I had planned to write about something totally different today, but I got an email from an assistant principal on Monday that has been plaguing me ever since. This is a paraphrased version of the email I received, slightly edited to remove personal details.
Our librarian's policy is that when a student forgets to return their book during their scheduled library time, they're not allowed to check another book until the other one is returned. That student is also instructed to sit away from class and wait until library is over. The students who constantly forget to return their books never get a chance to check out more books, and they also do not get exposed to library instruction. I would like to provide feedback for the librarian to change the system she has in place and also develop more ways to motivate the student to take ownership in responsibility of leaving books at home. Do you have any suggestions?
Oh, you'd better believe I had suggestions... đ
My Response
Here's how I responded, slightly edited to remove personal details:
Thanks so much for your email. I appreciate your concern about your students' exposure to effective library instruction. I am very passionate about library instruction in the 21st Century. In fact, I think it's more important now than ever before.
I have never been a fan of rigid checkout policies. While it is important for students to learn responsibility when it comes to borrowing library books, it's more important to me that the student gets to check out a book that he/she enjoys in the library. I want visiting the library to be an enjoyable experience, not a place where someone is nagging them or punishing them for not bringing books back.
That being said, there is a point where a line must be drawn. I have always allowed students to check out up to a maximum of 5 books. If they have late books, it is OK as long as they do not have over 5 books checked out. If a student already has 5 books checked out (and not returned), he or she is allowed to browse books in the library during checkout time, but cannot checkout.
In my opinion, the best thing you can do is gently voice your concerns to your librarian and come up with some new ideas together. You should also develop a school library policy with your librarian that clearly states expectations for student book checkout. I will have examples of these documents available on my website later this year.
Keep on fighting for what's best for students! I want them to love the library as much as I do.
Honestly, I'm still a little speechless.
If you're the librarian the email is referring to (or even if you're not - but could be), I beg you to rethink this archaic policy. Maybe it's your first rodeo and you're trying to protect your collection. Maybe you've been doing this for many years and just can't stand the thought of losing more books. I understand this to a point. We all know how frustrating it is for a brand new student to check out two brand new books only to find out that he or she moved to another school a week later... or when a student returns a brand new, only-checked-out-once book on the last week of school with wavy, once wet pages and all the library stickers peeled off (which may or may not have happened to me). đ
As school librarians, we have to be good stewards of our school's investment in the library's collection. We certainly should teach students to be responsible with library books, and also encourage them to bring them back on time. But isn't the job of school librarian about more than being keeper of the books?
What's best for students?
My most important job as a school librarian is to facilitate student enjoyment of reading. It's probably not on the official list of librarian job duties, but it's what's truly important to me (and should be to you, too). Whenever an issue comes up in the library, my first question is always, "What is best for my students in this situation?"
Keeping students away from the library's resources is not what's best. Constant nagging about missing books and being punished for forgetting to bring a book back is also not what's best.
What's truly best for students is to help them love the library (psst... it's also what's best for librarians). We can do that by having a lenient, but consistent, policy for returning books on time. We can also help our students love the library by allowing them to use its resources even if they can't check out that day.
Isn't this teaching students it's OK to be irresponsible?
I can see where you could say that, but I'm not asking for students to be able to check out every book in your library without returning them. I'm simply asking you to be more flexible. If your current checkout limit is 2, increase it to 5. As long as a student does not have more than the maximum number of books checked out, let them check out even if they have a late book. Give gentle reminders, but don't nag. You can say things like, "I see you still have Green Eggs and Ham checked out. Were you able to finish reading it? What did you think?"
In the grand scheme of things, a few lost books are a small price to pay for making your library a more inviting and pleasant place for your students.
What's your policy for late books? Share your thoughts on this issue in the comments!
Leigh says
I completely disagree! And I find it offensive that holding students responsible for their actions is a bad thing! I need books returned because I do not have the money to replace them. I do not have a budget. I do not have a catalog. I do not have an automated system. Yes, my library uses a card system for checkout! I handwrite overdue notices. I do not have an assistant. I teach six classes daily. I cannot afford to lose books. So do not tell me I am doing anything wrong. You sound like you are a fan of participatipn awards in sports. Sorry. If a student cannot be trusted with one book, he is not getting another.
Jocelyn says
I appreciate your opinion, Leigh.
Lisa says
Leigh~
I hate doing things over and over again, so I completely understand your frustration. I try to make my own forms whenever possible to try and make things, especially the ones I don't like, as easy as possible. I have an overdue form letter for parents that has all the pertinent info on it and all I have to do is fill in name of the student and titles of books. I also have a line that says, "Your child will be in library again on ___________ so I can fill in the day of the week or date- I always hope that gives parents a day to shoot for to get the book back.
Chelsea says
While I understand your frustrations and the importance of teaching responsibility, remember that we are not the sole people in charge of teaching them responsbilitiy. Are your students going to remember great books that inspire them to become great members of society, or remember their librarian who wouldn't let them get the books?
Esther says
When students lose books or damage books, we certainly hope they will pay for it. Usually, the fine is waived and noted. Students are then allowed to checkout from a section in our library that has books that are $5 or less.
Trish says
I also have a 2 books at one time limit. My school is less than 400 students and students come to the library for independent checkout whenever it's convenient for them. If my limit were more, we'd be reshelving constantly. Student with 2 books currently out participate fully in our library lessons. When it is time for checkout, I talk with each student personally and often re-check the shelves for peace of mind. If they are not able to check out, they still get to browse and pick out a book for me to "hold" for them at my desk for when they bring their book(s) in question back. I hate for little ones to miss out on the fun of browsing. I usually hang on to their selection for a week, then back it goes.
Tonja says
I allow 3 books per student. Late books may be renewed without the book in hand twice and I send a reminder with them. Generally, beyond two renewals without the book I can count it as lost. I don't charge late fees but lost books do have to be paid. Everyone participates in the lesson and activity and anyone not getting new books - those with the max number of books-has access to books from the return carts or magazines. I limit them to the return carts to keep shelving to a minimum since I have 900 students and no assistant. I have three return carts-chapter, picture and nonfiction-that I leave fairly full just for this purpose. These are books that I have checked in and are waiting to be shelved.
B says
I appreciate that administrators are reading up on library issues on any site. Evidently that principal wants to have knowledge and some best practices that have worked for others when he/she discusses it with the librarian again. He must have observed in the library and or talked with librarian already because he /she seems to know what is going on in there. Best practices show students engaged in learning from bell to bell. A student should not be excluded from a library lesson based on check out failures. There are many wonderful ideas for library centers and learning activities on this site and others. All children should be engaged while in the library. Communication with teachers and parents will yield answers about the circulation patterns of a student. I have waived and cleared missing book records for house fires, stolen back packs, books left in cars of the "other mother" to mention a few. I do try to use school dances as an excuse to demand books be returned. At least making a clean sweep before these ticket selling events has been productive in students remembering the location of their book.
Amy Blythe says
My policy is two books per student. If one book is returned and they forget the other book, they are still allowed to check out one new book. I had to put a small limit, because I'm only in each building for half a day with no assistant. I would spend all day shelving books! One thing I have to say about overdue books, is that if they aren't returned other students can't enjoy the books. That happens a lot in my library. The most popular books are always the ones that are overdue. I don't nag students for books. Instead, I send reminder notices to their classrooms. Usually the book is in their desk or backpack and they just forgot to return it.
That email bothers me in a different way. Why was the principal contacting you? Shouldn't the principal be contacting the librarian in the building? That makes me feel like he's going behind his staff's back. That makes me so angry! It seems to always happen to the "specials" teachers. We aren't viewed as "real" teachers. That's another subject itself.
Michelle RItter says
Our elementary buildings also have the two book limit. This district policy was in place when I was hired. My first building had nearly 500 enrolled students. I had ZERO volunteers and all tasks were mine alone. Each class came to the library for 45 minutes and I taught and managed the collection. It wasn't uncommon to find me shelving for over an hour each day after and even sometimes before school. That on top of the hours spent lesson planning and other instructional and cataloging tasks were nearly overwhelming. I am now in a building with volunteers and am so grateful for the help. Each building should be assessed based on the number of students serviced, the amount of time the librarian has for library tasks vs instructional tasks, number of trained volunteers, etc. We do our fellow librarians damage if we see ourselves on equal playing fields. I would never ask the librarians who work at my former school to bump up the checkout number policy without also coming up with a plan to support that librarian to accomplish that task. Another point to remember is that I have worked in schools where the number of books classified as lost or damaged at the end of the school year would bring tears to any librarians eyes. Administrators often trust librarians to manage the resources in the library but offer no leadership unless complaints like this blog points out. I appreciate that this administrator is looking into other school libraries practices but ultimately conversations must be held in a professional atmosphere for the good of the students and staff alike.