BOOK CARE
Students are responsible for the books that they check out. They are taught each year about book care and being responsible for the books they check out in library class. Students who lose or damage books must pay for the replacement of the book in library binding (this includes sales tax, shipping, and processing charges). Bills will be sent home after a reasonable effort has been made to find the book.
Some tips to keep books safe include:
- Have a special place at home for library books.
- Wash hands before reading a book.
- Keep a plastic bag in your backpack for home/school transportation.
- Use a bookmark.
- Keep books away from younger siblings that might write or draw in books.
- Turn pages from the top.
- Don’t eat or drink while reading a book.
- Carry books carefully.
- Don’t write or draw in books.
CHECK OUT POLICIES
| Grade Level | Number of Items |
| Kindergarten* | 1 book |
| 1st Grade* | 1 book (2 after Winter Break) |
| 2nd Grade | 2 books (3 after Winter Break) |
| 3rd – 6th Grade | Any reasonable amount |
Students may not check out books if they have any books overdue.
There is no restriction on the type of materials a student selects*, however, students are encouraged to pick out books that interest them and are appropriate for their reading level and age. The “5-finger” check** is taught and reinforced in grades 2-6.
* Kindergartners and first graders are limited to the “E-Everybody” section at the beginning of the year until they are introduced to other sections of the library.
** Students open the book to the middle and begin to read. Each time they come to a word they don’t know, they count it on their finger. If they get to 5 fingers, it is probably a book that is too difficult for them to read at this time.
COLLECTION
The Sherwood Elementary has a collection of about 10,000 books. Over 20,000 books are checked out each year! You can search our catalog by clicking “Catalog“. The collection is divided into 8 main sections:
| CALL # | SECTION | DESCRIPTION |
| B | Biography | This section contains both biographies and autobiographies. Some of the books are in picture book format and some are in chapter form. The books are arranged alphabetically by the famous person’s last name. |
| B COL | Biography Collection | This section has books that have information about more than 1 person, such as, “Famous Explorers.” The books are arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the editor’s last name. It is located at the end of the Biography section. |
| E | Everybody | This section contains most of the picture books and early readers. You will also find elegantly simple books on concepts from racism to the water cycle in this section. It is arranged alphabetically by the first three letters of the author’s last name. There is a special shelf for books written by Dr. Seuss in this section. Paperbacks are in buckets near the section and have E and the 1st letter of the author’s last name. |
| F | Fiction | This section contains novels and chapter books. It is arranged alphabetically by the first 3 letters of the author’s last name. Names of favorite authors are on labels on these shelves. You must use the search station to find books of a specific genre. |
| MAG | Magazine | The magazine sections contains around 15 different titles. Current issues are on display. Past issues can be checked out. They are located in tubs below the display shelves labeled with the magazine names. |
| R | Reference | This section contains reference books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses, and atlases. Although some encyclopedias in this section are available for check out, most of the materials are for in-library use. |
| SC | Story Collection | This small section, 1 shelf, contains fiction anthologies. It is arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the editor’s last name. It is located at the end of the Fiction section. |
| 000 | Classified | This section contains books arranged by the Dewey Decimal System. Technically it cannot be called the non-fiction section because some fiction books reside here (i.e. poetry, folktales, fairy tales). For more information about Dewey numbers click here: How to Use the Dewey Decimal System |
2016-17 LIBRARY CLASS SCHEDULE
When do I have library? Below is the library schedule.
Wildenhaus Tuesday / 11:05a
DONATIONS TO LIBRARY
Alderson
|
Wednesday / 11:05a
|
Bonnell
|
Thursday / 3:10p
|
Chase
| Monday / 11:35a |
Cook
|
Wednesday / 1:45p
|
Gibson
|
Wednesday / 10:30a
|
Gordon
|
Wednesday / 1:15p
|
Gregerson
|
Wednesday / 9:30a
|
Hansen
|
Tuesday / 11:35a
|
Hirst
|
Monday / 1:15p
|
Holt
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Friday / 9:30a
|
Hopper
|
Thursday / 10:30a
|
Keating
|
Wednesday / 10:00a
|
Liker
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Friday / 10:00a
|
Mindt
|
Friday / 10:30a
|
Morehouse
|
Wednesday / 2:15p
|
Pawling
|
Thursday / 10:00a
|
Rempel
|
Thursday / 9:30a
|
Stillwaugh
|
Friday / 3:10p
|
Widenre
|
Monday / 2:15p
|
DONATIONS TO LIBRARY
Can I or others donate books to the library?
Yes, but the books must be appropriate for our collection and match the school district’s selection policy. It currently costs us $0.95 to process (catalog, barcode, stamp, and label) a donated book, so we can’t accept everything. Contact the librarian for more information.
Can magazine subscriptions be donated?
Yes, but the books must be appropriate for our collection and match the school district’s selection policy. It currently costs us $0.95 to process (catalog, barcode, stamp, and label) a donated book, so we can’t accept everything. Contact the librarian for more information.
Can magazine subscriptions be donated?
Yes. People interested in donation should contact the librarian. We order magazines at a low cost school rate through a vendor contracted with the school district. Magazines must also be appropriate for our school’s collection.
Can other magazines, like old National Geographic magazines be donated?
The library will not accept the donation of old magazines for several reasons: 1) They are out of date. We want our students to use current information. 2) We don’t have the physical space to store them. 3) Experience shows elementary students rarely use them for research or pleasure reading.
What about other donations?
Can other magazines, like old National Geographic magazines be donated?
The library will not accept the donation of old magazines for several reasons: 1) They are out of date. We want our students to use current information. 2) We don’t have the physical space to store them. 3) Experience shows elementary students rarely use them for research or pleasure reading.
What about other donations?
See our wish list below!
FUNDING
Where does the school library get its money?
The money, about $1,000 – $2,000 per year, for the library comes from 2 sources: Book Fair and the Sherwood PSO. Most all of the money is spent on library quality bound books. Some budgets have restrictions on the type of books that can be purchased (i.e. grants).
The money, about $1,000 – $2,000 per year, for the library comes from 2 sources: Book Fair and the Sherwood PSO. Most all of the money is spent on library quality bound books. Some budgets have restrictions on the type of books that can be purchased (i.e. grants).
Why do we buy “library quality bound books?”
These books are bound to a higher standard than trade books that one would find at a bookstore. These books will withstand the heavy use of elementary students. We expect the books to last 15 – 20 years. Books that are trade bound last 2-3 years. Trade and paperback books are purchased to provide additional copies of a book or to purchase a book unavailable in any other format. Due to budget limitations, we need to make every dollar count. To replace books on a 20-year cycle we would need a budget of about $10,000 per year.
These books are bound to a higher standard than trade books that one would find at a bookstore. These books will withstand the heavy use of elementary students. We expect the books to last 15 – 20 years. Books that are trade bound last 2-3 years. Trade and paperback books are purchased to provide additional copies of a book or to purchase a book unavailable in any other format. Due to budget limitations, we need to make every dollar count. To replace books on a 20-year cycle we would need a budget of about $10,000 per year.
HOURS
The library is open during school hours (9:05-3:50). Sherwood students visit the library each week with their class for 30 minutes. Students are taught to how to become effective users and producers of ideas and information. This is accomplished through lessons on library responsibilities, literature, literary elements, critical thinking, information literacy, and the research process. Students may also come to the library during open recesses; and just prior to the beginning of the school day (9:05-9:20 am).
RECESS
The library is open during many recesses. Students should bring a pass from their teacher and something to work on during the recess time. Once a student chooses to stay in the library during recess, they must stay for the entire recess.
LIBRARIAN
Dave Sonnen is the Library Media Specialist at Sherwood Elementary School. This is his 30th year in education. He began teaching in 1987 at Warrenton Grade School in Warrenton, Oregon. He was at Brier Elementary as a classroom teacher before becoming the librarian. He joined the staff at Sherwood in 2009. Before becoming the school librarian in 1999, he was a classroom teacher, teaching grades 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. He attended Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon where he received bachelor degrees in Elementary Education and Interdisciplinary Studies (Geography, Business, and Computer Science) and served as Student Body President (1986-87). He had an elementary teaching certificate in Oregon and has a continuing teacher certificate in Washington with a Learning Resources endorsement. He earned his Masters of Library and Information Sciences degree at the University of Washington‘s Information School in June 2006. Dave is a member of ALA (American Library Association (he participated in ALA’s 1st Emerging Leaders Program 2007), Washington Library Association (WLA), WLMA (Washington Library Media Association) served as president (2008-2009) and past co-chair of the Washington Children’s ChoicePicture Book Award Committee (currently a member of the committee), and PSC (Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children’s Material) where he served 5 years on the board of directors. During that time he was Recording Secretary and Chair. He has also served as the AASL (American Association of School Libraries) Region VIII Director (representing Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho). He has also been an associate member of the Alaska Library Association and Alaska Association of School Librarians. Outside of the library world, he served on one of Group Health Cooperative’s medical center advisory councils. When he’s not reading, Dave can be found playing water polo, jogging, walking, swimming, traveling (he’s been to all 50 states), or working out. He collects license plates, college pennants, and Starbucks city mugs. He is glad to be at Sherwood!
RULES IN THE LIBRARY
The main school rules: Be Kind, Be Safe, and Be a Learner are followed in the library.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are essential to the operation of our library. Some classes have “library parents” who help with book check-in and check-out during library class. Other parents help by shelving books, creating bulletin boards, and other activities. For more information about volunteer opportunities contact the librarian or the school volunteer coordinator.
WISH LIST
Here are some things we could use in the library. If you’d like to donate something on the list please contact the librarian.
- clipboards
- contact paper
- crayons
- erasers (large pink)
- glue (school glue)
- Paper: 8 1/2″ x 11″ Lined
- Paper: spiral notebooks
- Paper, origami
- pens (Ballpoint, any colors)
- pencils (regular #2)
- staples
- scotch tape refill rolls
- cardboard magazine files
- tool box/set (w/ tools – especially sm. screwdrivers, sm. wrench, etc. for repairs)
- blue or green table cloths
- Kleenex
- 2×4 boards (about 30 inches long)
- colored pencils
- markers (water-based – non permanent)
- digital cameras (w/ SD card)
- Legos or blocks
- Matchbox sized cars/airplanes
- scissors
- donations (cash/check) for books and other library materials
LOCATION
Sherwood Elementary is located at 22901 – 106th Av. W, Edmonds, WA 98020.
