[CALIBK12] Wet books

[ladewig]

Janet,

I try to "nip it in the bud" - every year at orientation I show what happens
when water bottles leak (mildewed and "warped" pages). Then I show the kids
a big box of HEFTY JUMBO 2.5 GALLON zipper-type bags. They come in an orange
box - usually 12 or 14 bags. I found them at Target (with the other plastic
bags and wrap), but have heard that some Wal-Mart stores also carry that
size. A box cost about $4. I explain to them that this may sound "expensive"
but it is really cheap "insurance." We send home a note encouraging parents
to buy a box (sometimes our teachers will just buy enough for their homeroom
students) which will be enough for several kids for several years. Then they
put ONE into their backpack and this is only for their library books. They
don't bring it to the library (unless it's raining) but it helps them keep
the books dry and organized, and it PROTECTS the books from that black
sticky stuff that some backpacks are lined with. 

Not all of our students do this, but in general, we do notice that fewer
books are damaged, late or lost by students who have them. The bags cost
less than 50 cents each. Even if they use two or three over the course of
the year, that's still cheaper than one damaged book.

Think about adding this idea to your first library days in the fall, and
perhaps a reminder for January. (Check your local Target or Wal-Mart and
make sure they are available).

Joanne Ladewig  (A.K.A. "Library Lady")
Library Media Tech
Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD
Garden Grove, California
shatz at verizon.net
 
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.

Comments are my own and may not represent the views of GGUSD
 
-----Original Message-----
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu
[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Janet Pedersen
Sent: Monday, May 04, 2009 11:20 AM
To: LM_NET at LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Cc: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu
Subject: [CALIBK12] Wet books

I'm in a K-6 school and this year we've had several books returned  
that were wet (and some growing mold) from being in backpacks with  
water bottles or a thermos that wasn't closed.  I'm going to talk to  
all students about it at the beginning of school next year when I do  
my book care talks but does anyone have any suggestions?  I'm thinking  
of recommending not putting books in backpacks if there's a bottle of  
liquid in the backpack.  Any other ideas?

Thanks so much,

Janet Pedersen
Librarian
Cold Spring School
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
jpedersen at coldspringschool.net
website:
http://www.coldspringschool.net/component/option,com_uhp2/Itemid,98/task,vie
wpage/user_id,83/
blog:
http://csslibraryblog.blogspot.com/

At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that  
threshold,
that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever,  
for the
better. ~~Barack Obama (from a speech to the American Library  
Association June 25, 2005)





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