[Publib] RE: Publib Digest, Vol 32, Issue 31

[Catherine Brown]

Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:33:35 -0800 (PST)
From: charles hobbs <cph1776 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Publib] Teacher Loans and other privileged users....
To: publib at webjunction.org

What I'm questioning is the granting of special privileges to patrons based
on their profession.  In so >many places, the statement "I'm a teacher."
opens the >doors to extended check-outs, absolution from fines, >and the key
to the copy machine or no charges when making print outs from the computers.
All because these people have chosen a more "noble" profession?  

Too often, these privileges are taken unfair advantage of for materials not
even closely related to school >curriculums.

=================================================================

It's a bit of a running joke in my family, but they say, "You're a
librarian, shouldn't you be exempt from fines?" :-)

Charles Hobbs

=================================================================

I have to tell you something.  The same teachers that abuse the privileges
in the public library abuse them in the schools.  They know they are not
supposed to make copies of whole workbooks ... but they do.  They are the
same ones we school librarians chase after at the end of every year to get
back the books they needed immediately (as in "stop what you're doing and
get me 25 historical fiction books."  Usually, they were the same ones who
cut other people in the copying lines with excuses nobody believed (I have
parents waiting for me in my classroom) but no one wanted to be the one to
call them on it.  

I am just going to think out loud, but I am not going to tell you how to
handle it since only you know the particular personalities involved.  This
may sound draconian, but ten years of experience is merely showing its face.


First, earlier in the summer, maybe early August before they get too busy,
talk to the principal and assistant principal and explain the situation --
exactly what is happening and why it is creating a problem for other
patrons, for the library, and for you.  With their blessing and/or their
input, go to the very first faculty meeting, usually held the day (or the
week) before the children come back.  Explain that in the past, it has been
the case that (blah, blah, blah) and because of this, problems such as
(blah, blah, blah) have developed in the public libraries.  

While you look forward to seeing faculty from the various schools using the
public library facilities, folks from the libraries and the schools have put
their heads together to come up with a plan that will hopefully alleviate
the problems and will give the public a better impression of the faculties
in the public schools. 

Each teacher will be given 15 "copy coupons" as they leave today.  The
coupons are not replaceable and must be presented if you want to make more
than 10 copies of any document.  Less than 10 are payable at the desk at
10-cents each.  For more than 10 copies you will need to ask the person at
the desk to trip the copy control switch which s/he will do when you present
your coupon.  Teachers can use up to five coupons from other teacher who do
not plan to use them.  

As to class sets of books or anything else borrowed on a teacher library
card, the borrowing period is stilll six weeks.  However, after two reminder
notices, if the books or other materials have not been returned, that
teacher's "teacher library card" will be suspended throughout the library
system and the local area network until the material is returned.  Also, at
that point, a 50-cent/day fine will be charged for each overdue print item
and a $1.00/day fine for each audio or video item.  

At the end of each week, a statement that lists the teachers holding
materials more than six weeks overdue, the original due dates of the items,
the title and format of the  material they are holding, and the fines due on
each as well as the total fine due will be sent to the individual teachers
and the teachers' principals.  A copy will also be posted in the building's
faculty room.  At the end of each month, a copy of the report will be sent
to the superintendent and the chair of the board of trustees.  

Explain that this is a serious problem, that patrons DO notice and that they
complain loudly and frequently to you about "those teachers."  Explain that
you are tried to point out that the copying charges all come from the same
pocket, really, but that patrons have pointed out that that isn't really
true since the library, which is more underfunded even than the schools, is
paying for the paper.  

Also, explain that when you extend the courtesy of allowing a teacher to
have materials out for six weeks, that is six weeks that they are out of
circulation to not only the other children of this town, but also, with the
library network affiliations, to the children of 72 other towns.  Keeping
materials out longer than six weeks, already an extended length of time,
shows up correct to the minute on the computer screen of every librarian and
paralibrarian in the network every time they turn them on.  It makes our
teacher borrowers stick out like a sore thumb and certainly does not make
our teacher card holders or us, the public library, look very good.  This
can be injurious to the town library's position in the network that is
something NOBODY wants or can afford to jeopardize.  

Also, remind them how aggravated they would be if it was a book or film they
needed for a class that was seriously overdue and was holding up their
lesson plans.  

As librarians in public libraries, you really need to get into the public
schools and see how they work to understand that you have to take time to
make a few sensible rules and then absolutely stick to your guns -- 100% --
on upholding them.  No matter how busy you are, you never hand over the key
to the copy machine; YOU keep that key in your hand and your hand only.
Would you turn it over to any other patron?  I doubt it, so why would you
turn it over to a teacher?  

Sure, teachers have a tough job, but so do you.  If you could see their
classrooms where there are rules everywhere you look, and understand just
how well they understand that rules are what make this work ... better ...
you wouldn't hesitate in having rules for your "classroom" everywhere you
look.  You'll be surprised just how much better it will be for everyone
concerned.  

Kate Brown