revealed 100 lost books. That would be 50%
of my budget to replacing books.
_ _ _
I'm an elementary librarian in a school of 500 students pre-K thru 5th with no aide
and only 1 person who fairly regularly volunteers about an hour on Friday. I see
each class every week for 30 minutes, and am part of the rotation that covers
teacher collaboration. I have a notebook with barcodes printed for each class.
The classes bring their books in first thing in the morning so I can check them in
and figure out who did not return and will not be able to check out. Once all have
found their books at the end of class I have them line up at my desk and I scan
their barcodes from the notebook then check out their books. The only problem with
this is 30 minutes is really short for a story and/or lesson and check out. It's
also rushed because I am helping them find books and monitoring behavior and then
the computer network sometimes is really slow for check out.
I am thinking of preparing a card or die-cut picture with their barcode attached
which they will put inside their books and leave them on the tables or stacked up
on the bookcase by my desk. I'll check them out when I have an extra minute then
deliver them to classrooms. I will only put out cards for those who have returned.
This is going to be a little more work, but I think it will help with the
craziness at the end of class.
Let me know if you get any responses that sound like a better system!
_ _ _
Does the teacher stay with the class? He/she could definitely help if so.
What has worked well for me: our PreK-5th kids (approx. 540) come with their
classes. We have all student barcodes from the classroom on 1 sheet of paper. It's
just procedure - once released to find a book, they bring the book to the checkout
desk where I am waiting. I scan the student bar code, scan the book and they're
set.
When the exceptions come (those who read their books in 2 or 3 days), I simply type
in their name (all the names I know... It's the unusual spellings that get me ;).
If I am not in the library (illness or otherwise) there is a notebook at the corner
of my desk. Again procedure - students and teachers alike are to write their names
(full names)and barcode # off the back of the book, media, whatever.
My first year, I lost about 25 media items... 19 teacher magazines and the rest
student books. This year, we were down to 2 books (and one was checked out by a
teacher lol). I must say, that if they forget to return their book, I check to see
if they're still reading it... If they say yes, I remind them to bring it back as
soon as they are finished. If it takes 3 weeks or more, I just ask them to return
it anyway and try it again later. If they already
don't know where it is... I ask them and their friends and their teacher to search
the room, send an overdue note home to family, and check with them almost daily.
The MS librarian uses a roladex of the students (info & barcode).
One new thing I'm trying this year. A "class" sticker if all return their books
(exception is absent children)... And a "punch card" when they have read their book
and returned it in good condition (this I will ask the teacher to help with). Even
if the class doesn't get a sticker, each student who does return their books on
time will get a punch. 4 or 5 punches will equal a "tootsie roll". Never missing a
sticker - oh my, I don't know what
I'll do, but it better be big!
_ _ _
I like your idea using the cards. Since I don't get books back from students most
of the time until they walk through the door for their library time, I think my
current method works best for me. I make sure I check books in before I start
checking anything out for each class that comes in. Sometimes I'm tempted not to
do it, but in the end it does save me time because I can catch books that haven't
been returned in a long time. I have all the students' barcodes on a sheet by
teacher name.
Even if you hold classes up during your 15 minute checkout time periods, you really
need to make sure all books going out the door are checked out. Perhaps it's a
matter of enlisting teacher help to be sure everyone is going through you before
they leave the room. If no staff accompanies their classes, maybe one responsible
student can be an extra set of eyes to help. This should be one area where you
don't compromise, even if it means you ultimately must make some schedule changes.
It's awfully hard to be uncompromising to the students who swear they've returned
items (as they all do!), if everyone knows a lot of books are leaving the library
without being checked out. That kind of situation can never be kept under wraps
from students or their teachers.
_ _ _
We have a card system for each student, and I color code each grade using ROYGBIV
(the rainbow colors in order --- red orange yellow, etc). PreK classes are red,
Kinders are orange, etc. I also label the cards with the teacher's last name
initial, and then number the cards in alpha order, so it's very easy to get the
cards in correct order, or see which one is missing. The students already have a
class number assigned by their teacher, so it's reinforcing / using the same system
from the class.
I also assign a rubbermaid plastic box to each teacher, also color coded by their
grade level, for students to return their library books once they finish reading. I
can tell in a glance which grade level's box has been returned.
I try to carry this over to all of my dealings with the seven age groups (I have 4
classes in each grade level), so that I will mark lesson plans in a highlighted
color for my subs when needed, and when I occasionally read the same book to
multiple classes, I color code the bookmarks and mark the teachers' names as well.
What circ system do you have? We have Athena (still) and the barcodes for students
are easily printed each year, and I just Xerox school info and slap the labels onto
card stock color paper.
_ _ _
I have not used cards in about 8 years. The last time I did use cards, I glued them
in alphabetical order to sheets (because at that time the software would not give
me a list of barcodes by class). I'm by myself and on occasion I have a parent
volunteer to assist me at checkout time for a few of the classes. I have each class
printed on a page and have them in a binder by grade level (with tabs), then
alphabetical by teacher. I also have all of the faculty barcodes in alphabetical
order in the back. This works for me when I have to check out many students in a
short period of time. I also get to know the student's names much quicker. I have 4
or 5th grade volunteers who can quickly scan the binder to find the students for
morning open period checkout. Those same volunteers pick up that day's books from
classes who are scheduled to come. Right before the classes begin, I run an
overdue/outstanding list and at the end of class, I verbally tell who can and who
cannot check !
out. I
f they were not listening, I leave the sheet on the table for them to look on their
own. Its not a perfect system, but I think it works pretty well for me.
_ _ _
I use colored index cards or cute bookmarks for Pre-K and Kindergarten with
individual students' barcodes. The teacher hold these until they are ready to
check out books.
First thru fifth grades use a colored folder. Each grade level has a different
color.
On this folder students has a barcode to check out books and a bright green label
stating that they brought back their internet agreement form.
Students must bring their folders before they can check out. This helps me keep
track of students.
I also pull an overdue report at least every two weeks. Students with books
overdue and/or lost do not check out books.
¬¬– – –
I cut construction paper into 3" x 12" in. strips. First day of library each
student gets to decorate the strip as they would like. After they leave, I stick
the student's barcode on the back. I have these laminated. Voila a combination
library card/shelfmarker. My rule is no one should be checking out books without
their shelfmarker.
For the first month of school, I pass out the library card/shelfmarker so I can
match the name with the face. After that I put them out on a table for 3-5. I
don't let K start taking from the shelves until Feb/Mar so I call them special
library cards. You could designate one color per grade or per class. I also
bought one of those behind the door shoeholders and store the library
card/shelfmarkers there. I label each class's pocket.
I like only putting out the library card/shelfmarker for those who can check out
- will try that this year.
I also print out a class sheet of barcodes for each class. This I put in my
subfolder and ask that the sub write the barcode of the book next to student's
name. I don't bother to leave instructions on how to work the circulation system.
I also print out a list of all checkouts and have the sub cross off the books that
were returned and hilight the ones that weren't.
_ _ _
--
Ronda Y. Foust, Librarian
Hardin Valley Elementary School
Knoxville, TN
http://hveslibrary.wikispaces.com/
http://thebookdragon.blogspot.com/
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