[CALIBK12] Library Contracts was Playaways

[Jo Avery]

Very well said, Beth!  It is all too easy to get caught up in the administration of your "physical library" and lose sight of the the real meaning and purpose of the library within the school setting.


Regards,

Jo Avery, Librarian
El Dorado High School
661 Canal Street
Placerville, CA 95630
http://cougar.eduhsd.k12.ca.us/Library/index.html


-----Original Message-----
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu
[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu]On Behalf Of Beth Olshewsky
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 10:09 PM
To: M Masten; calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Library Contracts was Playaways


Hi Mary,

I don't know if it's because I just reviewed the Library Bill of Rights,
School Library Bill of Rights, Access to Resources and Services in the
School Library Media Program, and the Students Right to Read as part of our
proposed Collection Development Policy, but your question seems directly
related to our responsibilities not to limit students right of access to
our materials. If they are part of your school community, they should be
able to access the materials you've collected for them.

>From AASLs Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media
Program:
"School library media specialists resist efforts by individuals or groups
to define what is appropriate for all students or teachers to read, view,
hear, or access via electronic means.

Major barriers between students and resources include but are not limited
to imposing age or grade level restrictions on the use of resources;
limiting the use of interlibrary loan and access to electronic information;
charging fees for information in specific formats; requiring permission
from parents or teachers; establishing restricted shelves or closed
collections; and labeling. Policies, procedures, and rules related to the
use of resources and services support free and open access to information."


It seems to me that requiring a parent signed contract would be one of the
defined barriers to avoid "requiring permission from parents or teachers."

Also, I understand the administration wanting to ensure financial
responsibility before allowing students to take books, but I have been in
schools where parents don't want there children checking out books, because
they're afraid that if something happens to the book, they won't be able to
pay for it. Those kids usually need the books more than anyone else! The
books are only an investment if they reach the children who need them not
if they are sitting on the shelf. On the shelf, they are just a waste of
promise and a demonstration that we throw money at physical things rather
than considering their purpose (like passing building bonds for schools and
then not funding education). A book that kids can't use is like a school
with all the kids (or at least those who need it most) locked outside it.

By all means, have the students sign something saying that they'll be
responsible, but then make sure that if something goes awry they have
alternatives to $ to make ammends, ex. working off the debt and/ or having
a limited number (but gradually increasing number) of books to check out
while they demonstrate responsibility. We need students to be responsible
and be held accountable, but we need students to have access to books even
while they're learning responsibility and accountability. There is nothing
sadder than the student who stops coming to the library and checking out
books, because they have lost or damaged a book and/ or don't have the
money to pay a fine- except maybe the kid who can't check out books in the
first place, because their parent is too scared of liability, too drugged
out, or simply not around to sign a note so that they can use the library.

Sincerely,

Beth

Beth Olshewsky
bolshewsky at earthlink.net
District Teacher-Librarian
San Marino Unified School District
"Love does not dominate; it cultivates."
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


> [Original Message]
> From: M Masten <MMasten at ktjusd.k12.ca.us>
> To: Amber Claflin <Amber_Claflin at etiwanda.k12.ca.us>; Murphy, Nora
<nmurp1 at lausd.net>; <calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu>
> Date: 5/1/2008 11:42:48 AM
> Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Playaways
>
> Hi,
>
> Do you require parents to sign agreement before students can check out
> library books also?  I have always considered the library books as
> resources that were available for all enrolled students just as
> textbooks are. I am being pressured to have students and parents sign a
> contract before students can check out library books.
>
> Mary Masten
> Hoopa High Library
> Hoopa Valley High School
> Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District
> Hoopa, CA


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