Comments on: Sometimes we are our own enemy

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:20:32 +0000

There was never a clear solution in my school. The sets that were in the library were often used by staff without properly checking them out. Novel sets that were stored in a common room for the division to use were not returned properly or taken care of. These things proved difficult to take care of because of both staff and student neglect.

By: Cathy Jo Nelson

Cathy Jo Nelson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:49:15 +0000

I would have a serious storage problem too if they were not stored in the book room.

By: Heather Loy

Heather Loy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:31:25 +0000

Class sets here are handled by departments (ELA, Social Studies, Science, etc.) However, I do have a few class sets I purchased to use for book club. These are NOT cataloged, but I do circulate them (using a temporary barcodes) when students want the book and it isn’t on the shelf.

That said, I wouldn’t have a problem cataloging class sets (either as a set or individually) as I’d see it as just one more service. It would make sense from an accountability & convenience standpoint for me to handle them instead of teachers. What I would have a difficulty with is storage. I do not have any space to store all of the various class sets from each department.

By: Kathy Kaldenberg

Kathy Kaldenberg — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:49:01 +0000

It was great to run across this post and validate the decision I came to in a very similar situation. All our classroom libraries are being centralized and the media center will be coordinating the cataloging, processing and circulation of the materials. We have the robust database and the ability to easily track, run statistical reports etc. This offer has created good will with the office staff, administration and teachers and makes us an integral part of classroom activity.

By: Dianne Oberg

Dianne Oberg — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:40:30 +0000

Yep, I agree too. We are about making teachers and students successful, not about building walls. I have also argued when I was a school-based tl that all the school’s information resources, whatever the media, should be considered as part of the whole-school budget, not as “silos” under the control of any one department (and that includes the library).

By: Susie Highley

Susie Highley — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:36:32 +0000

In my days of bigger budgets, we actually purchased several class sets (and I inherited several that were already there) It’s very easy to tweak the call number to indicate class set, or even use a sublocation. With the ease of cataloging these days, if there is minimal processing involved, why not?
I’m concerned about the trend of avoiding the library and not including us.

By: Cathy Jo Nelson

Cathy Jo Nelson — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:57:13 +0000

I think many handle them a variety of ways, but like you, Im thinking if school money is invested in something, then by all means tracking use and other accountability measures should be taken. As good stewards of school resources, the library is a logical choice. And let’s not forget, these are BOOKS.

By: Paula Canine

Paula Canine — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:39:56 +0000

It seems like every school I have worked in has done it differently. Some via the LMC, others with the reading teacher, curriculum specialist, grade level closet, or individual classroom teacher which usually meant little or no accountability. In today’s budget-minded schools, we really need to keep tabs on all items purchased with education funds. I agree with your idea to tag them in Destiny so that they are not included in your collection statistical reports, but they can be managed for all other practical purposes.

By: Cathy Jo Nelson

Cathy Jo Nelson — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:07:18 +0000

Agreed Julie!!

By: Cathy Jo Nelson

Cathy Jo Nelson — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:05:19 +0000

It is this way in my current teaching context as well. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.