Even sending home a permission slip doesn't always work.
Today I got this letter:
Dear Mrs. DeFrank,
I'm writing because my daughter Natasha tells me you think she borrowed a books
called Dinosaurs of the Dark.
She said she didn't and that she has never even heard of the book.
I have not seen that come home with her wither.
This is the second time this year this has happened.
Pleas explain to me your system of keeping track of the books lent out so I can
understand why you have singled her out for borrowing this book.
Sincerely, Natasha's mom.
My response:
Dear Natasha's mom -
I am sorry you feel I am singling out Natasha. That is not the case
at all.
The Glassboro School System's libraries use an automation program
called InfoCentre.
Every student and every teacher has an identification number, and
every book in each of the libraries has an identification number. These numbers are
translated into barcodes that a computer can read.
When a student checks out a book we use the computer to scan their
personal barcode. Then we scan the barcode on each of the library books they have
chosen.
The computer records show that Natasha Adams, #041633, in Mrs.
Berry's class, borrowed Dinosaurs Before Dark, #40757, on May 14 2009. Dinosaurs
Before Dark is part of the Magic Treehouse series. We paid $7.40 for it, which
tells me it is a hardcover book. It's AR level is 2.6.
When Natasha came in to borrow a book my aide asked her about
Dinosaurs Before Dark . Natasha searched on the shelves for it, but it is not here
in the library. Your note states that she never brought it home, but if Natasha
borrowed this for Accelerated Reader she would not have brought it home. AR books
are read in the classroom.
Many, many times during the school year we hear, "I never borrowed
that book" or "I already brought that book back" and after we pursue it the student
finds the book in their desk or backpack. We are not picking on Natasha - it
happens on a daily basis and usually resolves itself. Students don't remember and
students get confused. We all do.
In closing, if, after all this information, Natasha is sure she
has not borrowed this book please let me know and I will take it off of Natasha's
record.
Sincerely,
I included a copy of the cover lifted from Amazon.com.
If you like my letter feel free to copy and paste to make it your own.
Karen DeFrank, Librarian
Dorothy L. Bullock Elementary School
Glassboro Public School District
370 East New Street
Glassboro, NJ 08028
856-652-2700 Ext: 74136
856-881-7587 Fax
kdefrank@glassboroschools.us
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