Ambrit Library
|
| Checking out books | Overdue books |
| Returning books | Lost or damaged books |
| Renewing books | Check-out privileges for parents |
Checking out books
Students in Prep through Grade 8 may borrow books from the library. Prep students check out one book at a time. First grade students begin the year checking out one book but then progress to two. All other students may check out two books at any one time. Exceptions are made if the student is doing research or some specific assignment for a teacher.
Students may borrow new books only after returning the books from the previous week. Students do not need to wait for their library lesson time to exchange books, however, but may return a books during school hours as soon as they are finished. Books should be returned in good shape, and any new damage should be reported for repair.
As a general rule, fiction books considered appropriate in reading level and content for
....Middle School are labeled with YELLOW spots in the Atrium Library;
....Grades 4 and 5 are labeled with BLUE spots in the Atrium Library;
....Grades 2 and 3 are labeled with GREEN spots in the Junior Library;
....Prep and Grade 1 are labeled with GOLD spots (easy readers)
andwith RED spots (picture books) in the Junior Library.
Students are enouraged to select their own books, but the library staff are on hand to advise and guide. If parents have a concern about a book selected by their child, we encourage dialogue with the library staff.
Please note that each student has a unique library user number, and each book has a unique barcode in our library system. Therefore, books checked out to each student are the responsibility of that student and only that student.
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Returning books
Books must be returned by their due date. The due date is one week after check-out.
Books may be returned at any time the school is open. When the libraries are open, books may be placed on the circulation desk for scanning in. When the libraries are closed, there is a white Library Book Return box outside the Atrium Library doors where books can be gently dropped. The box is emptied each day and the books are put back on the library shelves after they are scanned in.
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Renewing books
If the student has not finished reading a book by the due date, s/he may renew it. A student should bring the book along to the library and either tell the librarian directly that s/he wishes to renew it, or the student may fill out a renewal slip and put the slip in the book to be renewed. The book is then checked out again for another week.
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Overdues
A book is considered overdue when the student does not return a book to the library by the due date the following week.
The first overdue reminder is a verbal one directly to the student during library time. At this point sometimes a student will tell us that s/he is positive the book has already been returned, and in that case, we double-check our shelves carefully -- often with the student assisting. If the book is not found in the library, we encourage the student to check the backpack and look around again in the classroom and at home.
»The following week, if the book still has not been returned to the library, the student receives the first written notice. This is a letter to the student listing the barcode, the title, the due date, and the author of the overdue book(s). This letter is a request to find the book and return it.
»»The following week, the student receives the second written notice. This is a letter to the parent(s), again with the barcode, the title, the due date, and the author of the overdue book(s). This letter is also a request to find the book and return it to the library.
»»»Once the book is three or more weeks overdue, we have to assume that the student has lost it and that we will have to order a replacement copy. Our third and final letter is a payment request. This is a letter to the parent(s), and in addition to the barcode, the title, the due date, and the author of the overdue book(s), there is also a price for replacing the lost book. We still would rather have the book back, though, so if it is located, it should be brought in.
The point of these letters is to communicate with you, the parents, and we hope you will talk to us directly if there is a problem.
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Lost or damaged books
It happens. Despite our best efforts a book gets ripped by a younger sibling, chewed by the dog, damaged by a juice spill in a child's backpack, thrown out with the stack of newspapers, left out in the rain, left on the bus, left at the beach -- we have heard everything and sympathize and try to be gentle with the children when they tell us what happened.
As a lending library, though, we must ask for the cost of replacing any book that is lost or damaged by a student, parent, or staff member. Older students may be told the price verbally, if they request it, but younger students will usually received a written notice. Students are not allowed to check out another book until they have taken care of their obligation.
Receipts are given for payments to the library, and if the book is found later and returned in good condition, we happily refund your money. We would rather have the book back than the money!
A note on prices: because shipping is often a significant cost when we order new books, prices may not directly correspond with what is written by the publisher on any given book (this is especially true for books that come from the US).
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Check-out privileges for parents
Parents are allowed to borrow books for their families to read at home, and like the students, parents are assigned a unique user number. Technically, we put no limit on the number of books parents may check out at any one time, but we do ask parents to remember that there are many families who may wish to read those same books and to return books weekly as they are finished at home.
Books lost or damaged by parents are handled the same way as they are for students.
Students in Prep through Grade 8 may borrow books from the library. Prep students check out one book at a time. First grade students begin the year checking out one book but then progress to two. All other students may check out two books at any one time. Exceptions are made if the student is doing research or some specific assignment for a teacher.
Students may borrow new books only after returning the books from the previous week. Students do not need to wait for their library lesson time to exchange books, however, but may return a books during school hours as soon as they are finished. Books should be returned in good shape, and any new damage should be reported for repair.
As a general rule, fiction books considered appropriate in reading level and content for
....Middle School are labeled with YELLOW spots in the Atrium Library;
....Grades 4 and 5 are labeled with BLUE spots in the Atrium Library;
....Grades 2 and 3 are labeled with GREEN spots in the Junior Library;
....Prep and Grade 1 are labeled with GOLD spots (easy readers)
andwith RED spots (picture books) in the Junior Library.
Students are enouraged to select their own books, but the library staff are on hand to advise and guide. If parents have a concern about a book selected by their child, we encourage dialogue with the library staff.
Please note that each student has a unique library user number, and each book has a unique barcode in our library system. Therefore, books checked out to each student are the responsibility of that student and only that student.
top
Returning books
Books must be returned by their due date. The due date is one week after check-out.
Books may be returned at any time the school is open. When the libraries are open, books may be placed on the circulation desk for scanning in. When the libraries are closed, there is a white Library Book Return box outside the Atrium Library doors where books can be gently dropped. The box is emptied each day and the books are put back on the library shelves after they are scanned in.
top
Renewing books
If the student has not finished reading a book by the due date, s/he may renew it. A student should bring the book along to the library and either tell the librarian directly that s/he wishes to renew it, or the student may fill out a renewal slip and put the slip in the book to be renewed. The book is then checked out again for another week.
top
Overdues
A book is considered overdue when the student does not return a book to the library by the due date the following week.
The first overdue reminder is a verbal one directly to the student during library time. At this point sometimes a student will tell us that s/he is positive the book has already been returned, and in that case, we double-check our shelves carefully -- often with the student assisting. If the book is not found in the library, we encourage the student to check the backpack and look around again in the classroom and at home.
»The following week, if the book still has not been returned to the library, the student receives the first written notice. This is a letter to the student listing the barcode, the title, the due date, and the author of the overdue book(s). This letter is a request to find the book and return it.
»»The following week, the student receives the second written notice. This is a letter to the parent(s), again with the barcode, the title, the due date, and the author of the overdue book(s). This letter is also a request to find the book and return it to the library.
»»»Once the book is three or more weeks overdue, we have to assume that the student has lost it and that we will have to order a replacement copy. Our third and final letter is a payment request. This is a letter to the parent(s), and in addition to the barcode, the title, the due date, and the author of the overdue book(s), there is also a price for replacing the lost book. We still would rather have the book back, though, so if it is located, it should be brought in.
The point of these letters is to communicate with you, the parents, and we hope you will talk to us directly if there is a problem.
top
Lost or damaged books
It happens. Despite our best efforts a book gets ripped by a younger sibling, chewed by the dog, damaged by a juice spill in a child's backpack, thrown out with the stack of newspapers, left out in the rain, left on the bus, left at the beach -- we have heard everything and sympathize and try to be gentle with the children when they tell us what happened.
As a lending library, though, we must ask for the cost of replacing any book that is lost or damaged by a student, parent, or staff member. Older students may be told the price verbally, if they request it, but younger students will usually received a written notice. Students are not allowed to check out another book until they have taken care of their obligation.
Receipts are given for payments to the library, and if the book is found later and returned in good condition, we happily refund your money. We would rather have the book back than the money!
A note on prices: because shipping is often a significant cost when we order new books, prices may not directly correspond with what is written by the publisher on any given book (this is especially true for books that come from the US).
top
Check-out privileges for parents
Parents are allowed to borrow books for their families to read at home, and like the students, parents are assigned a unique user number. Technically, we put no limit on the number of books parents may check out at any one time, but we do ask parents to remember that there are many families who may wish to read those same books and to return books weekly as they are finished at home.
Books lost or damaged by parents are handled the same way as they are for students.