LIBRARY –UP DATE

Library Committee

March 11th 2014

LAMB LIBRARY CURRENT CAPACITY

3 libraries: 2 at Missouri (basement and Upper level hallway) 1 at SD (A small room assigned as library)

Formal weekly library program (read aloud and book loan) for primary classrooms in both campuses

Elementary students can check out books for casual reading

Run completely by parent volunteers

GOAL 1 –LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Our libraries (in both locations) are arranged by categories but have no electronic inventories. Also, due to its small size only the broadest of LOC subject headings are used for categories. Library automation would:

1. Provide better inventory and control of the book collection

2. Allow us to see what books are in the library, the # of copies and at which campus

3. Create more efficient check-in/check-out process: will replace index cards as each student will have a LAMB library card that will be scanned at check-in/out

LAMB LIBRARY CATEGORIES ARE:

Picture books

Fine Arts (sub-categories: Music, Drama, and Visual Arts);

Science (7 sub-categories for Elementary: Weather, Human Body, Outer Space, Animals, Ocean Life, Dinosaurs, Environment/Earth Science)

Poetry

Story Collections

Biography (Elementary)

History (Elementary)

Folk Tales

Culture

Basic Concepts (Primary)

Spanish books have orange stickers

GOAL 2—BOOK ACQUISITION

Our book collection does not currently reflect LAMB’s goal for bilingual literacy. We have a much smaller collection of books in Spanish compared to books in English. By looking at our inventory and identifying our greatest needs, we can develop a book acquisition plan that would:

1. Better support bilingual literacy

2. Enhance our current library and create a process for integrating new books that spark student interest

GOAL 3—HIRE A P/T LIBRARIAN

Our libraries are currently run by several parent volunteers with limited central oversight or management. Having a librarian would allow us to:

1. Have one person charged with overseeing and maintaining the library system

2. Designate a point person to manage a library budget and create acquisition plans to continuously improve the libraries

DESCRIPTION OF WHERE WE ARE

We have purchased Alexandria library software to catalog and organize our books

Training on the library software was conducted and included parents from both campuses

We visited the Oyster library and met with the librarian who explained her system and shared lessons learned from a bilingual education perspective

Cristina has started a book wish list

Job description for a P/T Librarian was drafted

Book fairs are being planned to help support our library

NEXT STEPS FOR GOAL 1

Goal 1-Library Automation

We need to scan and create labels for our current books

Oyster librarian recommended we get the book LOC Subject Headings for Children which has been ordered to help refine our categorization system

We need to re-shelf libraries based on a new organization following the recommendations of Oyster librarian and reflecting a more refined system

NEXT STEPS FOR GOALS 2 & 3

Goal 2-Book Acquisition

Set goals for the number of books we need to have in English and Spanish comprehensive collection

Develop a list of books we want to purchase

Develop a budget for books in English and Spanish

Goal 3-Hire a P/T Librarian

Develop a budget for a P/T Librarian

Complete job description

Recruit good candidates

HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?1. Sign-up to help with library time for Primary students to read and help

students check-in/out books (both campuses use sign-up genius)

2. Donations of new or gently used books in Spanish and English are always welcome and can be dropped off at the front desk of either campus. We "Donated by..." labels that are put in the books.

3. Scan books

4. Reshelf and weed books

5. Manage library wish list or provide your suggestions

6. Support book fairs/events Politics and Prose book fair, September 20 Chair: Kerri Poore Bookworm Central book fair, Late Nov./early Dec. (date TBD, in coordination with

Oyster Book Fair and LAMB PTO) Literacy Night (TBD)

Q and A