[CALIBK12] overdue books!!! A fun solution.

[Megan Fuller]

What a fabulous idea!  I am trying to get that majority of my books back in before the winter break. For years I allowed students to check out over break, but the last three years the losses have been atrocious.  They leave them on airplanes, cruise ships and rental cars, then although they pay for them, the money goes back into the general fund and getting the money back replacements is a pain in the patootie.  So we will have a book exchange.  Think I will put the snow globe drawing idea and see if I can get more books back!
Megan Fuller Aptos Junior High http://www.aptosjr.pvusd.net/library/ Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. -- Wernher von Braun 


Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 17:04:02 -0800From: shatz at verizon.netTo: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.eduSubject: Re: [CALIBK12] overdue books!!! A fun solution.








For Darla and others:
 
I have, at various times during the year, a "contest" or "drawing" to encourage book returns. Since my students come on a fixed schedule, they MUST bring back their book(s) on their library day that particular week in order to participate. In October, I have a Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin contest – and as they check in, if they have all items in, they get an entry slip. If not, they don't. The only exception I make is for absence, band practice, etc. which usually doesn't affect many students. At Valentine's Day, I fill a jar with candy hearts and they get to guess how many there are. They love this and it is amazing to see the breadth of their guesses. (Did they really think Mrs. Ladewig could carry in a pumpkin that weighed 500 pounds?!!!!)
 
Today I just announced our annual "Snow Globe" drawing – I bought one for each grade level 4th – 6th  (3 globes) and will randomly choose 3 names, then check their library record to be sure they had their books in on time at the last checkout. If their book(s) are lost, they must have them paid for by Friday morning, Dec. 21. I bought the snow globes (plastic) at Walgreen's. They occasionally have them on sale for 2 or 3 for $1, but this year I paid $1 each, since a lot of their selection is defective (I want smiling snowmen, not frowning ones!).
 
One year for Read Across America, I had the younger ones guess the number of colored fish ("One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish") in the "tank" (a clear acrylic jar). The "fish" were Pepperidge Farm snack crackers.
 
You could also get a box or two of the inexpensive gingerbread cookie men and fill up a jar, or read and green jelly beans, etc. Just before spring break I do a "Jelly Bean Egg Guess" for the 3rd graders.
 
I've also had a "Book Mark Day" and handed out "nicer" bookmarks rather than scrap construction paper strips (I always have a box of those at the end of the counter) or ones I've made on the office copy machine.
 
I don't award the jar of candy (although you could) – I usually give out a paperback book, etc.  You could take the candy to the staff room or whatever (I don't want the winner getting sick, and I don't want kids counting the items and telling me I was a bean or two off!).
 
Most of my students are pretty good about getting books back on time, but some need a little extra incentive. This is a fun way of giving lots of kids a chance to try (guessing contest) as well as some kids the incentive to finally get their lost books paid for.
 
For guessing contests, I wouldn't go below 3rd grade – it's too time consuming to have them all write down their names, etc. on the slips.
 

Joanne Ladewig  (A.K.A. "Library Lady")
Library Media Tech
Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD
Garden Grove, California
shatz at verizon.net
 
Comments are my own and may not represent the views of GGUSD
 




From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Magana. DarlaSent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 12:53 PMTo: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.eduSubject: [CALIBK12] overdue books!!!
 
Hi Collegues,
Any “new” ideas for helping our young patrons to understand the importance of returning library books on time?  We don’t charge fines and we don’t want to charge fines, but we are hoping to impress upon the young scholars  that libraries are wonderful and full of free stuff, but the system only works if you turn your stuff back in!!
 
Thanks for your thoughts,
Darla
 
 
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