Library Collection Mapping

Library collection mapping allows for a system to determine how old the books are in your library provides you with information to determine how, if at all, these books are in sync with your collection and school curriculum. This information helps the SLMS because it uses information you provide to develop a resourceful and carefully effective plan to make your collection stronger. It helps in weeding obsolete titles and determines exactly what your target goals should be. Once you have a better understanding of your current collection, you can begin to work with to customize the collection that will best suit your school.

Follett Library Resources provides TitleMAP for library collection mapping. Visit http://www.titlewave.com/ for more information.

This service is free, but Follett representatives usually attempt to sell you books after this service is rendered.  

Money, Money, Money!!!

With all the recent financial cut backs in the educational systerm, it has become necessary for school library/media specalist to obtain means for places other than their school districts to keep their media centers running effeciantly for their patrons.

Many students spend a better part of their days surrounded by technology. Whether streaming media, engaging in social networks or accessing a world of information at their finger tips – they are more connected than ever. However some students within underprivileged districts have little to no access to computer technology either at home or in school, due to lack of funds. The achievement gap and digital divide will continue to widen in basic literacy as well as computer literacy if the needs of inner city students are not met. With budget cuts looming throughout school districts, it is imperative to obtain outside sources of funding which support literacy initiatives through: expand existing literacy programs, looking to purchase new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives, or looking to purchase materials or software for literacy programs.

Try fundraising.

Use your library website to encourage donors to donate

Points to consider:
Remind donors what the "funds" raised will be funding, and how it will benefit "them".
Be creative in your writing, keep it short and simple.
Most web visitors don't want to read or click through many pages, put all pertinent information on one page.  Make sure the page stays current, and keep visitors aware of how far you have come, and have to go in your fund raising goals.
Make it easy to donate, give options for donating: checks, money orders, credit cards, goods & services.
Be sure to have a "thank you" page appear after a person has submitted a donation per your website.
If you have partnered with local businesses or corporations, make sure that information/ and logos, about them is included.
*donors usually appreciate and/or expect free advertising

Contact local businesses for possible donations, whether it's materials or cash. 

Here are some tips for grant/fund proposals:

1) Communicate with donators. When in doubt, ask for clarification. (Don't be scared: donators are people, too.) Make sure you understand what's expected. Even funders who accept the Common Grant Application Format may require additional information.

 2) Follow the directions. Answer the questions in the order listed, submit the number of copies grant makers request, and include only the materials specified.

3) Be creative, clear, concise, and accurate. Make the case for your proposal in your own unique way, but include precise data.

4) Emphasize what your organization will do. Spend more time describing your solution than the issue. Economize content and avoid repetition. Less is more.

5) Evaluation counts. Keep what you want to learn and evaluate in mind, as well the assessment tools you will use to evaluate your project (e.g., records, surveys, interviews, pre- and post-tests).

6) Proofread carefully. Make sure numbers add up and typos are removed. Double check the business name.

7) Proofread again! If your proposal has been adapted for multiple funders, make sure you omit other funders' names, as well as references to previous requests.

Good luck!

http://librarygrants.blogspot.com

MARC Records

The MARC Record allows you to see what books you currently have in your collection, how it can better develop your collection based on reading level and teacher curriculum. MARC Records is good system to have in your library as it can provide a bigger picture of the type of books that are important to you as well as what books could be of benefit to your collection. MARC Records is a quick and simple system to help you catalog your library.

www.titlewave.com 

Circulation Policies

Circulation Policies would be as follows:

One (1) book for one week (7 days) for 1^st graders

Two (2) books for two weeks (14 days) for 2^nd graders

Three (3) books for 17 days for 3^rd graders

Four (4) books for 19 days for 4^th graders

Five (5) books for 21 days for 5^th graders

Once a book is returned, the student will be allowed to check out another book.

Students will not be allowed to check out books if they lose one without first paying a fine (usually the cost of the book, but not to exceed $15 dollars)

Teachers will be allowed to check out a maximum of 4 books of the same subject/topic at one time.

Only teachers will be allowed to check out VHS movies for a maximum of three (3) days.

Different grade levels will have different time limits on the materials they check out because (hopefully) with age they will become more responsible therefore, will be allowed more flexibility to check materials out.

Time not wasted when weeding......

Ms. Joseph,

As you may have noticed, I have been spending a lot of time removing books for shelves and deleting them from the system. Many books, as you may already know, are extremely outdated, and therefore, this task is especially crucial for our library. It is a disservice to students to keep books that contain inaccurate or dated information.  Unweeded collections often contain unacceptable stereotypes frequently found in collections that haven’t been weeded. With rapidly changing information, it is necessary to keep the collection current and reliable; getting rid of the old is just as important as acquiring the new.

An unused book is not even good. The library should be a practical thing to be used, not an ideal to be admired. People don't have the time or patience to look for books on shelves crammed with outdated shabby books. The overflowing shelves, carts filled with books, and desks piled high with mending simply give an overall impression of chaos.

The way library materials look is important. Most library users want attractive, clean books that are in good condition. They don't want to handle or to give their children books that look grubby and unappealing.

For libraries that have very limited budgets, it doesn't work to have the library filled with unusable books---having a lot of books that people don't want isn't the answer to the demand for more books. This scenario also makes it difficult to present the case for an increase in funding when there are shelves full of old, worn books, and multiple copies of things that aren't circulating.

Dewey Decimal classifications, Library of Congress, or Book Store method?

I currently work at a 1^st through 5^th grade elementary school, bearing that in mind, I think the best method of organizing my library would be both the Dewey Decimal classification and Book Store method. Just recently I began weeding books from this under utilized library, while doing this, I came across many new books that were suffocating amongst the old ones. I put many of the new books on display using the bookstore method throughout the library. Teachers and administrators were very surprised to see these books were even in the library! Considering there are so many books in this library, many unused, with teachers too strapped for time to go through the library and see what is available, it becomes necessary for teachers to at least have a quick glance of books they could possibly use in there classroom.

In keeping with the idea of catching the attention of patrons through the bookstore display method, I have used an empty glass display case, decorated it with Fall colors, cut out paper leaves and displayed books related to the season, and Thanksgiving, I have observed many students stop to take a glance at the books in the display case, teachers as well, who then come in and ask if I have a certain book available.

The Dewey Decimal classification is a system many, if not all, of the 5^th grade students will encounter when entering middle school as well as while in high school. The Dewey Decimal System will allow them to understand or get a better sense of how a library is set up and will save them time in figuring it out later on when they need to search for materials at higher grade levels. The bookstore display will be used to entice patrons, while the Dewey Decimal System will teach and instill within the students the knowledge they will need in searching for materials currently, as well as into the future.

Follow me on Twitter!

http://twitter.com/FlyyLibrarian