LIBRARIANS' BONUS: Beginning of the Year Tasks for School Librarians

TASK	COMPLETION DATE
COMPUTER
DO A COMPLETE 100% INVENTORY OF ALL SUPPLIES.
Global delete of last year's graduating class. Check for overdue and lost materials owed first
Global change of all other grades; change name of teacher
Input new student information
Input new staff information
Change calendar in library calendar
Change global due date
Check all computers, printers, internet, e-mail, to make sure all are functioning properly.  Repair as needed.
Check library web page to make sure it’s working.
Check links to library subscriptions if we have any?
Continue learning library software program as needed.
Weed and/or repair current inventory.
NEW MATERIALS
Order new books for the year.
Throw out old catalogs, mail, files, et... File new ones.
Order all new materials needed.
Shelve last year's magazines; put new ones on display
Check in materials against packing lists
Mark materials as received
Call companies for missing/damaged materials if necessary
For preprocessed books - Check cataloging information and import to circulation computer; For other materials, download cataloging from Internet sources if available or do original cataloging
Create spine labels and barcodes for materials not preprocessed
Make new genre labels if needed.
Notify others of new materials/put new materials on display
Set up Caldecott and Newberry Award shelves
Display State Award nominees/ Have reading lists ready
EQUIPMENT
Arrange delivery of equipment that was sent out over the summer to be cleaned or repaired
Distribute equipment to the appropriate classroom
Set up new equipment; enter in inventory and on circulation computer; barcode/ Contact company if not working properly
Clean TV's and carts
OTHER
Clean out storage room.
CURRICULUM
Review and improve on last year's curriculum.
CLASSES
Get updated class lists and schedules from office.
Update yearly schedule
Add new students names to shelf sticks
Make library cards for new staff with Patron barcodes
Put updated class lists on computer, in other words, enter students names under correct teacher.
Take all 6th graders names off of sticks and throw away.
Make new library passes for classrooms and distribute.
Update all students’ STICKS.
Create a PPP on policies and procedure to practice.
Plan new lessons; special theme days and programs for the year
Meet new teachers and staff.
Update notebook with student names/pictures?
GET THE ROOM READY
Reorganize room if necessary
Check in and put away new supplies
Put out supplies for student use.
Display new books
Put up other book displays
Put up bulletin boards
Create sign-out sheets for teachers (equipment, self check-out, computer-).
Hang up class lists for emergency evacuation
Personal items (plants, posters, book character stuffed animals, etc.)
VOLUNTEERS/SUBSTITUTES
Contact volunteers to see if they are available again this year, and what day they want to work
Update opening/closing procedures/plan for substitutes
Train substitutes if needed
MEETINGS
Organize a library committee
Attend Staff Meeting
Get notes from any meetings missed
Get information on special needs students
Meet with library staff to plan year; train on new software and equipment; special programs; changes in procedures, etc.
OTHER
Read staff handbook
Discuss PD courses with principal

Library Lesson on Fiction vs. Non-Fiction

LIBRARY LESSONS: October

October Week 1:  Fiction vs. Non-Fiction (and a bit about References)

Theme: The Titanic or any other topic of your choice.
Grade:  K-6th grade
Library Objective:  The student will ask pertinent questions based on a nonfiction book.
Title:  KWL with nonfiction books about the Titanic or other topic.
Resources:  Nonfiction books about the Titanic: Nat Geo Kids Titanic, Finding the Titanic, Inside the Titanic, and Explore Titanic.  Fiction books about the Titanic, such as Tonight on the Titanic, a Magic Tree House book or Titanic Cat.
Introduction:  Have the topic "The Titanic" and a KWL chart on the white board (Know/Want to Know/Have Learned).
Vocabulary:  Question words such as who, what, when, where, why.
Activity:  Explain that we will look at a book that will teach us something.  Our job is to learn something new from this book. Tell what the book is about, and ask student to list 3-5 things that they already know about this topic.  List on board unker K - tell students that stands for what we "already know."  Ask students to give you 3-5 questions that they want to know about the topic.  Write those on the chart under W and tell students that stands for "want to know."  Read or share parts of the book, emphasizing that it is a nonfiction book and that nonfiction books are true.  Fiction books however, are stories that are made up by the author.  They didn't really happen.
Ask students to give 3-5 things that they learned.  Write them on the chart under L - tell students that stands for "what we learned."

Go back and look at the W part of the chart.  Did you find the answers to those questions?  Where else could you look to find those answers?

Closure:  Review what was learned about the topic, and what else they might want to learn.

Show them all the books available on the subject in the display and tell them that next week I will allow check-out!

Opt:  Play music from the movie, "The Titanic" quite low in the background as children browse the library.


(Revised from a Hanover County, Virginia, library lesson.)

TUESDAY: Teaching the Book "Skippyjon Jones" by Judy Schachner

Skippyjon Jones just puts a great big fat smile on my face, he makes me laugh and then laugh some more.  This kitty's desire to be different, unique, BIGGER AND BETTER than the just a little kitty, is the perfect picture of so many of us, aged 2 - 92. When I read these books and use Skippyjon's voice, I love using the "TexMex" accent I picked up while living on the Texas/Mexico border growing up.  It's a must, so start practicing!

"I am not a Siameeeese cat..." say Skippyjon Jones, a rambunctious kitty boy with an overactive imagination.  He would rather be El Skippito, the front cover of the book explains.  "He knows just how to save a roving band of Mexican Chihuahuas."  (The funniest part of the book is when he looks in the mirror and literally sees a chihuahu!)  "His ears are too BEEEEG for his head.  His head is too BEEEEG for his body.  He's a rascal who stops at nothing.  And he is out to steal your heart!"  He's has surely stolen mine!


Sooooo, when I saw this puppet of Skippyjon Jones at the Library Conference last month, I simply could NOT, NOT buy him.  I can't wait to have fun with this little guy come Fall in the library!  Just think of all the teaching themes and opportunities for using these picture books:
Being Unique, Space Travel, Behavior, Colors, Shapes, Numbers, Dinosaurs, El Cinco de Mayo and more.

After reading some of these books, go and visit http://www.skippyjonjones.com/ 
to view the unit study suggestions by author Judy Schachner.  Thanks Judy for giving us this cute little character to love.  Her books are also a great addition to a home or school library.  Although the books are not in Spanish, the author does include some Spanish words within the text of the book. 


Here is another great link I found with a SKIPPYJON JONES UNIT AND LESSON PLANS included.
http://www.squidoo.com/SkippyjonJonesLessonIdeas

Other Skippyjon Jones books include: