I worked in a classroom this year but last year in a library. I am going to explain the circulation procedures from my previous school.
CHECK-OUT:
Books are circulated weekly, but can be renewed if there are no holds.
K - 1 books
Primary - 2 books
Intermediate - 3 books
Library check out was done by the teachers
Library check in and reports was done by the teacher librarian
CHECK-IN:
I would take a cart first thing in the morning to empty out classroom library bins. This needless to say was a very small school.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Only open during the library blocks that were assigned to classes.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS/ Assistants:
Parent volunteers where the backbone of the school library. They would come into put away books and put up seasonal decorations.
Our school was lucky enough to have a library clerk that would catalog books. Since she had been cataloging for years she had a very good understanding and I was able to rely upon her knowledge.
NEW BOOKS:
New books were on display for one week so all the students would get a chance to see them before they were signed out.
HOLDS:
Students were able to place holds on books that they wanted to read. If there was a hold on a book the student in possession was unable to resign it out. I found that allowing holds really put the books in the hands that students wanted to read such as Bones. It also added an excitement element to going to the library to see it your book was in.
MATERIALS:
The library was divided in 6 main areas:
-Picture books-Novels
- Parent Resources
-Computers
-Non Fiction Book
-Teacher Resources
OVERDUES/FINES:
Overdue notices were sent home as reminders to bring the book back. There was no fines for overdue books.
Reading through my fellow class participants posts on this subject matter it seems that these procedures are fairly standard. What I have found in most Elementary school libraries I have worked in is that these procedures are posted nowhere. It seems that everyone is just suppose to know. When I took LIBE 461 we spent time talking about how important it is to have polices and procedures in place. For instance if the teacher librarian is sick for an extended period of time it is useful for the replacement teacher to quickly be able to find and read the information. Second it also gives the library a vision of what sort of place that this is. When I build the school library website I am going to add a section that includes this information of procedures and policies.
