A Parent’s Guide to Services Provided for Students of Decatur Christian School

WELCOME
The staff of the Forsyth Public Library is committed to providing the best service possible for students, teachers, and parents.  We look forward to assisting you during this school year, and hope to make each library visit a pleasant and productive experience.   We encourage you to consult this website frequently to learn about library news and special programs, to conduct research, and to search the library’s holdings on the online catalog.  To learn more about how you can utilize this resource, consult any library staff member.

LIBRARY STAFF

Either children’s librarian Lorraine Getty or children’s assistant Nanette Krueger will be present during school visits to help students find appropriate materials suited to their interests and needs.  Mrs. Getty has had several years’ experience as a school librarian and continues to enjoy working with teachers and students in the public library setting.  Mrs. Krueger, a former kindergarten teacher, is currently in her fourth year with Forsyth Public Library.  Other members of the library staff will assist students at the circulation desk when they are checking out books.

CONNECT HERE WITH DECATUR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Check out DCS’s upcoming events, monthly newsletter, sports schedule, and faculty contact information here: http://decaturchristian.net/

LIBRARY SCHEDULE 2009 – 2010

Classes will visit the library every 2 weeks, at the times given below.  Since classes may be postponed and rescheduled due to weather or special activities, consult your child’s teacher if you aren’t sure which is to be a “Forsyth Library week.”

Library Schedule 2009-2010

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

The Children’s Area includes books for ages birth to about 13. Within this area, we maintain a few special collections of materials.

Most of our Picture Books will be found in the Easy section, which is found near the front entrance of the library. Books in this section will vary widely in reading level, and are well-suited for parent/child shared reading.

Books for the Beginning Reader have light blue dots on the spines and are shelved together in the Easy section. These books will be helpful for the child who is just learning to recognize or sound out words.

Our Easy Readers have light purple dots on the spines and will be found next to the Beginning Readers. These books are slightly more challenging, but are still easier to read than those on the J (Juvenile) shelves.

For the young reader who prefers books about “real things,” there is a shelf of Easy Nonfiction books. These books present information on many topics of interest to children on an easier reading level than other nonfiction books.

Juvenile Nonfiction and Fiction books are for children between the ages of about 7 – 13 for those who seek facts and information for learning or chapter books for recreational reading.

Read-along kits (comprised of a storybook with cassette or CD), audio books and magazines are not usually permitted to be checked out during school visits, but are available for after-school borrowing.

The newest additions to the library will be found on an octagonal display table in the Children’s Area. These will have small red dots on their spines.

Books for older children (about ages 13 – 17) will be found in the Young Adult Area of the library, which is separate from the Children’s Area.

LIBRARY CARDS

All children are welcome in the library, but only those with valid, debt-free cards may check out books. Each child must have a card issued in his/her own name at the child’s current address. We will collect and keep students’ cards at the circulation desk in order to facilitate a quicker check-out during class visits. Cards will be returned to your child’s classroom teacher at the end of the school year.

BORROWING GUIDELINES

Students may check out one or two books during class visits, depending on the limits set by their teachers. Some teachers will also limit the types of books that their students check out, such as permitting only those from the “Easy” section for younger children or requiring students to check out books to be used in conjunction with an assignment or report. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the library on other occasions to choose additional books and other types of materials such as magazines, books on tape, DVDs, videos, and CDRoms that cannot be checked out during school visits.

All children’s books are due in three weeks. New books can only be checked out when books from previous weeks are returned.

OVERDUES

Students are responsible for returning books when they are due. This date will be found on the receipt that is placed inside the book. We realize that many factors interfere with the timely return of materials, including a child’s absence, the cancellation of a class visit, or the fact that the child simply has not finished reading a book. Such items can be renewed, but only for a limited period. Please know that children with overdue materials are not permitted to check out new items until overdue materials have been returned.

DAMAGED BOOKS

Librarians realize that books are susceptible to a certain amount of normal wear and tear, but we generally anticipate items to be returned in about the same condition as when they went out. As a book passes through the circulation desk, we monitor its condition. If we can repair damage and return the book to the shelf in an acceptable condition, we will do so without consequence to the borrower. If, however, the damage is deemed extensive, the library will begin the process of replacing the book, and will hold the borrower responsible for paying its cost.

LOST BOOKS

If a book becomes misplaced and then lost, we will attempt to order a new copy. The borrower is responsible for paying the cost of the lost book and other fees associated with its replacement.

HOW PARENTS ARE NOTIFIED

Parents will be notified of a child’s overdue, damaged or lost book by means of a note informing you of the situation. This note will be on a half-sheet of bright pink paper. If you receive one of these notices, please attempt to resolve the situation as soon as possible, and do not hesitate to contact us for clarification if needed.

BEHAVIOR IN THE LIBRARY

While your child’s class is visiting the library, other individuals will most likely also be present, enjoying a quiet reading area, looking for books, using the computers, or conducting work or research. Therefore, it is important that visiting students behave in a manner that is respectful to library staff and other patrons, as well as to their teachers and classmates. Children are expected to:

• enter and leave in a quiet, orderly fashion
• listen when being given directions or being read to by library staff or teaches
• follow directions given by teachers or library staff
• raise hands to participate in discussions
• maintain an appropriate voice level
• treat books and library property with care
• remain in the areas outlined for them by the librarian
• follow set procedures when looking for books

READING COUNTS

For those students whose teacher uses the Reading Counts program, the school has provided us with lists of the tests they own. You may consult these lists to find books in your child’s reading level. If the library does not own a copy of the book you have selected, we can help you request one through interlibrary loan.

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

Parents can help both their child and the library by taking an active interest in the books that are brought home. Please be aware of your child’s “library day” and assist him/her in remembering the books that are due or that need to be renewed if he/she has not finished reading them. Observe your child’s treatment of books and note their condition. Reinforce the tenets of proper book care, and model those behaviors yourself. Consider designating a special location for keeping books until it is time for them to be returned – a shelf, table, or desk away from the reach of younger siblings or pets - or have your child keep his books in his school bag when not being read. The library furnishes children with bags to be used when carrying books between the school and library, but please help your child be vigilant when transporting books to and from home.

QUESTIONS?

Contact children’s librarian Lorraine Getty by email or by calling the library (877-8174).