FAQs
Why did I receive an overdue notice? I thought my kid returned their library book! Emailed overdue notices are sent automatically from our software. From time to time, a book will be returned to the library and there will be a glitch with our scanner, and it will be reshelved without being checked in. More often, we find out that the book is still in the student’s backpack, or it accidentally got added to the classroom library. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about books that appear on overdue notices.
Why did my kid take home one book when they usually choose two? Sometimes, students will keep a book at school, or they’ll simply choose one book instead of two because it’s their preference that week. Typically, we have our younger students borrow two books each week if they return all their library books. They’re still allowed to borrow one each week, even if they have an overdue book. We will reach out if they accrue four or more overdue books.
Do I owe a fine for lost, damaged, or overdue books? No. While some families choose to replace a book or make a donation, it is not a requirement.
Why did my child bring home a book that seems to be written for older students? We teach students how to look for clues that a book is written for an audience their age. Certain stickers on the spine, descriptions on the inside cover, the interest level on the digital record, or which section they found the book all provide information to help students make their own choices. Librarians will give guidance on making these choices, but we don’t censor students’ reading choices. If you’re curious about the books your child is bringing home, we encourage you to talk and read with them.
How do you choose which books are added to the library collection? The librarian follows the district’s selection policy and is trained in how to do this work. For example, I completed a program from an American Library Association-accredited institution, the University of Alabama, and earned a master’s degree in Library and Information Studies. This program included training in collection development for school libraries.
Do 7th and 8th graders have library time? While they don’t have library “class” like they did when they were younger, they do have allocated days and times each week that they can visit the library for book checkout. We provide readers’ advisory and time to browse independently.