My Elementary Library Routines, Policies and Procedures

Home  - This post refects the routines that I use on a daily basis.  To check out other librarians ideas and routines, double click on the blue titles.

Routines

Attention Signals - I use a set of chimes when the kids are getting to loud and ask them to freeze when they hear it.  It immediately quiets the room and then I can quietly tell them what I need to say.
Bathroom Procedure - I have a sign out sheet and a boy/girl pass.  I usually let only 1 student leave at a time.  They put up 1 finger to indicate they need to go and if it is okay, I point 1 finger back at them.  That way, if I am reading a story, they don't have to interrupt me.
Book Care - In the lower grades we discuss books that are damaged and I show them lots of examples.  Then I bring a "First Aid Book Kit" and put lots of things in it and take them out, (one at a time) and we discuss them.  Here is my list.
1. Book tape:  for ripped books and only I repair books.
2. Gum:  It's best not to chew gum while reading but if you do, remember to put it in the wast basket.
3.  Food:  I bring a jelly sandwhich and let some drip on the book for dramatic effect.
4.  Rubber Ducky:  NO reading while in the tub.
5.  Soap:  Wash hands before reading.
6  Baby rattle:  Don't let your little sis or bro get ahold of your book.
7.  Dog bone:  Keep your book away from animals.  (Then I show them the books that dogs had chewed on.)
8.  Scissors:  Never cut a book.
9.  Glue:  Don't try and repair books yourself.
10.  Pens and markers and crayon:  Never write in a book that isn't your own.
Choosing a Just Right Book - We look at the cover, the number of pages, the 5 finger rule, (how many words do you miss on the first page, over 5 and it may be too hard, but you can STILL try it if you want to).  Maybe Mom or Dad could read it to you.
Check In - As they enter the library, they return the books they are finished with.  I hurry to check them back in as they are browsing for books.
Check for Understanding -
Check Out - Kinders get to check out books when Christmas break is over.  The first graders can check out one book for 1 week. The 2nd-6th graders can check out 2 books for 2 weeks with one renewal.
Class Appreciations - Applause for great behaviour or special recognition.
Computers/Laptops - After teaching them how to look up books using the 4 computers we have, then I allow the older grades to look up books.
Discussion Protocols
Entering the Library - Quietly
Exiting the Library - In a line, quietly, and not with their nose in their book.
Library Centers Procedure - I haven't done many library centers yet, but plan to.  Listening centers, magazine centers, worksheets related to an activity, drawing, writing, etc....  The best web site for this is http://librarycenters.blogspot.com/
Partner Work - So far it hasn't been a problem to have them pair up to do work, but I almost always allow them the option to work in groups of 3 or work alone.  This helps those who may feel left out.
Place Books on Hold - I don't allow it.  It's a BIG hassle.  I buy a few extra of the ones that are most popular.
Renew a Book - They may renew a book for an additional 2 week period.
Storytime - I read a story or book to each class as often as time permits, or a read a portion of a few books to "peak" their interest.
Transitions - I ring my chimes and ask for them to freeze while I give very explicit directions.
Using a Shelf Marker - Teach by modeling it, over and over.  If a child EVER uses a book mark as a weapon, I take it away and they don't get to check out a book that day.
What to do if a book is damaged/lost - Don't panic, the parents need to pay the replacement cost.
What to do if you may not check out books - They should bring a book to the library.  They may read another library book or can do a center I have set up.

My School Library - Getting Ready for the Year

I have been waiting all year to do a bulletin board on the Titanic and NOW I DID IT?  WHAT DO YOU THINK!  I'm actually not done.  The real problem is that I have a whole bunch more stuff to put up..... hmmmmm, what to do?  Create a second board????  Maybe or do a 3 fold mat board below! :)

You may already know that the Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on the night of April 14, 1912 and sunk just over two-and-a-half hours later, but do you know the following ten facts about theTitanic?

1. Canceled Lifeboat Drill
   Originally, a lifeboat drill was scheduled to take place on board the Titanic on April 14, 1912 - the day the Titanic hit the iceberg. However, for an unknown reason, Captain Smith canceled the drill. Many believe that had the drill taken place, more lives could have been saved.
2. Only Seconds
   From the time the lookouts sounded the alert, the officers on the bridge had only 37 seconds to react before the Titanic hit the iceberg. In that time, First Officer Murdoch ordered "hard a-starboard" (which turned the ship to port -- left). He also ordered the engine room to put the engines in reverse. The Titanic did bank left, but it wasn't quite enough.
3. The Titanic's Newspaper
   The Titanic seemed to have everything on board, including its own newspaper. The Atlantic Daily Bulletin was printed every day on board the Titanic. The newspaper included news, advertisements, stock prices, horse-racing results, society gossip, and the day's menu.
4. Lifeboats Not Full
   Not only were there not enough lifeboats to save everyone on board, most of the lifeboats that were launched off the Titanic were not filled to capacity. For instance, the first lifeboat to launch, Lifeboat 7 from the starboard side) only carried 24 people, despite having a capacity of 65 (two additional people later transferred to Lifeboat 7 from Lifeboat 5). However, it was Lifeboat 1 that carried the fewest people - only seven crew and five passengers (a total of 12 people) despite having a capacity for 40.
5. Only Two Bathtubs
   Although most passengers had to share bathrooms (only the two promenade suites in first class had private bathrooms), third class had it rough with only two bathtubs for more than 700 passengers.
6. Another Boat Was Closer for Rescue
   When the Titanic began sending out distress signals, the Californian, rather than theCarpathia, was the closest ship; yet the Californian did not respond until it was much too late to help. At 12:45 a.m. on April 15, 1912, crew members on the Californian saw mysterious lights in the sky (the distress flares sent up from the Titanic) and woke up their captain to tell him about it. Unfortunately, the captain issued no orders. Since the ship's wireless operator had already gone to bed, the Californianwas unaware of any distress signals from the Titanicuntil the morning, but by then the Carpathia had already picked up all the survivors. Many people believe that if the Californian had responded to theTitanic's pleas for help, many more lives could have been saved.
7. Two Dogs Rescued
   With the order for women and children first into the lifeboats, plus the knowledge that there were not enough lifeboats for everyone on board the Titanic to be saved, it is a bit surprising that two dogs made it into the lifeboats. Of the nine dogs on board the Titanic, the two that were rescued were a Pomeranian and a Pekinese.
8. The Fourth Funnel
   In what is now an iconic image, the side view of the Titanic clearly shows four cream and black funnels. While three of these released the steam from the boilers, the fourth was just for show. The designers thought the ship would look more impressive with four funnels rather than three.
9. A Royal Mail Ship
   The R.M.S. Titanic was a Royal Mail Ship, a designation which meant the Titanic was officially responsible for delivering mail for the British postal service. On board the Titanicwas a Sea Post Office with five mail clerks (two British and three American). These mail clerks were responsible for the 3,423 sacks of mail (seven million individual pieces of mail) on board the Titanic. Interestingly, although no mail has yet been recovered from the wreck of the Titanic, if it were, the U.S. Postal Service would still try to deliver it (the USPS because most of the mail was being sent to the U.S.).
10. Corpses Recovered
    On April 17, 1912, the day before survivors of the Titanic disaster reached New York, theMackay-Bennett was sent off from Halifax, Nova Scotia to search for bodies. On board theMackay-Bennett were embalming supplies, 40 embalmers, tons of ice, and 100 coffins. Although the Mackay-Bennett found 306 bodies, 116 of these were too badly damaged to take all the way back to shore. Attempts were made to identify each body found. Additional ships were also sent out to look for bodies. In all, 328 bodies were found, but 119 of these were badly damaged and thus were buried at sea.

Clifford and the Gang

Pooh Bear and Friends from the Hundred Acre Wood

Kindergarten Bins, for the first semester, or until after Christmas.  I don't let the Kindergarteners check out books until they have learned to alphabetize better.  They use themed bins and then move to alphabetized bins, by authors last name and can read them while at the library.  We practice lots of ABC's... til Christmas.

A closer look.  

Our rules.  

               Shelf sticks, with student numbers and teachers.  These are their "library cards" and are used to mark the shelf where they are looking at a book.  Just scan the stick when they are ready to check out a book and scan the book and you are done!

More to come!