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!
Kristin says
One of the big reasons I don't let students have a larger number of books checked out is that one student will check out all the books in a series (Wimpy Kid, Big Nate, I Survived, etc.) keep them way too long and then everyone else is mad because they wanted one too.
Chelsea says
I agree with Jocelyn whole-heartedly. We have recently changed the policy here at my small elementary school where I am half time so that kids may always have up to 5 books no matter how late. I even allow students to have more. Books that are damaged or lost I rarely charge for as many of my students are on Free/Reduced Lunch.
Our job as librarians is not to run a warehouse and keep our shelves full. Our job is to share the love of learning and reading with our students and staff. We are here to ensure students have a positive interaction with books and information - the only one they may get in a world that is more and more test/data based. I find that the only time children get to choose the books THEY want to read is at checkout. I want to give them as much of that as possible. We are the one place where their access should be guaranteed.
Recently, I was able to hear AASL President Gail Dickinson speak. Among her other wonderful ideas was the one about thinking of our profession as a full desk. If we were to sweep everything off the desk and only pick up the most important pieces from the floor, what would be left? Not inventory. Not fines. Not shelving books. Not restrictive checkout policies. What would be the worst that could happen if we don't do inventory? If we don't reshelve those books that will be instantly checked back out? If a kid loses a book?
The answer is the world wouldn't end. The library would still function. Kids would still have the chance to find great books. If we spent less time finding reasons why we CAN'T do something, think of what we COULD do.
And just in case you haven't read it.... a reasearch study about limited circulation to kindergartners
http://www.academia.edu/2403328/Reading_by_grade_three_How_well_do_school_library_circulation_policies_support_early_reading
Bobbie says
In my library, kindergarten checks out 1 book. 1st grade 2. And 3rd through 5th check out 4. The rule is all of your books have to come back to check out new books, but you can recheck out the ones you brought back. Still keeps books in their hands but makes them responsible for them all. As soon as they have all of their books they may come to library whenever their teacher allows them. I have open check-out all day except my lunch. My students re-shelve their own books except for kindergarten. Yes, there are mistakes, not as many as you would think. I have been known to look up who has put books in an off the wall place in the library and visit their classroom to ask them why in front of their teacher. This usually puts a stop to the " I don't want to pay attention" problem in that classroom. I also use the adopt a shelf program. 3rd does easy, 4th has fiction, and 5th does non- fiction. I have been very happy with this. They police the shelves as much as I do. Much work goes into all of this, but I am not spending hours shelving books.
Joan F. says
I am also by myself in a school of over 900. I have a guideline for each grade level as to the number of books that generally that age/grade level can keep up with, but it isn't a firm rule. Bottom line to me is this... Literacy is an expensive endeavor, but illiteracy is even more expensive!
Brooke Berg says
We allow: kindergartners - 1 book, 1st grade - 2 books, 2nd and 3rd graders - 3 books, 4th grade - 4 books and 5th grade - 5 books. Our check out period is two weeks, but readers may return books early and choose others, or renew a book.
During book check time (10 minutes for 2-5 grades & 15 minutes for 1st) When students have an overdue, they are required to find a book and read at their table until it is time to line up. When students who are checking out books find and check them out, then they too are required to read at their tables.