Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Sprucewood Elementary

Have Books Will Travel

This school year keeping track of library books has been challenging.  Our classes are coming and going from different locations in the building and not returning directly to their classrooms.  We have tried with great success a new process for our library books.  We are using library markers (a cross between a library card and a bookmark).  The library marker, as seen below, has a barcode label with the student name and number on it and can be used as a library card.  However, it can also be placed inside a book that is then placed in a cart. The carts can transport library books without the risk of losing or damaging books. 

Example of library markers
Book with library marker inside placed in cart.
 










 
The process goes as follows:


Classes going to Library 1st
Returning and Renewing books
  • Place library books to be returned into cart. The cart is returned to media center first thing in the morning after announcements
  • Books to be renewed are brought with the student to the library.
Checking Out Books
  • Students use library marker(s) to check out book(s) and the markers are placed in each book(s) and then books are placed in the cart.
  • The cart is taken with the class to “Playworks” and then back to their classroom.
  • Teachers remove the book(s) from the cart and remove the marker(s). Teachers hand the appropriate book to the appropriate student.
  
  Classes going to Playworks 1st
Returning and Renewing books
  • Place library books to be returned into cart. Place a library marker in any book to be renewed and then place the book in the cart. The cart is returned to media center first thing in the morning after announcements
Checking Out Books
  • Students check out books as normal and carry their books with them as they return to class.
  • All books from the cart that were to be renewed are placed on the counter next to the staff desk where they can be picked up by students and renewed.

Example of cart



Sprucewood Elementary




May someone grant all of your wishes!

If you are interested in writing a grant for resources for your library, there are a number of helps to get you started.  Demco offers webinars on a variety of topics including grant writing.  The link is   http://ideas.demco.com/webinar/anyone-can-write-grant/ There are also books at your public library that are great resources. 
Purdue University offers an online writing lab that has a section on grant writing that is very helpful.  The link is https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/981/1/

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Sprucewood Elementary

 
 Computer "Tip Sheet"
 Who hasn't sat down at the computer and forgot how to spell a word.  Lucky for us and our students there is a way around it.  We have placed these handy computer "tip sheets" next to our student station computers.  They remind our students what they can do, if they don't remember how to spell a word.  To introduce the "tip sheet", we do an actual live demonstration on the computer and then show the students where to find the "tip sheets".   It has helped us and helped our students too.  If you would like copies of the "tip sheets' contact us at Sprucewood Elementary Media Center.