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OH MY GOODNESS!  

Soooo..... I was on Pinterest and ran into a picture of a "Little Free Library".  I've read a story or two about these before, usually in the old back woods where children have never seen a book before.  Having been a children's librarian and a total book "junkie", the wheels started to turn.  This could be a tempting addition to put up on the corner of our preschool/daycare property.  (Only if Bountiful City ordinances allow for it, of course.)  We have other commercial properties all over Davis County that could be options as well

"Little Free Libraries" are made out of every conceivable thing under the sun, but the premise is this:  "Take a book, Leave a Book."  Little Free Libraries are also referred to as community book exchanges, neighborhood book exchanges, book trading posts, pop-up libraries, and micro-libraries.  I could choose to affiliate with this nonprofit organization, "Little Free Library", (see their web site here at https://littlefreelibrary.org/) or simply do my own thing.  The benefit of joining this organization is that the library is put on a GPS map and you become part of a community, all doing the same cool thing.  I have access to lots of inexpensive books and it would be a "unique" and fun way to not only encourage our students at Ready-Set-Grow to read and possibly neighbors as well.  Books for all ages and stages are used!

My 23 year old son loves woodworking and he is jazzed about helping out!  

 Bountiful, Utah has a wonderful library, but sometimes working moms don't find the time to get their children there.  Maybe this will simply benefit our own students, but either way, it is a cool idea to look in to doing!

Here's a bit of history from the Little Free Library website, that I found interesting.   

Little Free Library inOosthuizen, Netherlands

The first Little Free Library in Hudson, Wisconsin

The idea was popularized in Hudson, Wisconsin, in 2009 when Todd Bol mounted a wooden container designed to look like a school house on a post on his lawn as a tribute to his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher. Bol shared his idea with his partner, Rick Brooks, who spread the word, and the idea spread rapidly. 

The original goal was the creation of 2,150 Little Libraries, which would surpass the number of libraries founded by Andrew Carnegie. As of January 2014, there are over 15,000 Little Libraries worldwide. As of February 2013, all 50 U.S. states and 40 countries worldwide have been involved in the program.   An estimated 1,650,000 books were donated and borrowed from 2010 to 2013.

This number now exceeds 36,000 libraries.

TEN Great "LIBRARY" Books that Introduce the Library to Students

Here are some of my favorite books about the library:

1.

2.

3.   Very cute!!!

4.

5. 

6. 

7. 

8.    This is a series about a library mouse.

9. 

10.    The kids will love this one.

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

WEDNESDAY: Weekly Library Lessons (for the last week of school) AND an END OF YEAR LIBRARY TO DO DOC

Here are some picture books that discuss the last day of school that would be fun to read to your students AND AT THE END OF THIS POST, DON'T MISS THE END OF YEAR DOC FOR LIBRARIANS.  

Recommended Books for school year's end:

Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten

by Joseph Slate, Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Age Level: 3 and up/ Grade Level: Pre-K and up

Miss Bindergarten and her class have had a great year in kindergarten! They have gone on a field trip, marked the 100th day, created a circus, and even survived a wild day. But now the school year is over, and it?s time to remember, to celebrate, and for Miss Bindergarten to say, ?Good-bye, kindergarten. It?s been a special year.? The bestselling Miss Bindergarten series comes to a sweet and jubilant conclusion by honoring an important passage: the last day of kindergarten. Filled with last-day classroom ideas, it?s also a perfect gift to honor graduation and moving-up ceremonies. Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten is the perfect way for teachers and students to commemorate their own end-of-the-year festivities.

   Last Day Blues     Author: Julie Danneber, Illustrator: Judy Love

     Publication Date: January 30, 2006 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

It's the last week of school and Mrs. Hartwell's class is excited to leave for summer vacation, but they don't want their teacher to miss them while they're gone.

The Last Day of School Louise Borden (Author), Adam Gustavson (Illustrator)

Publication Date: March 7, 2006 | Age Level: 7 and up

The shool year is coming to an end, and everyone at Albert E. Chapman Elementary School is counting down, including Mrs. Mallory's third grade class. In the last weeks of school there is much to be done, from putting away supplies to cleaning out desks to finding a summer home for the class pet, Rhoda.  Now -- finally -- the last day is here! Matthew Perez, one of Mrs. Mallory's students, has a perfect good-bye gift for his teacher, and he can't wait to give it to her. But when is the right time? Not in the morning when other kids are giving their gifts. Not during the Last Day fun of kickball and ice-cream treats. Will Matt get his chance before the school day is over?

The last Day of School will resonate with all children who know the excitement, energy, and bittersweet emotions that the final days of a school year bring.

NOW GO TO: http://elementarylibraryroutines.wikispaces.com/End+of+the+Year
AND VISIT NANCY ALIBRANDI'S END OF YEAR DOC WHERE SHE OUTLINES ON AN EXCEL SPREAD SHEET SOME OF WHAT YOU MAY NEED TO DO TO GET YOUR LIBRARY READY TO SHUT IT'S DOORS (FOR THE SUMMER).  THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR DOC WAS TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL.  THANK YOU NANCY, IT WAS VERY HELPFUL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR!!  THIS WEBSITE INVALUABLE THANKS TO A FEW GREAT LIBRARIANS OVER THERE!!!!!!!!!!!

WEDNESDAY'S Weekly Library Lessons - NATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK IS NEXT WEEK! May 7-13

On Wednesdays, I'll post my weekly LIBRARY theme, lessons and extensions, (for the upcoming week).  Leave comments, suggestions, questions, ideas...etc. for expanding on the theme.  I usually divide my grades in half and teach the K-2nd graders one lesson, of course differentiated according to their age, and a different one to the 3rd-6th graders, but not always, as you'll see in the following lesson.  Here's next weeks lesson in a rather simplified format.

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DATE:  May 7-13
THEME: IT NATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK THIS WEEK! YEAH!

Go to http://www.bookweekonline.com/  Look at the books that have been nominated for an award.  Introduce as many of these books as possible to your students when they come to the library or let them "peruse" the books.

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!   Have your students vote for their favorite books for their grade range, (it's divided up that way), authors and illustrators.  (The Children's Choice Book Awards is the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by children and teens of all ages.)  Voting is open now until May 3, 2012, which is tomorrow, but don't tell the kids that. Print out the list of nominees and let them vote. Put out as many other books by the same authors and illustrators as possible. Then next week, compare their votes and winners with the actual winners, that will  be voted upon tomorrow.  See if they voted the same as the winners.  Talk about why they may be different!

Go to http://www.bookweekonline.com/for-teachers for tons of ideas to celebrate Children's Book Week, such as having a book poster contest, creating your own mini book, doing Children's Book Week puzzles, hosting a Children's Book Week party, organizing a visit from a local author, doing book talks, READ-A-THONS and get free book marks.  They are adorable!!! :)

Share the Joy Of Reading

Hold a book exchange day.

Donate books to a local family shelter or children's hospital, or take a trip so students can read to patients in a hospital or residents in a nursing home.

Raise money to help a library, school, or day care center in your area to buy books. This is an excellent way to strengthen your town through community involvement.

A Little Something I Learned From Barnes and Noble

I went to Barnes and Noble in St. George, Utah and read a stack of picture books that I had been wanting to read!  It was so much fun and I was able to get a feel for some of the new picture books out there!  I snapped some pics of this particular B&N because it was soooo awesome, like a children's enchanted forest, full of books and toys!  If I was a kid, I'd just want to go there and sit and stare at all the displays!  Here are a couple of the pics I took... Maybe everyone else has a B&N like this nearby, but I don't, so I was impressed. 

I want my library to look like this!!!  :) Ha, Ha!  The thing I immediately noticed is how many books are displayed face out and I have decided that I am going to find ways to display more books this way. 

In the book "The Read A-loud Handbook",  by Jim Trelease, he says this.  "Few grocery customers know that food companies pay nine billion dollars for shelf space, accounting for one-half of stores' annual profits.  In other words, they rent shelp space.  Paying that kind of money, the manufacturer makes sure its product is displayed on the shelf to its best advantage -- that is, face-out.  This visibility is so connected to sales, the low paying companies receive the worst seats in the house, the top and bottom shelves.  The reason companies want each product face-out is simple:  It's the cover that most often influences our choices -- the picture of the cookie, cereal, or magazine.  ...Since 60% of the people going into a bookstore or library don't have a particular book (or author or publisher) in mind, it's the cover that will move the book, not the spine.  The majority of public and school libraries are clueless when it comes to these principles.  Many don't have a single book shelved cover-out.  When researchers observed a kindergarten classroom library for one week, 90% of the books that children chose had been shelved with the covers facing out." 

So where do you get the room to do this?  Install rain gutters on the walls, below whiteboards or anywhere you can and shelf some of your books this way,  face-out.  Weed, weed, weed..... books that aren't being read, to give you more shelf space.  Create displays on tables or on tops of bookshelves.  Get creative!  Here are some pics of what I'm talking about!



All of the teachers at my school have one long rain gutter attached right under their large white boards.  They can display tons of books that way.

Here are some of the books I read at Barns and Noble and loved. 

 

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and ill. by Jon Klassen - I love, love, loved this adorable book.  Maybe because I loved the soft illustrations so much, but it really took me in!  The book starts out all in black and white.  This little girl finds a box of colored yarn and knits herself a sweater.  Before long she has knitted and knitted and knitted and everyone and everything is wearing or is covered in yarn.  Her little town goes from  drabby to colorful (and fun)!  Everyone and everything looks better, brighter and happier!  The yarn never runs out, until one day, a rich and greedy  "Duke", (I think?), steals it from her.  Then and only then, the yarn runs out.  The greedy duke pitches the box into the sea,  where it floats right back into her hands again.  Once again it never ends.  There are so many connections to make with this simple story, from spreading joy, to giving versus taking, to being greedy and on and on!  It's just delightful!!  Ages 3+

Little Mouse's Big Secret by Eric Battut is about a tiny mouse with a BIG secret.  At the beginning of the book, he drops a seed behind his back to hide it from the world and continues to tell animal after animal that he has a BIG secret.  Behind his back, his seed sprouts and begins to grow and grow and grow and his secret is known to all the animals except him!  He is the one that ends up being surprised!  A sweet story!  Ages 3+

I hadn't read this yet and it was as adorable as all the reviews have claimed.  It's the Caldecott winner this year.  It really is a book about loss and dealing with it!  The puppy adores his new plastic red ball.  He sits with it, sleeps with it, plays with it...  When he takes it to the dog park, a bigger dog plays with it and POPS it.  It has to be thrown away.  The puppy comes home and has to deal with the loss!  The next day, he goes to the dog park with his owner and the owner of the bigger dog gives him a new ball, a blue one.  He falls in love with it in seconds.  It's a simple story with NO WORDS, which makes it perfect for young, young children!