[ISLMA-Share] English Novel Checkouts

[Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association]

I did exactly this in my last district.  The English teachers knew that having the books cataloged in one place was the best way to keep track of them and were willing to do the trade off of zapping the books out to each kid. I don’t think sharing the responsibility is out of line at all, and I encourage you to stand your ground. If you have explained it to them the way you did in your email, it seems a little selfish of them that they wouldn’t be willing to work with you.

Lauren Ochs
Media Specialist
Mahomet-Seymour High School
ISLMA Standards Function Rep.
lochs at ms.k12.il.us<mailto:lochs at ms.k12.il.us>



From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info [mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info] On Behalf Of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 11:32 AM
To: islma at list.railslibraries.info
Subject: [ISLMA-Share] English Novel Checkouts

Hello,
I'm looking for advice on a situation I'm in this year.
We recently consolidated all of the English novels into one space and barcoded them for use with the library software because the teachers were losing too many copies each year by not keeping good enough records. Originally, we thought I would just check the books out for each class when the time came. However, I'm finding that this is taking up a much bigger chunk of my time than expected and my programming/planning has suffered.

The English classes checkout 3-5 novels per semester. This means that every couple of weeks, I am having to round up books and schedule times with the English teachers to do the checkouts. It's been very disruptive to my usual work. I have no assistants to help me except for two student assistants twice per day. They have been great about helping me check the books in, but are not usually available when the novels need checking out.

So I devised a system in which I designated a cart and a scanner specifically as English department use only. I've given our English teachers permission in Destiny to check books out/in. I typed up very specific instructions for logging into Destiny and checking the books out. One of my student assistants even made a video explaining how to check the books out. So the new system is as follows: The teachers are to tell me when they need a novel and how many copies of it. I put the novels on the cart and have the scanner with instructions for checking the books out to students. The first time that the teachers need to check out books, I bring the cart in, walk them through the checkout process for the first few books, then leave. After that, it's completely up to them to come get the cart, check out their books, and bring the cart back (unless they have a tech problem). I will continue to put the books on the cart ahead of time for them, though.

Naturally, the English teachers are fighting this. They see it as one more thing on their plates, when in reality, I'm taking at least one thing off of their plates. Instead of them having to find out who has the novel they need and bringing enough copies back to their rooms, I am now doing that part for them. And instead of writing the novels/student names down on a piece of paper, they are scanning it into Destiny. Besides getting my programming and teaching time back, after thinking the various options through, this seemed to be the best way to get classes the books they need when the teachers want them. If I am ever absent on a day when they want books, especially if it is an unexpected absence, their plans would be thrown for a loop. If there's anything I've found about our English department, they are not the most flexible group of teachers.

I don't mean to put down our English department though, because they are great teachers.

What I am wondering is if any of you do something similar to this system, if you do something different (as a solo librarian with no full time aide), or if you think I am wrong in using this system. The English teachers clearly think I am wrong in it.

Thank you!
Alison Kurtz
Library Media Specialist
Sandwich High School
515 E. Lions Rd.
Sandwich, IL 60548
815-786-2157 ex. 22134
akurtz at kidsroe.org<mailto:akurtz at kidsroe.org>

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