Textbook+Check+Out

Suggestions for CALIBK12

Way ahead of time (this may be a multi-month project of swapping class sets) it will be worth the effort to place a duplicate barcode on the spine of the textbooks. I can scan a student's stack of 5 textbooks in 3 seconds, or an entire class set on a cart in about 30 seconds, whereas it used to take 5 minutes to open every single, stinkin' textbook. You add barcodes to the books you do you, and within 13 months, the entire schools' inventory will be done. Order or print out plenty of barcodes.

Last period checkout. For 6th period sports teams, we schedule them to come in during lunch time instead of period 6, each student then takes an entire stack of all of their textbooks to the locker room.

Otherwise, one building per day (start with Math building), we schedule checkouts for **period 6 only**, and student gather all textbooks for a single checkout, teachers lead their classes to wait inside the exit gates and security knows to give them a 5 minute headstart to go home and clear the area. Robo calls also alert families to do their best to arrange car pools so students aren't carrying 20 lbs of books for 2 miles. Student who have to walk a long distance might take only half their textbooks during the scheduled checkout, then come after school the next day to get the rest - we accommodate as needed.

Students who failed to return an outstanding textbooks will not be able to checkout the same-subject textbook for the new year until either the books is returned, or they are called in the following week to be grilled. We have the student call their parents in our presence and ask that the parents come right away to bring the book, or place it by the home's front door, or arrange a payment plan (25% per month). Once arrangements are made, we check out the next textbook even before receiving the overdue textbook.

Double lines. Think high capacity cafeterias. The cashier has a line on both their left and right sides, so while one customer is fumbling around, the customer on the other side is being serviced. I would use a large rolling table and position my computer at one end and this allows for a double line. Student line up their textbooks with all spine barcodes lined up, and their ID card on top of the stack. About 7 seconds per student, or 7 students per minute. Three tables will service 6 lines and we could clear over 1,000 students in one, 6th period.

Student help. There is always 2 or 3 sports teams who are off-season on the first week of school. I've never had a problem enlisting the coach's help - I use each team for 2 days at a time so its not a burden. Check with the principal first. There is nothing like 20 athletic students manning the piles of books, directing traffic, and making sure no student "skips checkout."

AP teacher and Math teachers - are told that if their students can't get their books due to schedule, they can come after school.

Scanner Setting. Nearly all modern scanners can be temporarily programmed to remain on and work like a machine gun. The laser remains on at all times and inputs as fast as you can run the gun across the stack of books, starting with the ID card on top. No need to stop and pull the trigger on each book.

Paul Fung Library & Instructional Materials Coordinator Bellflower Unified School District 9310 E. Laurel Street Bellflower, CA 90706  pfung@busd.k12.ca.us   Hello - I've done a fair share of textbook checkouts over the years :-) Here are just a few things to consider...  - However you shape the line, have it so the STUDENTS are picking up the books and opening them, and carrying them away (saves your wrists!). Therefore, try to keep in mind where the books are as you create the schedule. - Remind students to bring ID cards/Library cards so you don't have to input numbers by hand. - Set up 2 (or more) check out stations and train a few parent volunteers to help you. They can do check out, help maintain lines, direct teachers and students, etc. - Make sure your scanners work in advance. - I always started with the teachers/classes that I knew would be anxious to get their books. 10 minutes per class. Allow time for a few glitches during your first couple of sessions. Get teachers the schedule early, highlight their times and send reminders if you can.

- Schedule in BREAKS and LUNCH for YOU!

- How will you address students who have lost books or fines from previous years? Keep a list and get to them later? Ignore it entirely? Have a separate line to address this? - How will you incorporate students who were absent? When can teachers send them - anytime? A specific day? At the end of any period?

Hope some of this proves helpful! Good luck :-) The first time is always messy but once you have a good template it gets easier each year. Best, Sarah Rosenkrantz, Berkeley High School Teacher Librarian