February 29, 2016

1. Why do you not use the computer system?

2. Do you ever offer open checkout?

3. What are book policies and do you use a special checkout system/method for certain grade levels?

1. "I don't use the computer system because it's not up to date. The reason it is not up to date is because I can't update it myself. The technology department has to come and update the information on the computer. If they would then I would consider using it." (Mrs. Ayers)

             I personally don't think that Mrs. Ayers would use the computer system even if it was up to date. She doesn't use technology, she even went as far as to tell me she only really uses it to check her email. With that information and the fact that she is going into her 43rd year I just don't think she is going to change her ways.  

2. Mrs. Ayers doesn't offer open checkout. The reason is because she says the students have an assigned spot to come in every week and its to much to allow them to come in whenever they want. 

3. Mrs. Ayers does have a special checkout for all grade levels but its slightly different for kindergarten. The method she uses for all grade levels is after the students come in and are sitting at their tables she then calls their names to line up where she is sitting. Once all the names are called she starts putting the cards back in the books the students have. If a student forgets their book she makes them go sit back down at their seat after she fusses at the students that forgot their book. After they have the card back in their book she has them stand at the shelf where it belongs until she gets over there to shelve the book for them. Then they are allowed to go check out another book. With kindergarten, they turn their book in one week and check out the next. On their checkout weeks they are only allowed to be from the shelf where she puts the student. 

Overall, my second day in the library went well and I learned a lot about her policies and procedures. I was kind of thrown with how she did check out especially in kindergarten, but I understand that it is what she has found to work in her library. I was very disappointed by the lack of technology and the fact that she has it and is choosing not to use it. She has a smart board but it isn't hooked up and it doesn't have a projector. That would be the first thing I did if she choose to retire and I got her position. One thing I learned from her procedures is a better idea of what I really want to do in my library.