Hello Again!

It is my goal to get better about blogging! I feel it is important, as a librarian, to toot our horns and let people know what we do! This belief has been reinforced by attending TXLA- The Texas Library Association Conference. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe my experience. More to come about that later. I have so much information and so many notes, I need to process them all to be able to share my experiences in a coherent manner :)

Sorry everyone, I got tied up with work and personal issues and dropped the ball on my blog. Hopefully, things will be better this year.

I am starting out this school year without an aide, which has been a bit hectic to say the least. I will be getting an aide in the next couple of weeks, which will be a blessing.

More to come soon!

Fantastic Fiction

If you are looking for the books in a series or can't remember what book comes first, second, third, and so on...

Looking for other books by an author...

This is the website for you! I use it almost daily.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

Protecting Paperback Books

Paperback books get mistreated. It bothered me to spend library funds on paperbacks, when I knew how mistreated they were and that their shelf-life is relatively short. A library aide at another campus shared her method of prolonging the life of paperbacks and I haven't looked back since.

You will need scissors, a book, roll of transparent contact paper, and a food scraper. I roughly measure out the contact paper to fit the book and cut it.


Partially peel the backing from the contact paper. Place the contact paper slightly over the edge of the book cover. Use the food scraper to smooth out any are bubbles and adhere the contact paper to the book cover.

 

At each corner, cut diagonally across the contact paper. Also cut diagonally at each corner nearest the spine. Then fold over each flap onto the inside cover of the book. Use the food scraper to smooth about any air bubbles and adhere the contact paper. 

Finish peeling the backing from the contact paper and cover the spine and opposite cover with the contact paper. Repeat the above steps. Finally, trim the excess flaps at the top and bottom of the book's spine.

Library vendors such as Demco and the Library Store sell individually cut-self adhesive book covers if you have the budget for them. They are definitely a time saver and easier to use, but I still use both materials depending on the size of the book that needs covering.

 

Hope this helps protect your paperbacks!

Inspired design

I was looking at my drab plant holders around the library and decided to jazz them up a little.

I laminated some book jackets and wrapped them around the pots. It took two book jackets per plant.

It does liven up the library and I have received several compliments and comments on the idea and books advertised.

It really is a small idea that has a big impact and adds a little pizazz to the library.

Book Trailers

To ease back into things after the winter break, I am showing to my classes book trailers for books I have in the library. I have them bring their reading notebooks so they can write down a reading wish list. I am able to access YouTube at school, so I have created a playlist of various book trailers that I have found via YouTube.

I have to watch them all in their entirety to make sure they are appropriate for my students. My playlist is public, so here is the link. I add things throughout the month as I find them. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXgw8Ne_0ilOnfaFv71-pU4JaUTbdFUxG

I do not add trailers for books I do not currently have in the library.

First Book Fair of the Year

Sorry for the delay in posting. I had a family emergency. Here is my latest post...

I just finished my first Scholastic Book Fair of the year. Here are some things that helped make it a great fair:

1. Pennies, pennies, and more pennies. I had about $15 dollars in pennies and still ran out of pennies! My belief is, "You can never have too many pennies during Book Fair Week."

2. To keep the poster boxes orderly and display them in a concentrated area, I purchased a garment rack and used pant/skirt hangers from a retail store to display the posters. I had one of my helpers number the posters with a sticky note. We also taped them down because the stickies would fall off. (learned that lesson last year) Students would ask for the poster number and a helper would get it from the poster box.

3. To keep purloining at a minimum, I displayed the pencils, erasers, and pen like items on a table covered with clear plastic. I used book jacket covers, but a friend suggested the rolls of overhead film that are no longer being used. What a great and less expensive idea! I taped each item down and placed the price next to it on a sticky note. Students would get in line to check out and tell me or a helper the item they wanted and we would get it for them. I had everything on a rolling cart behind the cash register area.

 

4. Volunteers- Parent participation is a bit low at my campus, so I called on a few friends that had some time to volunteer. I also had a few students helpers to unpack, set up, and take down. Any and all help was and is greatly appreciated!

5. I went to Costco and purchased some snacks for my family event. I advertised the food and had quite a few parents and students come to the family events. I will try more events next year. One of my volunteers also volunteered at her daughter's school and suggested some of the events they hold for families. Here are some of the ideas: Feed Your Mind, Books and Breakfast, Muffins for Moms, Doughnuts for Dads, Grand Event (for Grandparents), and Afternoon Book Time (a play on Afternoon Tea Time).

6. Each day on announcements, which are televised, my Principal and APs would choose books from the fair to talk about and encourage students to buy. It was great to hear students say, "I'm looking for the book Mrs...... talked about on announcements."

Things to update for next year...

• Have more family events
• Advertise more
• Have more say in what books are sent to the fair (too many lower level books for my students)
• Use overhead roll instead of book jackets.
• More Pennies
• Promote All for Books more to get a better result.