How do you use your school library space to encourage a “sense of wonder” amongst the students?

Send your ideas and best practices to [email protected] or tweet your response to #TingLideas and your name may appear in the magazine! Try to send your thoughts by the end of April.

ot that we would be permitted his is a tough one. Part of me is $9.00 (They’re not 16, yet), which works to.... but I would suggest public always troubled when the library out to $2.25 for a 15 minute recess. I humiliationN by posting WANTED posters isT left messy after a class has been keep a document on my computer with their picture and crime. My school through, but another part is delighted and record 15 minute blocks. When walls would be full of them, unless I used that students were so enthusiastic about the book cost has been paid, I then thumbnail photos. looking through the materials the delete the lost record and call it paid. I library provides. I feel the same about usually have them work one more recess Sheila Cornelisse lost books, and overdue books. I am than necessary, to account for the lost Learning Commons Informationist thrilled when a student is so engaged in minutes at the beginning and end. For North Grenville District High School a book that they forget to return it on example, a $10.00 book would equal 6 Merrickville Public School time. I do offer some gentle reminders, recesses, or $13.50 worth of labour, just Oxford-on-Rideau Public School and that is often enough to get the book to allow for travel time to and from class Upper Canada District School Board back so others can enjoy it, too. and time spent receiving instructions.

e tried a fine-free year, which was However, there are those situations when For a mess, I usually contact the class not overly successful. I feel that a student is just plain lazy and can’t be teacher (for some reason it’s always the studentsW need to take responsibility for bothered to return, or even look for 7/8’s) and he sends me some students to ignoring their due dates, but it is not the books that they have borrowed. In clean things up. about the money for me. I decided to that case, after the gentle reminders, I broaden the payment possibilities. I send a note home to be signed by the Karen Jostiak accept canned food as well as the 3 litre student’s parents. That note explains Waterfront Public School milk bags, which are used to make mats how long the book has been overdue, Toronto District School Board for Africa. Initially, I accepted the milk and suggests a cost for replacing the bags during an “Agents for Change” book should its location not be able to T @CardinalLegerSS: Library school-wide initiative, but I decided to be determined. Most parents in our overdues/fines? Sept 30-Oct 11 the continue the practice. The kids love the community understand the importance LégerR Library will waive $1 off your fine idea. They are reluctant to give up 15 of the library and make every effort to for every non-perishable food item cents for fines, but are okay with milk get their child to find the book and get (Tweet from the school Twitter account) bags or canned food. I do not set a value it back onto the shelves. Helena Mesich per milk bag. Some kids bring in tons, Cardinal Leger Secondary School while others bring in one or two. I think Randy Gould Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB it is important for kids to apologize or Sir Alexander Mackenzie Sr. P.S. at least recognize that having overdue Toronto District School Board any students in our school often books is an inconvenience for other lose a book. Our policy is that if students, as well as for library staff. I or students with lost books: If the Myou lose a book, you have to pay for the emphasize that all books can be renewed book is truly lost, we work out a book. Children are not allowed to take and that I am a lending library, not a value,F based on the age of the book, out another book until that book has book store. its condition, etc. Students then have been paid for. The same policy applies 3 options: 1) Pay for the book. 2) for books that the children damage. Rose Marie Davis Replace the book. 3) Work it off by If they find the book, they get their Head of Library dusting, tidying shelves, cleaning up the money back. In our school, the library Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute library, stapling fliers, etc. I base the is open every day at recess and this is Waterloo Region District School Board ‘payment’ rate on a minimum wage of continued on page 22

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