November 2006
The library program is in full swing with a wonderful group of parent/community volunteers. It took us a while to get going, but the children are coming in each week, borrowing books, and enjoying their library experience. Please note the schedule below so that you can remind your child to return the books borrowed. They are lent for one week only, but children are permitted to renew their books if they haven't finished reading them. Please help your child get into the habit of returning or renewing his book each week. Children who have not cleared their book records cannot borrow additional books. We do not charge late fees, but lost books currently have a charge of $3.00 per book, a fee that doesn't come close to the replacement cost of the books, so please, help us get the books returned. Part of the school library experience is to instill a sense of responsibility in the children, but we need your help. The fee is returned should the book be found and returned to the library.
Monday: all Second grade classes
Tuesday: all Kindergarten classes
Wednesday: all First grade classes
Thursday: all Third-grade classes
Friday: all Fourth and Fifth grade classes
Most kindergartners will not be taking their books home, but to their classrooms. We have found from experience that they often forget to bring them back on time and are unduly distressed when they cannot take a new book because of this. Having the teacher responsible for collecting them in the classroom has made the library experience better for these little ones. However, the CTT class, at their teachers' request, will not be borrowing books at all, but two children each week will take their books home to prepare for book-sharing with the rest of the class. Please check your child's book bag on library day to see if he/she is one of the two book-sharerers for the week. This should happen only once during the school year.
Each class on all grades will have two children who will share their books with the rest of the class. The child should be prepared to tell the class something about the book and whether he enjoyed reading it. How detailed this information will be will depend on the grade and the child's ability. This is not something that is graded, but should be a pleasant sharing experience for the children. Ask your child about the books he borrows. Share the reading experience at home.
Something new that's been in the planning for almost a year is the Library Birthday Club. Children who have had birthdays in October and November have already received birthday greetings from the library with an invitation to bring that greeting to the library to receive a voucher for a free ice cream from Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Store on Atlantic Avenue. To get the ice cream, all the child has to do is read a book and have their teacher sign the voucher. Bring the voucher in, and enjoy the ice cream! Many thanks to Ben and Jerry's for this reading incentive. We also have arranged with Barnes and Noble to allow parents to purchase a book donation for the library at a substantial discount (20% off the list price, with no tax added) in honor of their child's birthday. This is an opportunity to help the library and give your child a sharing experience. Our children receive presents on their birthdays, and this is an chance for them to learn the pleasure of giving. If you bring your child's birthday greeting to the Barnes and Noble on Court Street and see a customer service representative there, they will allow you to purchase one book for the library at the discount. If you need guidance to choose a book, a list of library 'wants' is on deposit there as well as in the library. Our book budget is so very small ($6.00 per child) that if only half the children in the school participate, we will double the number of new books available to our children. Books donated will have a beautiful book plate designed by Paul O. Zelinsky pasted in the front, acknowledging that the book was given to the library by your child in honor of his birthday. See any of the library volunteers for more information should you need it.
A special opportunity:
The Donnell Library Center at 20 West 53rd Street in Manhattan will be holding a wonderful storytelling event in celebration of St. Nicholas Eve in the Central Children's Room on Thursday, December 7th at 6:30 pm. If you arrive at around 6 pm, there will be snacks and drinks. The program is Uncommon Versions of Favorite Tales, told by John Peters. It should be a wonderful event, celebrating stories and storytelling. All are invited, and it's free.
Ann Kranis
Posted on: November 19, 2006
