Librarians- 5 things to do in December

These are a few things I think are good to do during the month of December.

1) Thank/ show appreciation for your staff/ volunteers/ student helpers. You have made this far in then year with a little help from your "friends".  So give a small gift or card. When I had lots  of volunteers ( and a little paid staff) I held a volunteer "tea"  with cold drinks and homemade fruit breads. Do a little speech about how much you appreciate their help and then socialize!

2) Touch base with your administration, especially if  you do not get chances to update them on what is going on in the Library Media Center. I always did a monthly report ( more on that in The Organized Librarian) but I found that most of the time , the report was just filed and not really read.So catch up with them and maker them aware of all you are doing.

3) Check your supplies to see if something is needed.Do this especially if your budget funds must be spent before the end of the year. Order what you need or are low on,

4)  Many times ,this is a slow time of year, when students and staff are winding down for holidays and vacations, Send out some PR  and remind then of how you can help them with resources, activities and lessons.

5) Planning time- if your patrons/ students/ teachers  have few demands, use your time to prepare for January and the rest of the year, Check journals, online resources, and blogs for some new ideas that will draw interest in useing the library and all its resrouces.

Library bulletin boards for December

    December is almost around the corner so it is time to start thinking of new bulletin boards. I like to plan ahead so I start now to figure out what I will put up.  I usually keep my bulletin boards from year to year, So many times I can just pull on out  and put it up. I do not put the same one up each year- I alternate.

  December Bulletin Boards Slogans

Seasons Readings - Put a wreath in the middle with students favorites all around. I use scanned covers.

LOL- Place large letters in the center, Place names or covers of books jokes and riddles.

 Mittens-  make large mittens out of construction paper, Have students write their favorite books on the mitten. Slogan: Keep Warm With Great Books

Battle of the Books: Place  photos of teams on the board with Team names and date of competition.

Books Are Gifts You Give Yourselves. 

Books on explaining death to young children

 We had a rough week last week. Family friends of ours lost their young daughter at the age of 14 month. The young mother said that her youngest son who is about 3  years old didn't have a clue what was going on.

So I was trying to remember what books on death of a family member or pet would be good for that age group.

1. I miss you/ Pat Thomas. This book explains that  death is natural and that feeling  grief and loss are feelings that  you may have. As a counselor and psychotherapist, Thomas  brings a simple story line  for ages 3-6 that is easy to understand.

2. Ida Always/ Carson Levine. A story of two polar bears, Gus and Ida. Ida becomes sick with an illness.

She can't seem to get well, and she later dies. Again told in simple language that is easy to understand.

3. Badgers Parting Gifts/Varely .  This is another outstanding book that can be used for a death in the family, both human or animal. The woodland animals are all sad when their friend  Badger dies. They loved him, Then they talk about different memories they had with him and of him , and they all feel better.

        4. I'll always love you/ Wihelm. Elfie , a dachshund, has a special boy who loves him and spends a lot of time with him. But one morning  Elfie does not wake up. Again a simple story designed too help young ones understand death of someone you love.

National Literacy Month- September

 September is National Literacy Month. You can challenge your  students and  patrons , young and old,  to go to the library and pick a great book to read.

 Parents, teachers, and librarian  can encourage making  reading part of daily life. You can also tell stories, talk to students about their favorite books, take them to the library or book store to get books. Every ordering online will encourage students 

 Some other ideas:  Read to you children/ students. Volunteer to read to grand kids, school kids, or neighbors.

  You can donate books that you have already read.

   Here is a website that you might checkout. 

     https://www.theliteracybug.com/

Library Bulletin Boards for September

Yes I know many of  you are back in school already and probably have your "Welcome back" bulletin boards already up. We go  back  the first week in September!
 I will put up  one of the following. When I make a bulletin board I always take a photo and keep the pieces in a homemade  folder.

Fall in Love with Reading

Leaf though a Good Book

Fall in love with  your library

Rake in a good read

Welcome Back - The books missed you!

All of these can be done with a simple background,  a tree, and some leaves!

Library ideas for back to school!

   How can we help students this fall in the library? What if the library is not accessible?  

First of all Encourgare reading and learning

1. If students can not come to the library for books that consider "curbside Pickup" or "Delivery".

     Do a video / zoom ( YouTube or something your school uses)  and explain to student how to do holds on your computer system. Then staff can handle materials  , get them delivered or have them picked up bu the students. 

    Develop a system also ( and explain it ) on how to do returns  to make sure the student knows what to do, 

  ( Make sure teachers and staff also know how to request materials) Do this even if you  open so that if students are really busy they can still get books and resources)

2. Do read alouds. Again if you cant do this in person, set up a video / zoom/ google meet or whatever works . Take time at the end of discuss the book  Set up a program where students can  answer questions or further discuss the book.

3, Promote digital books that you have in the library system. Promote Digital book sites  that have free online reading,   Promote digital resources that you have for classroom use.  Put it on your website, and promote with flyers or anyway you can. 

Getting your teachers to buy into this will help  and give you time to advance the library!

Free Library Lesson- Moe Willems

 Moe Willems gas been a delightful contributor to the world off children's books. He combines  simple drawings , engaging character,s and funny situations to pull children into  reading, We all know the Pigeon books, and they are unique.  series. Again  Moe  uses dialogue and interesting  yet familiar. situations to move the story  along.

  I happen to love The Piggie and Elephant series. Again, Moe uses dialogue and funny situations to move the story along.

Go to Moe's website and  you can find his Bio and some activities to go along with his books.
http://mowillems.com

Two of my Favorites and somethings to do with them.
We are in a Book

  1. Have students make a book with pictures .( drawn or cut out from old magazines). Have students identify each one with word bubbles.

 2. Make a book with two characters telling jokes . This could be a class activities with each student doing one page, illustrating it and writing word bubbles. Put the book together as as class book.

The Thank You Book
Students can make a class book or individual book of  what  they are thankful for. They can describe it in word bubbles.(Think November)