Librarians and Teachers of MF, Hope Me!
September 24, 2023 1:59 PM Subscribe
What I have: A ton of my old picture books, a preschool class
What I want: A library that the kids can check stuff out of and a way to keep track of who has what
What I need: Tips and tricks and ideas on how to make this work
What I don't have: A ton of time, money, room or energy
I see plenty of inspirational stuff like book bags with stuff for the parents in them, but I don't think many of my parents have the time or energy or spoons at the end of the day to deal with stuff like that. Or teachers who sort books by author into cute little bins with labels.
Am I over thinking a plate of book shaped beans? Like, just put them on a shelf and write down who has what? But I can see that getting disorganized and I literally don't have room in my classroom for another shelf. And the shelf slot thingy I have is full of books for using in the classroom.
I won't be shattered if these books go missing. But I also want to help start to teach my kids responsibility and follow through.
What I don't have: A ton of time, money, room or energy
I see plenty of inspirational stuff like book bags with stuff for the parents in them, but I don't think many of my parents have the time or energy or spoons at the end of the day to deal with stuff like that. Or teachers who sort books by author into cute little bins with labels.
Am I over thinking a plate of book shaped beans? Like, just put them on a shelf and write down who has what? But I can see that getting disorganized and I literally don't have room in my classroom for another shelf. And the shelf slot thingy I have is full of books for using in the classroom.
I won't be shattered if these books go missing. But I also want to help start to teach my kids responsibility and follow through.
On Android, Handy Library. At the company site, uses: "Build a small public library, a class library, or a church library. People who often lend books to their friends, or borrow books from a library." Loading this app or similar onto a small tablet attached to the bookshelves, for "check out."
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:40 PM on September 24, 2023
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:40 PM on September 24, 2023
What about, instead of a shelf, you have a library box? It comes out on a specific day, and only holds whatever fits in it comfortably and is easily counted. During library box time, they may select from the books freely to enjoy. If they'd like to borrow one for home, they should let you know by the end of library box time, and the book can be recorded and go with the rest of their stuff. The books in the box plus the check-out list should equal your original total, and then the box goes away until next time. I'm thinking you'd want all books due on a certain day of the week so the adults can get into that rhythm, and that you might allow a second checkout even with one unreturned but probably best try not to let it get past that point. Swap in new books as you deem appropriate: it doesn't really matter which are in the box as long as you know how many and keep track of check-outs. I suppose you could take a photo of them laid out for the sake of easy reference so you can shorthand the titles on your check-out list.
posted by teremala at 2:57 PM on September 24, 2023
posted by teremala at 2:57 PM on September 24, 2023
Best answer: LibraryThing has lending, though I haven't used that feature. If your books have ISBNs, it's extremely easy to get everything uploaded (even easier if you have a barcode scanner.)
TinyCat is a version of LibraryThing that is not free (but it's very very cheap) that is specifically for classroom libraries.
Depending on the age and ability of your students, this might be a good volunteer project. This would be a good project for a parent volunteer, too, who is reasonably computer-literate and has the time to set it up and maybe come in twice a week to run Library Time for you. Space-wise, could you get a bookshelf on wheels or a book cart or something? Then you'd be able to move it where it needs to go.
If the books are skinny paperbacks, you can get those magazine holders and keep them together in chunks by series or author, as the case may be. You can print labels as you need them on Avery labels or paper, and protect them with packing tape (they sell book label protection tape that is, as far as I can tell, expensive packing tape.) How you want to organize your books is another consideration (subject? size? author? it's up to you)
Another option if you seriously don't have space for a shelf is to set up some tubs/Rubbermaid totes by subject (like 3-4 tubs that you can prop up on a desk.) In that case, I would not bother with a computer system but would use a card and stamp system. Put a pocket with an info card and a space to stamp dates in each book. Each kid has an envelope in a shoebox, you take the info card from the pocket in the back of the book and put it in their envelope, stamp the date on the pocket in the book and the card, and then put the card back in the book when it's returned. If you have more than a few hundred books and you want better organization, go with LibraryThing. If you have fewer, and you don't care if they're in author or Dewey order or whatever, then go with tubs and cards.
Keeping track of who has what-- decide before you start how you want to handle items that go missing. I am a children's librarian who works with teachers, and used to be a school librarian. You can explain it as much as you want, but kids are not going to get it on the first round, particularly if they are already not in a library-using family. It is a hard concept to get if you have no experience with lending. Internalizing responsibility for a book you may or may not want is really hard. If you have textbooks you probably already know the struggle. I would suggest doing the checkout process for very short term lending in your classroom (like a couple hours here and there) several times before you go to letting them check out books to take home over the weekend. I'm sure you have ideas about this already!
posted by blnkfrnk at 3:04 PM on September 24, 2023 [3 favorites]
TinyCat is a version of LibraryThing that is not free (but it's very very cheap) that is specifically for classroom libraries.
Depending on the age and ability of your students, this might be a good volunteer project. This would be a good project for a parent volunteer, too, who is reasonably computer-literate and has the time to set it up and maybe come in twice a week to run Library Time for you. Space-wise, could you get a bookshelf on wheels or a book cart or something? Then you'd be able to move it where it needs to go.
If the books are skinny paperbacks, you can get those magazine holders and keep them together in chunks by series or author, as the case may be. You can print labels as you need them on Avery labels or paper, and protect them with packing tape (they sell book label protection tape that is, as far as I can tell, expensive packing tape.) How you want to organize your books is another consideration (subject? size? author? it's up to you)
Another option if you seriously don't have space for a shelf is to set up some tubs/Rubbermaid totes by subject (like 3-4 tubs that you can prop up on a desk.) In that case, I would not bother with a computer system but would use a card and stamp system. Put a pocket with an info card and a space to stamp dates in each book. Each kid has an envelope in a shoebox, you take the info card from the pocket in the back of the book and put it in their envelope, stamp the date on the pocket in the book and the card, and then put the card back in the book when it's returned. If you have more than a few hundred books and you want better organization, go with LibraryThing. If you have fewer, and you don't care if they're in author or Dewey order or whatever, then go with tubs and cards.
Keeping track of who has what-- decide before you start how you want to handle items that go missing. I am a children's librarian who works with teachers, and used to be a school librarian. You can explain it as much as you want, but kids are not going to get it on the first round, particularly if they are already not in a library-using family. It is a hard concept to get if you have no experience with lending. Internalizing responsibility for a book you may or may not want is really hard. If you have textbooks you probably already know the struggle. I would suggest doing the checkout process for very short term lending in your classroom (like a couple hours here and there) several times before you go to letting them check out books to take home over the weekend. I'm sure you have ideas about this already!
posted by blnkfrnk at 3:04 PM on September 24, 2023 [3 favorites]
Best answer: The more regular and predictable you can make the process (once books start going home) for the parents, the better. Make it very very easy for parents to help keep track of. Like maybe Borrow Day is the first Friday of the month, and Return Day is the last Friday of the month, with a reminder going out to the parent email list at the start of the last week of the month. (And if there's a way for the catalog system to generate that email, in such a way that it refers to the specific book borrowed, that would be super helpful. You want it to be easy for the parent to scan the kid's room and know which item needs to go back.)
Love the idea of starting with checking out the books for class reading time for a few sessions before checking them out to go home.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:27 PM on September 24, 2023
Love the idea of starting with checking out the books for class reading time for a few sessions before checking them out to go home.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:27 PM on September 24, 2023
Response by poster: So these are 3 and 4 year olds. The books I have are of the Dr. Seuss, Sesame Street, I Can Read book club variety from the early late 70s/80s. SO they are hard cover.
I like the idea of doing the classroom checkout to practice before implementing the lending portion. In fact, I already do something like that with some of the toys.
Parent volunteer won't happen. These are overworked and underpaid, sometime single parent families. Getting them to a monthly Head Start meeting is like pulling teeth (and that's not a knock at them, it's the reality of their lives). So any organization will fall on me (or my co-teacher, but probably me). I am tech savvy, but Tiny Cat seems to be overkill and I'm not sure we have a working spare tablet in the center. And again, the responsibility would fall on me.
I floated the idea to my boss the other day for my classroom, but I could open it up to the entire center... Most of our school age kids are 3rd grade and under. Plus my boss has books aimed at older kids.
The more I think about it, the more I like the old school pre-computer, stamp the card way. I saw some really cute envelopes for this Amazon, but I can use small yellow envelopes for starters.
Thanks everyone!!!! Y'all are awesome.
posted by kathrynm at 3:49 PM on September 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
I like the idea of doing the classroom checkout to practice before implementing the lending portion. In fact, I already do something like that with some of the toys.
Parent volunteer won't happen. These are overworked and underpaid, sometime single parent families. Getting them to a monthly Head Start meeting is like pulling teeth (and that's not a knock at them, it's the reality of their lives). So any organization will fall on me (or my co-teacher, but probably me). I am tech savvy, but Tiny Cat seems to be overkill and I'm not sure we have a working spare tablet in the center. And again, the responsibility would fall on me.
I floated the idea to my boss the other day for my classroom, but I could open it up to the entire center... Most of our school age kids are 3rd grade and under. Plus my boss has books aimed at older kids.
The more I think about it, the more I like the old school pre-computer, stamp the card way. I saw some really cute envelopes for this Amazon, but I can use small yellow envelopes for starters.
Thanks everyone!!!! Y'all are awesome.
posted by kathrynm at 3:49 PM on September 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Could you make a bookmark for each book and if a child borrows the book, they take the bookmark out of the book and leave it somewhere like a cubby or a pouch with their name on it?
If you punched a hole and put a tassel in the bookmark, it wouldn’t slip out of the book. You could use printable mailing label stickers with the book title so it would be easy to update if you replace the book.
posted by kittydelsol at 3:52 PM on September 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you punched a hole and put a tassel in the bookmark, it wouldn’t slip out of the book. You could use printable mailing label stickers with the book title so it would be easy to update if you replace the book.
posted by kittydelsol at 3:52 PM on September 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Ours is bring two books home, when two books come back two can be checked out again.
posted by AlexiaSky at 5:21 PM on September 24, 2023
posted by AlexiaSky at 5:21 PM on September 24, 2023
Best answer: Initially I was thinking about the old school kind of stamp and slip style.
A super minimal way to do it could even be taping a piece of paper in each book that says “from kathrynm class library. Due back on:” with space below for date stamps. Then you have a log book where you write down the kid’s name, the title of the book (or a simplified book code, which could also be on the slip taped in the book).
Check out process is name/book code/stamp logbook and loaned book with the dude date. Check in process is crossing out the stamp in the book and marking it “returned” in the log book.
Not exactly as much charm as cards in envelopes, but fewer pieces to lose.
posted by itesser at 7:16 PM on September 24, 2023
A super minimal way to do it could even be taping a piece of paper in each book that says “from kathrynm class library. Due back on:” with space below for date stamps. Then you have a log book where you write down the kid’s name, the title of the book (or a simplified book code, which could also be on the slip taped in the book).
Check out process is name/book code/stamp logbook and loaned book with the dude date. Check in process is crossing out the stamp in the book and marking it “returned” in the log book.
Not exactly as much charm as cards in envelopes, but fewer pieces to lose.
posted by itesser at 7:16 PM on September 24, 2023
Best answer: What I want: A library that the kids can check stuff out of and a way to keep track of who has what [...]. What I don't have: A ton of time, money, room or energy
The absolute minimalist way to go here is to have no system at all. That is, if you have lots of old books, and no time and money for a system, don't bother with a system. Print some stickers that say, something like, this book belongs to this classroom, please return it so others can share it as well, put one on the back and one on the inside and just let them be free. Almost all of them will come back, and the ones that don't are probably in a good home.
posted by mhoye at 6:37 AM on September 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
The absolute minimalist way to go here is to have no system at all. That is, if you have lots of old books, and no time and money for a system, don't bother with a system. Print some stickers that say, something like, this book belongs to this classroom, please return it so others can share it as well, put one on the back and one on the inside and just let them be free. Almost all of them will come back, and the ones that don't are probably in a good home.
posted by mhoye at 6:37 AM on September 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
Best answer: My answer changes if they are 3-4. Their adults need to be managing the logistics for them if the books are leaving the classroom, or the books shouldn't be closely tracked. This age group can't manage the process. What they need is to see the adults model it before they run it for themselves.
I would say setting up classroom borrowing makes sense for this age group but home borrowing is going to wind up with a lot "My teacher says I stole her book!!!!" drama. LibraryThing is still a pretty good way to make an inventory-- they have support for cover images which is critical for pre-readers picking out books or trying to track down a book they want-- but it's overkill for your situation.
posted by blnkfrnk at 11:41 AM on September 25, 2023
I would say setting up classroom borrowing makes sense for this age group but home borrowing is going to wind up with a lot "My teacher says I stole her book!!!!" drama. LibraryThing is still a pretty good way to make an inventory-- they have support for cover images which is critical for pre-readers picking out books or trying to track down a book they want-- but it's overkill for your situation.
posted by blnkfrnk at 11:41 AM on September 25, 2023
Response by poster: I'm going to go with the old school envelope in the back of the book with a card in a file box. I'm not organizing the books at all, and I'm going use an extra shelf/slot/thingy I linked above. I'd like for them to browse and checkout what strikes their fancy. I'm going to use the classroom next door for this since I have 0 room for anything else in mine. If other teachers want to do this, I'm happy to provide the books but they have to organize it for themselves (and that'll never happen ::shrug::)
My kids do have the basic idea of "signing out" because I have certain toys that I make them check out by putting a big craft stick with their picture and/or name in the "out" cup. I started this because certain things were being taken down and not returned complete, thus making the toy/game less usable for the next person. And it helps teach them to recognize their name.
And if it doesn't work, I'm out less than $20 for the envelopes, cards and a date stamp (which I can use for portfolio work)
Thanks to everyone for helping me figure this out. Just talking it out with people in the field is so valuable to me.
posted by kathrynm at 5:27 PM on September 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
My kids do have the basic idea of "signing out" because I have certain toys that I make them check out by putting a big craft stick with their picture and/or name in the "out" cup. I started this because certain things were being taken down and not returned complete, thus making the toy/game less usable for the next person. And it helps teach them to recognize their name.
And if it doesn't work, I'm out less than $20 for the envelopes, cards and a date stamp (which I can use for portfolio work)
Thanks to everyone for helping me figure this out. Just talking it out with people in the field is so valuable to me.
posted by kathrynm at 5:27 PM on September 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Also, I now want to make cute bookmarks for the kids with their names/pictures to use in the classroom.
(anyone able to pause time so I can get shit done?)
posted by kathrynm at 5:29 PM on September 25, 2023
(anyone able to pause time so I can get shit done?)
posted by kathrynm at 5:29 PM on September 25, 2023
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posted by Iris Gambol at 2:05 PM on September 24, 2023