Boots on the Ground

Observations and questions from a week in different junior high and elementary libraries.

Sign you are in a great junior high school library.

• Post it notes with the release dates of new books stuck to the window above the librarian's computer!
• ALL the books of a series are in the collection
• Note left for librarian: Dear (librarian), you have a GREAT collection. You have every book I looked for in the OPAC!
  (wonders, does she read BookMoot.com?)

At the desk and in the stacks
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Student: "Do you have any more books by this author?" (Gail Carson Levine)

Me: Ooooh is that Fairest?
Student: "You've read it? It is sooooo... good!"

Us: (fan girl squeals)

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Student: "Can you help me find something to read?
I'd like it to be a book with other books that follow it."
Me: (frustrated grumbling) So many Book "1"s of series checked-out.

Student: "I don't want to start with Book 2"
Me: I don't like that either. How about finding an author to follow, even if they don't write series books?
Student: OK.

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Student: "Is Return of the King checked out?"
Me: hmm...Yes.
Student: I'm reading Two Towers now. It is sort of hard to keep track of all the characters.
Me: I know. When I read the books for the first time (whispers) I skipped all the songs.
Student: "I'm skipping the songs TOO!"
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Teacher@Library #1:  Do you know how to get pictures off a camera?
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Student: "Can you help me find some realistic fiction?"
Me: Is this for your genre dog tag?
Student: Yes.
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Student: "Can you help me find some historical fiction?"
Me: Is this for your genre dog tag?
Student: Yes.
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Student: "Can you help me find some fantasy books"
Me: Is this for your genre dog tag?
Student: Yes.
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Note left for librarian: Dear (librarian), some lessons on Genres might be a fun for your students.

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Student:  "Where are the books on WWII?"
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Student:  "Are we allowed to read the newspaper?"
OH YES!
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Parent: "Is this a good book to read to a class?"
Me: "Well, that is by David Wiesner and there are no words in that one, the story is told in pictures. Is that ok? What grade?
Parent:  Oh, no, I want to read.  Third grade.

Me: This Wiesner is fun as a read-aloud.  June 29, 1999






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Student: "When is the book fair?"
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Student: "Where are the comic books?"
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Me: "Holy cow, the Car Section is a wreck!"
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Teacher@Library #2:  Do you know how to get pictures off a camera?