Classroom Library Books

[herdgrad]

I was wanting to see how other people keep track of their classroom library books. I spend a lot of money on my room and the things in it, including books for my classroom library. How do you keep the kids from stealing your books? I let them look at the books and constantly say...if you borrowed one of my books please return it now. However, I know some get taken and I never see them again. I had MANY books in
5th grade, but I don't have as many in 3rd....working on it though. I noticed some missing. How do you keep up / track with them? Looking for a system to try.

[hweber]

I am interested in this too as I will have school purchased library in my room this year. Do you think we could have one of the class jobs be the librarian? It could rotate from week to week. Thanks Herdgrad for this thread. I am looking forward to the responses.

[SS Rocks!]

I don't know how well this would work, but could you create little "classroom library cards"? When a student borrows a book they could either put their "library card" in the bookshelf where the book belongs, or in a basket. Once they put the book back, they get their card back. It would take some time and thought to work out the logistics.

[Ima Teacher]

All of my books have library pockets and cards. Students fill them out, and I file them in an index card box. When a student returns the book, I put the card back in it and put it back on the shelf.

OF course, there are always books that "walk away", but they do in the library as well. They even did at my college library, and they had an anti-theft system with alarms that sounded if a book hadn't been checked out . . . and they still lost books.

I buy books at yard sales and used book sales at libraries. Students sometimes donate their old books. I find them in lockers at the end of the school year.

You can monitor who checks them out, and I do charge them for lost books. However, there is really no way to stop them from "walking".

[Booky]

The other way of looking at it is to wonder if the child isn't so inspired by the book that he or she has simply kept it because of being enamored by it. It could be such that the book makes a real impact on the kid. This is absolutely within the realm of possibility and if it is the case I would think that one such as us would be pleased by this. After all, books can be replaced or even superceded by newer ones.

When one of these books finds its way into new hands perhaps rejoicing would be the correct response.

[Booky]

There are many ways of keeping up with them as has been suggested in this thread by some other members, but do you think possibly that by putting rules like that in place it may discourage kids from wanting to borrow the books in the first place?

[herdgrad]

The other way of looking at it is to wonder if the child isn't so inspired by the book that he or she has simply kept it because of being enamored by it. It could be such that the book makes a real impact on the kid. This is absolutely within the realm of possibility and if it is the case I would think that one such as us would be pleased by this. After all, books can be replaced or even superceded by newer ones.

When one of these books finds its way into new hands perhaps rejoicing would be the correct response.


If this was the case, I would GIVE the book to the child!!! However, I really don't think this is true. I think kids take things just to take them or they accidently take it home and just don't bring it back. I had the same problem with scissors my first two years in the elementary (I wised up :laugh:)

[herdgrad]

Ok, I have an idea and wanted to run it by you guys/girls to see what you thought.
I thought about putting a library pocket in each of my books with an index card in the pocket that has the books name, author, AR level, etc.
I am going to make a poster with library pockets, laminate it, and put the kid's name on each pocket (either write with something that can be reused or on a sticker).
When the kid borrows a book they can simply take the index card out of the book and put it in their pocket on the chart.
When they are finished with the book they will return the book to a basket and the "llibrarian" will then reinsert the index card in the book and return it to the correct space on the shelf.
What do you think??

Of course I have my fingers crossed that I can do all of that before school starts!!! LOL

[SS Rocks!]

It sounds pretty good! :) The only thing you have to do to make it work is to sell the system to your students and get them to work with you. I don't know how your students are but I'd have to drill it into my middle schooler's heads repeatedly to get them to do it.

[hweber]

herdgrad - i think that sounds like a great idea. I think I may try it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Mathwizz]

If this was the case, I would GIVE the book to the child!!! However, I really don't think this is true. I think kids take things just to take them or they accidently take it home and just don't bring it back. I had the same problem with scissors my first two years in the elementary (I wised up :laugh:)

That kind of rough saying "kids take things just to take things", I would be inclined to think they simply are pre-occupied and scoop everything up and pack their back packs without thinking. Kids will be kids especially in elementary school. Just sayin'!

[herdgrad]

Mathwizz, I did say "OR they accidentaly take it home and just don't bring it back". I wasn't suggesting that all kids that take a book stole it just to steal. However, sad but true I do have 1-2 kids every year that just take things whether they need them or not. That is just the real world.

[Booky]

If this was the case, I would GIVE the book to the child!!! However, I really don't think this is true. I think kids take things just to take them or they accidently take it home and just don't bring it back. I had the same problem with scissors my first two years in the elementary (I wised up :laugh:)

I doubt that all the kids "accidently" take the books home. Now this may happen sometimes, I'll give you that, but I really think that there are times when the books may make a difference in a kid's life. I guess you have to use your discretion about it, right? Now the scissors I can understand because their small shape could cause an inadvertent malappropriation. Books by their size and cumbersome nature make it difficult to inadvertently take.

[herdgrad]

hhmmm I feel as though I am probably not getting my point across (my fault). I am not trying to start a big disagreement, I was just trying to say that I don't believe that ALL kids take books because it made a big impact, not ALL kids accidently take a book and don't return it, not ALL kids take books just to take them. I am really not trying to say why ALL kids take them. I was just stating that I always seem to have at least 1 child in my room every year that takes things just to take them be it a library book, post it notes, paper clips, etc. It is usally a child that comes from a family that can afford things so it is not a money issue. However, I am not talking about ALL kids. I would LOVE for a book to make an impact on a child....who wouldn't! :)
I would gladly give a book to any child.
I am probably still not being clear as to what I was saying. So for that I apologize. We can only hope that the book has made an impact on a child if they take it. I am just trying to figure out an EASY and QUICK checkout system for my classroom books.

[AW2245]

I did the pocket chart thing you are talking about and it works quite well! A couple of suggestions you may want to consider....
1) Have the student returning the book put the card back in the pocket in the book instead of the "librarian" That way the librarian doesn't have to go through the whole pocket chart to find the card, they can just make sure the book had the card put back in and put it on the shelf.
2) You may want to assign kids numbers instead of putting their names on the chart - that way you can reuse year to year.
3) You'll always have the kids who don't check them out and just take them...especially toward the end of the year. I went through one kid's desk and found about 8 of my books that he had never checked out! Unfortunately, that's just how it is.

Overall, this system works really well, and MOST kids do use it correctly. (I teach 4th grade)

[dsmms]

The other way of looking at it is to wonder if the child isn't so inspired by the book that he or she has simply kept it because of being enamored by it. It could be such that the book makes a real impact on the kid. This is absolutely within the realm of possibility and if it is the case I would think that one such as us would be pleased by this. After all, books can be replaced or even superceded by newer ones.

When one of these books finds its way into new hands perhaps rejoicing would be the correct response.

I have actually given books to students that had been so inspired by a book. I don't have a problem with that. I have also found my books ripped in half in a students locker after they moved to another school. If students don't return books, they may be preventing another student from being "inspired" or "impacted" by them.

I have quite a few books that I had purchased for my daughters and I share them with my class. They are not inexpensive and I do not have unlimited funds to constantly replace them. I ask that students take care of my books and return them to me when they are finished.

Last year, I allowed students to check out my books by writing the name of the book, the date, and their name on a post-it note and sticking it on a small bulletin board beside my desk. When they returned the book, I threw the post-it note in the garbage. This worked pretty well, but this year I think I will keep a running log. Students checking out books from my classroom will fill out the log with their name, the title of the book, the date it was checked out, and the date when the book is returned. I am also considering having students and parents sign a form stating that they understand that any books damaged or not returned will be replaced by them.

Last year, when I saw that my books were not being treated right (i.e. left on the floor, tossed on the shelf, found in the hall) I put them in "time out". I covered the shelves with paper for two weeks and did not allow anyone to borrow or check out any books. I was surprised at how much they missed having them available. They constantly asked when they would be out of "time out". When the paper came off the shelves, I saw a definite improvement in how they were treated. Ultimately, these are my books, purchased with my own money and I expect them to be taken care of. I also expect them to be returned so other kids can have the opportunity to read and be inspired by them.

[dsmms]

Ok, I have an idea and wanted to run it by you guys/girls to see what you thought.
I thought about putting a library pocket in each of my books with an index card in the pocket that has the books name, author, AR level, etc.
I am going to make a poster with library pockets, laminate it, and put the kid's name on each pocket (either write with something that can be reused or on a sticker).
When the kid borrows a book they can simply take the index card out of the book and put it in their pocket on the chart.
When they are finished with the book they will return the book to a basket and the "llibrarian" will then reinsert the index card in the book and return it to the correct space on the shelf.
What do you think??

Of course I have my fingers crossed that I can do all of that before school starts!!! LOL

I thought about doing this too, but those little pockets and cards are expensive - especially if you have a lot of books.

[herdgrad]

I did the pocket chart thing you are talking about and it works quite well! A couple of suggestions you may want to consider....
1) Have the student returning the book put the card back in the pocket in the book instead of the "librarian" That way the librarian doesn't have to go through the whole pocket chart to find the card, they can just make sure the book had the card put back in and put it on the shelf.
2) You may want to assign kids numbers instead of putting their names on the chart - that way you can reuse year to year.
3) You'll always have the kids who don't check them out and just take them...especially toward the end of the year. I went through one kid's desk and found about 8 of my books that he had never checked out! Unfortunately, that's just how it is.

Overall, this system works really well, and MOST kids do use it correctly. (I teach 4th grade)



Thanks for the advice AW2245...that does sound like a better idea! I am going to try to get it done, I have been in a workshop all week and have not even had time to breathe! We are making county wide pacing guides. Hopefully it works.

[hweber]

I really like the book time out idea. I had the same problem last year. I have really enjoyed the responses in this post. Now I have lots to do!

[herdgrad]

I too liked the book time out idea....hopefully I will not have to use that good idea! Also, someone told me about a site where you can buy plastic baskets in bulk (cheaper than paying for the same amount individually). I was thinking if I could get a coteacher to go in with me we could split the cost and the baskets. I thought you might be interested in the site also.

http://www.starplastusa.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=15

[hweber]

herdgrad, my husband may not like you after i looked at that site. I love it. If we lived closer to each other, we could do it together. I may try to find fellow teachers to go in on this together too. Today I am off to the office supply store to see how much the library pockets are.

[AW2245]

I thought about doing this too, but those little pockets and cards are expensive - especially if you have a lot of books.

The pockets are a little pricey, but you get a ton of them in a box. I just use index cards for the checkout cards. Nothing fancy...just turn it vertically, write the title/autor at the top, Name/Date under that and then quickly draw some horizontal lines on it...presto...you have a library card!

[priyaanka]

I love reading. I have a big collection of books. I am interested in suspenseful books. I want to make a big library in my home. I spend a lot of money for books.

[SiobhanMarie]

Me too, Priyaanka! I buy books all the time and have a big collection! Can't wait to get more! I enjoy children's books and feel that I'll use them when I have children and through my work, so they should get lots of use. I love Dr. Seuss!

[wilkette]

I think you might have better luck not having books walk away if you check the books out to the students rather than just having them grab them (even with a card system). Is there any way you can have a dedicated time to check out books? One of my cooperating teachers during my student teaching had the kids do all the work in regard to filling out the index card (she had the author and title on there, the kids had to write their name and the date of checkout) and then they gave the card to her which she kept it in a small file on her desk. It was a pretty seamless process. It gave them responsibility but it also gave her the opportunity to get a visual on who was checking out books.