Checkout Procedures

Overview

Check out procedures vary from school to school, dependent on a variety of factors including: library staffing, student population, teacher and student needs, and library inventory. Below are some generally agreed upon procedure guidelines.

The general lesson during checkout days is as follows:

1. Read Aloud: choose an age appropriate read aloud to read to your students.

2. Book Selection & Checkout: Give students an opportunity to check out a book (see below).

3. Student Reading: Students read quietly to self or to a partner (5 - 10 minutes)

Preparation

Student Barcodes / ID Numbers: Destiny Library Accounts are accessed via student ID numbers. These numbers must be kept confidential because they are a part of the students' online account password. 

Prior to check out, make sure SID numbers are accessible to you and your students to ease check out. Options include:

• • print a list of barcodes for each class for your use to check out books to students;

  • print library cards with students' id numbers that are passed out in library class;

  • have students enter their number using a keypad attached to your checkout station;

If you have time, it is helpful to run a check out/overdue report prior to students arrival to see who has returned their books and who is unable to check out.

General Check Out Day Guidelines

Explain the following to your students so that they understand what is expected.

Behavior: Make sure behavior rules and library expectations are clearly understood by students. Check out should be calm and somewhat quiet, although students will want to talk to each other about books.

Organization: Review the library organization and where students can check books out from. Explain where and how students can find books at their appropriate reading and interest level. Please refer to Book Selection for more information.

Shelf Markers: Students should use a shelf marker of some sort (paint sticks from the home improvement store work great) to mark the spot on the shelf where a book should be replaced if not checked out. Teach students to use shelf marker appropriately.

Book Selection & Checkout: 

• Give students 10 to 20 minutes (time can vary widely depending on your needs) to browse and search for books.

• Allow enough time for all students to check out at the circulation desk

• Students read quietly to self or to a partner once they have checked out a book.

Grade Specific Guidelines

• Kindergarten: Students are allowed 1 to 2 books, often limited to a selection of paperback picture books

• 1st Grade: Students are allowed 1 to 2 books, often limited to the "E" picture book section, simple informational text and a limited assortment of beginner readers and early chapter books.

• 2nd Grade: Students are able to check out two books from any area in the library, after being introduced to library organization. Second grade students are being introduced to the different areas and resources of the library. Students should be able to choose freely from all books, but the focus is on choosing at least one “just right” book that is at their independent reading level. Please refer to Book Selection for more information.

• 3rd Grade and 4th Grade: Students are able to check out two books from any area in the library. Students should be able to choose freely from all books, but the focus is still on choosing at least one “just right” book that is at their independent reading level as well as choosing a "good fit" book based on their interests and reading purpose. Please refer to Book Selection for more information.

• 5th Grade: Students are allowed to check out two books from any area in the library. The focus is on identifying their purpose for reading and choosing books of interest.

Other Check Out Notes

• Some libraries put check out restrictions on popular series or limited copy books so more students have access to them. For example: A student may not check out two books from the Diary of Wimpy Kid series at a time, but may choose one Diary of Wimpy Kid book plus another book from a different series.