School Procedures

Each school library should have written procedures outlining day-to-day operations.

If you have any questions or would like to see examples, contact your level’s lead librarian.

Some topics to consider when writing your procedures include:

Will you issue library cards for each student?
How many books will you allow students to check out at one time?
Will different grade levels be allowed check out different numbers of books?
How long are patrons allowed to keep books?
Will you allow renewals? If so, how many?
What types of materials will students be allowed to check out?
Will you have a time limit for teacher checkout?
Will you allow parents and/or community members to check out items?
Will you allow students to continue checking out if they have another overdue book?
Will you send out overdue notices? How often?

This is at the librarian’s discretion. Some librarians loan to students’ parents. If so, create a patron account in Alexandria for that parent. You may put the letter “P” before their assigned account number to avoid memorizing parent names. For example, P123456. Or you could do C for community member. For example, C123456.

Tip: You can use the patron’s cell-phone number for the account number.

Loaning to other librarians/teachers in CMCSS:
1. Create account for other school/librarian
2. Send the material to that school through inter-district courier mail
3. Librarian at the other school is responsible for distributing and returning the borrowed material to the originating school.

Will you charge overdue fines? How much?
If materials are lost or damaged, will you charge a replacement cost?
Will you have a minimum price?
Will you charge overdue fines for only open school days or will you include weekends and holidays?
If a lost book is found, will you refund the full payment or will you deduct a service charge?
If students owe fines, books, or other library materials and you want to hold their report cards and/or PowerSchool access, you must go by the following board policy: https://portal.cmcss.net/iso.aspx?doc=BUS-A003.pdf
District policy INS-013 governs the distribution of library books to students owing fees.

Some of the programs that CMCSS libraries have conducted include:

Maintain and update library website according to district and school expectations

Include names of librarian(s) and library assistants on library website or sign outside library main entrance. Include contact information on library website.

Will you use community volunteers in your library?
If so, what will their duties be?
Work with the building Volunteer Coordinator so appropriate procedures regarding volunteers are followed. He or she can also help recruit volunteers.

Include your policy and procedures for donations.
Will you limit donations to new items or will you accept used?
Describe how donated items that are not added to the collection will be handled.
Books donated in memory of someone should have a dedication label on the title page.

How to communicate (phone, email, interactive calendar) with the librarian to reserve the library.
Responsibilities on both the part of the librarian and the classroom teacher for collaborative planning and teaching
Policy on books lost by teachers

Report abuse