[LM_NET] HIT: Lost library books/classroom sets

[Holly Gillum <exlibrishg@YAHOO.COM>]

Good afternoon,
 
The general consensus is "too bad, it's part of the territory."  Not to make light 
of the situation, but there aren't any hard and fast rules.  I asked about 
withholding report cards (in Arkansas) and some say it's legal, some say not.  Most 
everyone makes an effort to recover the funds as part of student debt owed before 
they can move or be promoted - or in my case, check out books the following year.  
There isn't much consistency in this line - which makes me think it's something 
that should be added to our library policies and/or student handbooks.
 
As far as the classroom sets, nothing concrete there either.  Most agree that it's 
the principal's responsibility to hold the teachers accountable.  Some do that by 
requiring the librarian to sign off on teacher check-out at the end of the year.  I 
LOVE that idea.  Other require the sign off and payment for lost titles.  If not 
direct payment, then a deduction from the beginning of the year teacher allowance 
for materials, which I think would be better than out of pocket expense for the 
teachers - after all, the kids are more than likely the culprits.  There is a fine 
line.  Accountability is a must, but I don't want to make it so difficult on them 
that they stay out of the library to prevent paying fines.  
 
I know loss and damage is just part of the process.  But, with budgets getting 
tighter and books becoming more and more expensive, we simply can't afford to lose 
very many titles each year.  Perhaps that should be an issue for policies in the 
future.  In the meantime, good luck in recovering ALL titles in your libraries!  hg

Holly Gillum, LMS
Anderson Elementary
Crossett, AR 71635
exlibrishg@yahoo.com
 
"Reading gives you some place to go when you have to stay where you are."  ~Mason 
Cooley


      

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