FAQ

Frequently asked questions

1. How many books can each student have checked out?

Pre-K, Kinder- 1 book to stay in classroom

1st grade - 1 book bring home (At teacher's discretion)

2nd grade - 4th grade- 2 books

5th grade - 3 books

*This is the maximum number of books a student may have at once - books must be returned before others are checked out.

2. How long do you get to keep the books?

The checkout period is for 2 weeks, but many students return and check out new books weekly. Students who find they need longer than 2 weeks with a book can recheck them with me. Books not turned in on time become overdue and students must return overdue books before checking out any other materials. We do not charge late fees.

3. What happens if a book becomes lost or damaged?

If a book is lost, a fine equal to the replacement cost of the book is assessed.

Students are responsible for damage to books, including water damage, significant tears, and coloring/writing in books. If it impossible to repair the book back to usable condition, a fine equal to the price of the book will be assessed (most fines are based on reinforced library bound books, so they are often more expensive than a copy from a book store). Cash in the exact amount is the preferred form of payment, but checks can be made out to Heritage Elementary (must include name, address, and phone number). Lost/damaged books must be paid for before a student checks out additional books.

4. Why can't I just replace a lost or damaged book with a hardback copy from Amazon or Barnes and Noble?

Most of our books have a library binding, designed to stand wear and tear from multiple users. Those purchased in a bookstore or online have the publisher's binding, which is designed for a single user. Those book bindings are not sturdy and pages often fall out quickly with multiple check outs.

5. Does the library accept book donations?

Yes, we accept new or gently used books. All donations are subject to the conditions of our district collection development policy. Any books that do not fit this policy for the library will be passed on to teachers for their classroom libraries.

Contact: Mrs. Caldwell at asha.caldwell@argyleisd.net