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

[sharono761 at aol.com]

We charge fines at both of my middle schools in Madera..but our fine 
money and lost library book money goes directly into a Library donation 
account that I set up for each library years ago...then we use that 
money to replace lost books, buy new books, buy furniture, purchase 
booksmarks, incentives, etc. that we need. I do not deposit any lost 
book money into the general fund or I would never see it again...(I 
learned by trial and error years ago in this district.)
We offer no rewards for bringing in books...we do have amnesty day once 
or twice a year at random. At Elementary level I can see incentives 
being appropriate and helpful to bringing in overdue books.

At both of my school libraries, we encourage all students to check out 
books over Christmas vacation..we have 3 weeks here...in fact, some 
students I allow more than the usual 6 books maximum if they are good 
readers...I will have the library open one day during the break so 
students may exchange book, take AR quizzes, etc.
Since I have a specific account for lost book money, I don't worry much 
about kids losing books...Our main goal is to have books in the hands, 
minds and hearts of kids.

Good Luck..
Sharon Stockdale
LMT
2 middle schools
Madera USD

-----Original Message-----
From: Megan Fuller <meg_ful at msn.com>
To: ladewig <shatz at verizon.net>; CALIB POST <calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu>
Sent: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 6:22 pm
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] overdue books!!! A fun solution.

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 -0800
From: shatz at verizon.net
To: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu
Subject: 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. Darla
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 12:53 PM
To: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu
Subject: [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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