Library Guidelines
Start of the Year Checklist
If you use Destiny, make sure your calendar is set up for the year by setting the open/closed days and hours of operation:
In your checkout system, make sure your due dates are correct for the year.
In Destiny, go to Admin>Library Policies
If you use Destiny, check to see that books are not marked lost after 1 day overdue.
(This setting is good for the end of year and is also on the “End of the Year Checklist”.)
Check your supplies and see if you need to order anything: library barcodes, label protectors, spine labels, book tape, book glue, book covering materials, general office supplies, etc.
Create and schedule time for library orientation to familiarize students with the library program and procedures.
Solicit student and parent volunteers.
Create or retrieve a list of job responsibilities for library aids/volunteers.
Provide training for library volunteers.
See your office manager for the year’s library budget.
Start a book order. Try to spend the money by March.
Run overdue notices. Turn on scheduled overdue notices if you'd like.
Look at your library website and have it updated if needed.
Set up a book display (back to school, new books, football, movie tie-ins, teacher’s favorite books, your favorite books, etc).
Visit any new teachers/staff in your building and welcome them.
Schedule your book fair or other fund-raiser.
Have sub-plans ready. Ifyou have Destiny, verify your sub login.
Register for OASL Fall Conference (Conference is in October).
Make a trip to the local bookstore or order from Amazon to pick up some brand new must-have titles for the start of the year – the ones that can’t wait until your first book order.
Redecorate/rearrange the library so there’s something new and fresh for the students to see when they come in.
Fluff your books, put books on display – fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc.
Do last year’s lost books need to be re-ordered?
Pick a new project for the year. Examples include: book club, hosting a faculty tea, putting on a puppet play, organizing the bulletin board materials, initiating Family Night in the library, beginning a library newsletter, etc.
End of the Year Checklist
Promote a transition to summer reading with the public library.
If applicable, return loaned books back to schools.
If you use Titlewave:
Complete an inventory of your library collection.
In your catalog system, delete lost books that have been gone for over 2 years or more.
Does your school have a handbook? Do you have anything about the library in it? Does it need to be updated?
On the last day of school (or sooner), all items not returned should be marked lost in your catalog system. In Destiny:
Turn off any scheduled reports.
Shelve all books - even displays.
Take down bulletin boards, signs, calendars, etc.
Arrange care of plants over the summer.
Weeding
Periodically examine your collection to see if materials need to be repaired, replaced or removed. Use the CREW method: Continuous Review, Evaluate, Weed.
Why Weed?
Criteria
Possible material that should not be weeded:
How often should weeding be done?
Weeding can be done weekly as you see material that is in poor shape, outdated, etc. A more thorough and systematic weeding should be done at least once every 5 years.
A rule of thumb held by many library professionals is that about 5% of the collection be weeded every year. This allows for turnover of the collection every twenty years.
While this doesn’t literally mean that no book that exists in the collection in the year 2000 will still be there in 2020, even classic literature and perennially useful materials will generally become worn and tattered after twenty years of use and need to be
replaced with a fresh copy.
(CREW: A Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries. Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
What should the average age of my collection be?
The recommended average age of a collection is within the last 10 years. This is unusual and seen mostly in new schools. Fifteen years old is attainable for an average age of a collection given that there is a healthy budget.
How many items per student should I have?
The national average of # of books per student:
Emerging- 10 books/student
Proficient- 15 books/student
Exemplary- 20 books/student
Keep in mind that neither Destiny nor Titlewave take into account the digital library in Sora.
Collection Development
& Material Selection
Purpose
Selection Criteria & Guidelines
Materials are selected based on the following:
Choice of Vendor
Destiny, a common catalog system, is provided by Follett. Because of this, it is easy to purchase from Follett (called Titlewave). Shipping is free and you only pay for cataloging and processing.
Other great options include:
Books should not be purchased just because a vendor recommends them without using the above criteria and guidelines.