Yes, it's true. My students check out their own books. It's not a perfect system, but it's one of the little things that makes my life a lot easier. Now before you hit the back button, shuddering in fear at the thought of doing this, let me explain why I do it (and why it's really not so bad).
Libraries Way Back When...
Years ago, when I was a young girl, I remember visiting our school library each week. Our librarian, Mrs. Roll, took meticulous care of the library's books and taught us how to properly use the library. These were her main responsibilities, and she did a great job. I remember that our library was always in tip top shape. We didn't need to use shelf markers, because you could just put any books you didn't want on the unwanted books cart and Mrs. Roll had plenty of time to painstakingly place them in their correct location. The library was a quiet place to go for research and reading.
Libraries Today
Now let's fast forward about 25 years. Today's school libraries look a lot different than they did when I was in elementary school. First of all, the physical card catalog no longer exists, and many of the library's clerical tasks take much less time due to computer automation. The library is no longer a place where you aren't allowed to talk (or at least mine isn't). Library class time is less about learning the various classifications of the Dewey Decimal System and more about integrating the Common Core standards and various other skills that have been delegated to us because there isn't enough time to cover them in the regular classroom. Today's librarian is much different as well.
I'm sure that like me, you wear a LOT of different hats at your school. I teach two hours of reading every day, followed by a full schedule of library classes most days. On top of that, I'm responsible for maintaining library materials, maintaining our school website, maintaining the school library website, coordinating the Accelerated Reader program, changing the outdoor marquee sign, overseeing our school's Program Review process, attempting to collaborate with teachers, sending news to our district and the local newspaper on a monthly basis, and many other jobs that I can't even think to list at the moment. I should also mention that like many of you, I do all of this without a library assistant.
When I started in the library, I thought I could do it all - write top notch library lesson plans, be an awesome teacher, get students excited about reading, and keep immaculate shelves. I quickly learned that all that sounds much better in theory than in practice. Along the way, I've learned to automate as many things as I possibly can. For instance, I rarely ever put a book on my shelves that has not been processed before it gets to me. I simply do not have time to process them. Yes, it's more expensive, but the time I save by not having to process every single book allows me to get books in my students' hands faster.
How and Why to go to Self Checkout
The same thing is true for letting the students check their own books out. It just makes my life easier. I print out bar code labels for every student in the school and stick them on colored index cards. Each homeroom has a different color index card. Next, I let the students decorate them (it helps them find their card faster in the stack), and then I laminate them so they'll last the entire school year.
When students come in to check out, I always stand at the computer and check the books in as soon as the students walk through the door. I used to have them put their books in the book drop, but I've found if you don't check them in immediately, you'll have lots more overdue notifications as they check out.
When the students are ready to check out, they come up to the circulation desk, scan their card, then scan their books. This frees me up to do what I need to be doing - helping students find books. They do make mistakes sometimes, and I'm OK with that. Books get checked out to the wrong student, late books don't get returned on time, and sometimes they get out the door with a book that isn't checked out at all.
I do the best I can to minimize the damage, but the fact of the matter is, I'd rather my students have a book in their hands than to not let them check out because they have a book that's a few days late. I do try to listen to the computer sounds, and if it makes the "bad noise", as we call it at my school, I try to come over and see what's going on. The students are actually pretty smart about it if you teach them what to look for.
There are situations when I do not allow them to check out, like if they have over 5 books total checked out, but I'm pretty lenient overall. I don't want to be seen as the cranky librarian who cares more about a book being returned on time than a student's excitement about reading. I always try to keep in mind the real reasons we are all here. Just a few things to think about as times continue to change...
Do you allow your students to check their own books out? What else do you do that helps save you time in your library? Share some ideas with us in the comments.
Viktoria says
I like the sound of self-check out, but I'm curious-- how many students do you have and how many books do you lose a year?
Yaa Obeng says
I am interested in the answer to this question. I would also like to know how you deal with checked-in books that are damaged, since students check in the books themselves.
Barb says
I have been doing self checkin and checkout for 3 or more years. My para was reduced to parttime so I had to make lemonade from the lemons! I use Destiny and have one station setup for only checkin and then they sort their books according to spine label. It has greatly increased their knowledge of the library setup and also, as a bonus, has cut down on all of the "I know I brought it back" comments. If you brought it back you didn't check it in!
I have another station that is setup for only checking out. I've used cards for years and students scan their cards, scan their books, and then there is a barcode to scan (available from Follett) to reset the computer. I listen for the various alerts but a lot of times they are able to help each other.
By setting up the 2 stations for only their designated uses I don't have to worry about them accidentally getting into other parts of the program.
The teachers are slowly learning how to do it themselves, too! 🙂
Tara says
I use self checkout with students k-5. We use their district id number to create a barcode in Kindergarten. The label gets stuck on a colored index card and laminated. Each year, the incoming K class is assigned a new color. Kindergarteners of course need more supervision, but by third grade they are extremely independent. The cards save me a ton of work, because I create them in Kindergarten, then just reuse them year after year. I can't imagine being stuck at the checkout desk instead of mingling with the students and helping to pair them with books!!!
Brenda says
I have been letting my students 1st-6th do all their own checking in, shelving and checking out. I scan their name and they do their books, I do that because I want to know each child by name. Yes I do find things in the wrong place sometimes but I have made power points of my library which help them to understand where everything belongs. They need to learn to be responsible and by golly they are pretty good at it. I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe smile more and let them know how proud I am of them.
Yaa Obeng says
Hello Brenda,
I'm a newbie librarian. I really like the idea of students doing their own checking in/out and shelving.
Would you mind sharing the Powerpoints that you used to help them understand where to shelve things?
Dee says
I, too, allow students to self-check out. I use Follett Destiny. I changed the sound that the error message plays to a Buggs Bunny quote, "What's up Mack?" It was a free sound bite. I keep the sound up high so that I can glance over my shoulder when it sounds to see that the student has stopped and realized that there is a reason they cannot complete their transaction (too many books out, overdue, fees owed, unknown bar code, etc)
Lydia Kelley says
How did you change the sound? That is a great idea!
Kayel says
I used to be a middle school librarian and I had changed the sounds to Homer Simpson: the "good" sound was Homer saying "woohoo" and the "bad" sound was Homer saying "Doh!". It was less annoying than the generic sounds and the kids thought it was funny!