Policies and Procedures

Book Care:
Books should be carried to and from home in a backpack or bag. At home, library books should he kept in a safe place where pets and younger brothers and sisters cannot damage them ----no coloring, cutting, drawing, gluing, ripping, scribbling, or chewing. Food and drink should be kept away from books. Clean hands are a must when handling library materials. Pages should be turned from the upper right-hand corner; gently sliding the hand behind the page until it reaches the bottom; and then, turning over the page.

Book Check-Out: 
Students must have a student library card to check books out with our automated system. A parent permission slip must be on file before a student is issued a library card. Cards and permission slips are kept on file in the library media center. Books may be checked out during the student's assigned library class period, before or after school by arrangement with the library media specialist, or anytime during school hours when directed to do so by a teacher.

Students are allowed to have one book out at a time. The length of a check-out is one week. Special permission is granted for additional books to be taken out for research assignments or other specific needs. Due to the limited size of our collection and the many opportunities to exchange books, we feel this is the most fair method for sharing our resources. No new books will be checked out until the others have been returned. All library materials should be checked out before leaving the library.

Book Renewal: 
A book may be renewed for an additional week if no "holds" (reservation) have been placed on it by another student or staff member. Once notified that a "hold" has been placed on the due book, the student must return the book by its due date.

Damaged/Lost Books:
Accidents happen. Most children are responsible and if a book becomes accidentally damaged, we stress the responsibility to report and, if necessary, to replace a book which gets damaged while in their care. If a book page accidentally rips, please do not attempt to repair it at home. We use special book tapes and glue, which resist heat and won't discolor. Please return the book with a note and we will repair it. If a book becomes damaged beyond use or is lost, you will be billed for the replacement cost. Most of our books are library editions, meant to take heavy use, and not the trade editions sold in bookstores. If major damage occurs, please make arrangements to pay for the book as soon as possible, as borrowing privileges are withheld until this fee is paid.

End-of-the-Year Procedures: 
The end of the school year is a very busy time for everyone. With so many field trips, activities, programs etc. trying to take advantage of the warm weather, students should plan on returning their books not only on library class days. All library materials will be due by May 23, 2007. We need the last few days of the school year to gather materials, make repairs, order replacements, do new book orders, run reports, inventory, update collection records, etc. Overdue notices will be run on a daily basis starting mid-May. Classroom teachers will notify students to assist in the retrieval of the materials. We suggest a student start to look for due books with their desk, book bag, and classroom collections before searching at home. Many books are found in these suggested places. Teachers are also given daily updated lists of the books their students have yet to return.

Please take the time to really look for the book before bringing money in to pay for it. With an automated system, there is so much more involved than just the book itself.

Fines: 
There are no fines charged for regular overdue books. There is a minimal fine for slightly damaged books, depending on the repairs that are necessary. A book that is damaged beyond use must be paid for at replacement cost. A lost book must be paid for at replacement cost. Receipts are given to the student for all collected monies.

Loan Period: 
Regular book check-out is for a five-school day period. Special loans are for a limited time, with no renewals available. A book may be renewed for an additional week if no "holds" have been placed on it by another student or staff member.

Damaged/Lost Books Fines:
Before a child may borrow books from the Giddings Library Media Center, a signed parental permission slip must be on file, acknowledging and accepting our library loan policy. This consent form is an agreement to pay book repair or replacement costs, if anything happens to the book while it is checked out to their child. 

With the average cost of a hardbound book now $17.00 and a paperback $5.00, the school cannot afford to absorb these costs. Children need to recognize that borrowing books is both an opportunity and a responsibility. 

Lost books will incur fines for the full replacement cost. Damaged books which can be repaired will be assessed a minimal fine of $1 to $5, depending upon the materials needed. 

Until fines are paid, no other books may be borrowed. This policy carries over from the previous school year, too.

Book Check-Out/Book Renewal/Loan Period:
Selecting and checking out books is scheduled during each class's weekly library visit. Special arrangements can be made with Mrs. Greenberg for any other requests - either at the beginning of the school day or after school. 

A book renewed for an additional week, if no one has placed a "Hold" on it. The book should still be returned on its original due date, so that it can be rescanned and renewed. 

Books are routinely checked out for one week. Generally, this is enough time to complete its reading. This policy also enables greater circulation of the books and gives everyone the opportunity to borrow them.

Book Care/End-of-the-Year/Overdue Books:
At the beginning of each year, parents must sign a permission slip acknowledging and accepting the library's loan policy. Without a signed consent form, use of materials will be limited to the school library. A library card with bar code is on file for each student and will be activated when a parental permission slip is returned. 

Borrowing books is both an opportunity and a responsibility. Children need to understand what is proper care of materials and why it is extremely important.

Here are some guidelines: 

• Library books should be carried to and from home in a backpack or bag. 
• At home, designate a special place for library books, so they will not get lost or damaged. 
• Keep library books out of the reach of younger members of the family and pets. 
• Keep food and drinks away from library books. 
• Clean hands are a must when handling library books. 
• Use a bookmark to hold the place.

The average cost of a hardbound book is now $17.00 and $5.00 for a paperback. Until any fines incurred are paid, no other books may be borrowed. This policy carries over from the previous school year, too.

Notification of overdue books will be issued to teachers at the end of each quarter. Periodic written reminders will also be given directly to the students. The last five days of the school year, the library is closed to students and staff so that end-of-the-year collection maintenance can be done. Overdue notices will be run once again, to assist in the retrieval of materials. Teachers will receive updated lists as well. 

We suggest a student start to look for due books in their desk, book bag, and classroom collections before searching at home. Many books are often found in these places. Please take the time to really look for the book, before bringing money to pay for it. We would much rather have the book returned, so that everyone can continue to use and enjoy it. 

Currently, it is not our policy to assess fines for overdue books however, no new book may be checked out until any other is returned.