[CALIBK12] Best purchases

[Bianchi, Cynthia]

Maybe I'm late posting on this topic, but I buy chess, checkers, Big Boggle and puzzles (all levels and subjects, including US and world maps, glow in the dark dinosaurs, scary halloween subjects and other holidays, cute animals and the Series of Unfortunate Events puzzle). One table is dedicated to games and puzzles can be started and continued by many different students over the course of many days. When a 1000 piece puzzle is completed, the students get to push the "The Easy Button" I got for the library at Staples. I buy all of the puzzles at Long's Drug Store for between $3.00 and $7.00 each. 
 
 
The expense is worth it to me because I want the library to be a lively, happy place where lots of different people want to hang out. It doesn't hurt to scatter a few books out on the tables too!
 
Cynthia Bianchi, TL
Ellen Ochoa Learning Center
Middle School Library
Local District 6
5027 Live Oak Street
Cudahy, Ca. 90201-4428
323-869-1327
cbb0290 at lausd.net

________________________________

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu on behalf of Megan Fuller
Sent: Wed 10/1/2008 6:12 AM
To: Thomas Nixon; Calib
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Best purchases


Oddly, I think my small collection of movies has had a significant effect on the student's preception of the library.  I have audio books, games and music, but every year when I show the students the movie collection, they say incredulously, "You mean I can check out movies?!" I have about 50 DVD's including such classics as Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure & the Star Wars Trilogy.  They are not educational at all, the kids love them, and my cool factor rises considerably, so I get to recommend books to reluctant readers.
 
I am going to have to change over to blue-ray pretty soon.



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 



________________________________

From: Thomas.Nixon at fresnounified.org
To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:17:26 -0700
Subject: [CALIBK12] Best purchases


Here is my odd question for the day: What two or three purchases (besides books) most made a difference in your library? Feel free to take your answer in any direction that works for you.
 
Some things to consider:
1. Increased circulation.
2. Increased technology.
3. Increased services to students.
 
 
Thanks!
 
Tom Nixon
--
Teacher Librarian
Tehipite Middle School
630 N. Augusta Street
Fresno, CA 93701
(559) 457-3420, x. 570
Web: http://www.tehipitelibrary.org <http://www.tehipitelibrary.org/> 
Blog: http://notyourmotherslibrarian.blogspot.com <http://notyourmotherslibrarian.blogspot.com/>