End of the year protocol...

[guybrarian]

I just looked at the calendar, and we are not too far from winding down our year. What do you "seasoned" (or not so seasoned! :) have on your list of things to do before you close your library at the end of the year? I'd love to see your lists. Thanks!

[Roselle]

Love it! I absolutely intend to do all the things on your list - every year for 34 years! The one that has never happened yet is the clean desk. Thank you for making me feel part of a group - the messiest people on earth!
:)

[Becca Munson]

Lori's list is great - I would add - I create several requisitions/purchase orders for the "just in case" situation. Sometimes administrators stop by at the end of the year, looking to spend down some money - I am ready with completed requisitions - they only have to sign the form & determine the account number.

[guybrarian]

Yes this list is nicely done OH WISE ONES. I'll be updating my list with these brilliant ideas! Here are some others:

For PR last year, I borrowed my friend Kim's idea and posted staff's pictures with their favorite summer reads.
I polled Seniors and posted pictures of their favorite books all over the Circ desk.
We had one last, great Poetry Slam.
I hosted boy scout volunteers to build new shelves for my library.

Keep that ol' list rolling!

[Lesley Edwards]

I write a year-end report for my admin. and include a summary of activities for the year, areas of concern, statistics and my plan/vision for next year. I also:
-complete an inventory (OK so here's where I have to admit my dark secret...my library is not automated... I inventory the old-fashioned way matching cards and books. On the bright side the library is scheduled for automation this school year or perhaps early in the fall.)
-make a list of things to remember to do in September
-replenish/revise hand-outs (draft bibliography, search planning guides, web site evaluation forms
-plan a really great display for September
-put good ideas I didn't have time for this year into a file for next year
-recycle older periodicals onto the 'magazines for cutting' shelves
-invite staff in to choose summer reading material

[Karen Hornberger]

In addition to some things previously mentioned (inventory, end of year report, etc.) I also do a book fair for the required summer reads. It is a great fundraiser for the library! Our local bookstore helps us get the books and we sell and get 20% profit (I keep ten and give the students ten)

[Mary Schwander]

Wow! So many great ideas here!
I have a follow-up question to this: How many days/weeks before the last day of school do ask for all library materials to be returned and do you close the library prior to the school closing for inventory purposes? I never have, but the librarian before me did. Just curious.
Thanks!

[Claire Hazzard]

We're a little different up in here in Canada - we don't finish school until mid-June. My last day for the return of materials is the last school day in May, and we usually close around June 7 / 8 for inventory.

[Rosanne Zajko]

I wised up a few years ago and ask for the books to be returned three weeks before the last day, so that when I send home the "you have an overdue library book" letter, the parents are home to receive it and not down the shore on vacation. But that doesn't mean they are returned three weeks before. Usually, though, everything comes back before the last day. I've never closed the library for inventory. Sometimes I do it in the summer but I have occasionally done it during the school year. Since the circ program inventories the checked out books, I don't see a need to close the library. I would rather forego inventory than close the library.

[guybrarian]

Good questions!
Inventory- we have parent volunteers do this and we remain open.
Our classes are out May 31.
Last day for student check out May 4, all books back May 11.
Seniors leave May 24 - that gives us two weeks to collect books.
We just started using our phone-home system to call parents of students with overdue books- I love the results it has been getting- it really works well!

[bj neary]

All of the books are due back by May 26. We never closed the library for inventory, BUT GET IT DONE DURING PSSA, isn't that great? We have extra "subs" and "hall aides" help as well with the inventory and with 30,000 books, we get it done in 4 days. Then we search for the books that are lost or whatever in the weeks following PSSA.

[Rosanne Zajko]

I still have to do all that end of the year stuff, even though I am contracted to work through the summer. I try to have my budget finalized and my annual report written before the end of the school year, as well as have all the books returned. In the summer I usually do the ordering and the cataloging that seems to pile up during the school year and delete lost or weeded records from the state database. If I feel like it, I do an inventory, but I am thinking of having my para do that before the last day.

[Karen Hornberger]

Guybrarian,
Can you tell us more about your phone home system?

Karen