Library+Info

= Teacher Resources = //First Week of Classes and Student Checkout -- If you will send a box to the library I will check out some board books in your name to send back to the classroom. We will start storytimes the third week of school so that you have time to get your classroom procedures in order and we can have time to get badges finished. We will begin making badges as soon as we know the data has been entered for students. We will call down one class at a time to take photographs for badges.//

The librarian is here to help you get the resources you need to teach your students. Because we have a school where 21 teachers are all teaching the same curriculum at the same time, it can be tricky getting enough resources for everyone. There are several ways we can help each other with this. //**Share**// -- If teachers can share with pod members and other pods as well, we can help each other not only have better resources, but more creative lessons. When teachers share ideas they learn from each other and get the creative juices flowing! //**Plan during pod meetings**// -- Teachers can plan with the pod leaders the main books they want to include in their lessons. Each six weeks the pod leaders will give a list of these core books to the librarian and s/he will get copies of these books from other libraries for each suite to share.
 * //Meet with the librarian//** -- Whether the meeting is formally arranged or informally asked in passing, the librarian can help you find resources, and can even help you plan specific lessons. The clerk is also wonderful at suggesting titles or helping with interlibrary loans from other schools. We are both here to help!
 * //Use the ONLINE LIBRARY CATALOG//** -- Click [|HERE] to access the PIERCE online district catalog. You can browse books by subject, put them on hold, and even request books from other libraries. To see your own library record click [|HERE] and enter your employee id for the patron number and enter it again for the PIN. You will then see a screen that allows you to check your current loans, hold requests, and fees. If you want to see books from ALL SCHOOLS click [|HERE].

//** Databases **//
Take some time to explore the various **//ONLINE DATABASES//** found [|HERE]. Included in that link are such databases as: //**International Children's Digital Library Ebooks**// are [|HERE]. //** Videostreaming **// options are [|HERE]. **//Audio Library//** options -- resources for various types of sound files can be found [|HERE].
 * //Kidsearch Database//** is [|HERE] and a video for how to use Kidsearch is [|HERE].
 * // Searchasaurus Database //** is [|HERE].
 * // LookyBooks //** online book buying site is [|HERE].
 * //Other online book sites//** are listed [|HERE].
 * //Picture/Photograph resources//** -- Find links to good places to find picture images [|HERE].
 * //???//** -- A very cool Pre-K encyclopedia reference can be found HERE.

= Checking Out Books =

How Often Can I Bring My Class?
Students will come to storytime once every third week at their designated storytime. Storytime lasts for 30 minutes and either a teacher or TA must remain with the class. If the class must go on a field trip or has to miss a designated storytime, the teacher is welcome to work with other teachers to switch storytimes with another class.

To check out library books classes may come //**every day**// if they wish. The teacher and TA must come with the class. The TA will monitor students in the hallway and the teacher will assist students in checking out books. It is easier to establish a classroom routine when it is the same every day and having the students take home books each day encourages the balanced literacy tactic of including families in the literacy acquisition process. Also, it helps students remember where to put their books when they do the same thing each day. If a classroom schedule does not allow for library visits every day, we ask that you //come AT LEAST once a week// to check out books. The students need (and LOVE) books in their hands and in their homes.

Beginning of Year
At the beginning of the year, students will check out books from the browsing boxes and shelves by the windows. These books will be board books and for the first couple weeks of school we ask that the books stay at school so that students can learn about book care. // Until student badges are made (which can happen only after students are entered in the computer system in the front office... a process which takes a couple of weeks) all books will be checked out under the teacher's name. // You might have a basket in your room where students can deposit their books when they are not reading them. It is helpful if you have some special place where books go so that they don't end up in backpacks and accidentally go home.

Several Weeks into the School Year
After the first few weeks of school, students will have badges they can use to check out books from the library. After the students all have their badges, the librarian will send a note home to the families of the students with information about books coming home. After this letter is sent, teachers may send home the books with students. You may still want to practice a routine for what students should do with their books when they return to the classroom from the library and when they come to school each morning. Do you have a box for them to put their returned library books in? Do you want them to put them in their cubbies or backpacks when they come back to the classroom. Having a routine helps books get back to the library safely and cuts down on the amount of lost books.

Lost Library Books
The library system allows students to check out books for 2 weeks. However, if your students come to the library every day, you may want them to bring back the old book before checking out a new one. This choice will be left up to the individual teacher as she sees fit. Teachers and/or teacher assistants may send home notes reminding students to bring back a missing library book. If you would like copies of possible notes, please see the librarian. Also, periodically the librarian will place notes in teachers' boxes to be sent home with students. If a book is lost, the librarian tries to work on a case by case basis to determine an appropriate payment plan. Teleparent may also be used to help with calling parents about missing books. Please help the front office keep current family telephone information.