[LM_NET] HIT: When staff want to check out books for their own children, at other schools

[Jacqueline Reeve <jreeve@NEPTUNE.K12.NJ.US>]

Thanks to everyone for all the positive and fast responses! I've been helping the 
staff who ask because, as almost all of you pointed out, it's good PR and everyone 
in the building should be seen as a patron. It also gives us a chance to show what 
we know. I was just curious what other librarians do, I'd been wondering if it 
caused any problems with administration because the library budget comes from money 
earmarked for the students in our districts specifically. I suddenly worried that 
if my administration thought I had enough books to be lending them to kids in other 
towns, maybe they'd think I don't need the small amount I already get for books 
annually for my students (which is, of course, not true!). It was a random concern, 
and I see that I'm on the same page with everyone who feels that help is available 
for anyone who asks for it. Thanks for the reinforcement!

The only response I received saying "no" to checkout for staff kids/grandkids was 
from a private school librarian who could very well be in a different situation 
with budget allocations and expectations:

We are in a private k-8 school and many teachers have asked to borrow books for 
their kids who do not go to our school.  I generally say no, because all of our 
funding is thru school tuitions and my own fundraising.  Sometime I do make 
exceptions.

My original question:

It's my first year as a school librarian, I was a public librarian previously. I've 
had staff ask to check out books for their kids' school projects, and their kids go 
to different schools in different towns. It's only happened a couple of times, and 
the requests have been for materials not currently in use for any school projects 
in our building. I'm just wondering how other librarians handle these requests. My 
instinct is to help anyone under my roof who asks for assistance, but I'm wondering 
if you have policies regarding this.

For example, I have a para in the building whose daughter broke her leg and can't 
get to the public library on her own. Her mom has asked to borrow 2 or 3 books to 
help her complete school projects at home, and she brings them back quickly. I'm 
not sure why the daughter's school library hasn't provided the materials, but this 
para has told me the teacher said to use the public library for projects. Since her 
daughter can't get their easily, mom asks me for the books here at work. That sort 
of thing. How do other librarians handle circulation requests for patrons outside 
their population? I'll post a HIT if anyone's interested.


Jackie Reeve
Media Specialist, Summerfield School
Neptune, NJ 07753
jreeve@neptune.k12.nj.us<mailto:jreeve@neptune.k12.nj.us>
(732) 776-5405


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