DR> I'm a little disgusted with my own kids' elementary school, but befo
DR> raising cain over there, I want to have a few real facts from other 
DR> the country. I should also mention that my girls are in 5th grade an
DR> grade.
DR>  
DR> Every week, my children are taken to the school library for a 25 min
DR> "lesson". However, I'm not seeing any "lessons" taking place. I aske
 
Hi Donna,
 
  My two little ones were standing by as I read your message so I gave 
them a "pop" quiz on library skills :)  One is a first grader and the 
other is a fourth grader.
 
  My youngest knew that books were shelved alphabetically by the 
authors last name and she did know the difference between fiction and 
non-fiction.  They haven't been taught how to use the card catalog or 
computer yet so they simply go to a particular section to scan the 
stacks.
 
  My 9 yr old, had the same understanding of fiction/non-fiction and 
that fiction was filed by the authors name.  She'd "heard" of the dewey 
decimal system, but couldn't describe it.  She generally goes to the 
stacks to look for her books, but did receive instruction in how to use 
the card catalog and computer last year in the third grade (she 
admitted that she can't remember how to use them since she always goes 
straight to the stacks to find her favorite authors.)  Her library 
visits consist of an initial period where they either have a story read 
to them or they receive "instructions" from the librarian -- the 
"instructions" vary, it may be about how to use the library or 
information on new books.
 
  Both of our older girls (now 16 & 17) learned how to use the card 
catalog and computer in the fourth grade (card catalog was taught in 
school and we taught them the computer system at the public library)
 
  Your message (and my subsequent discussion with the girls) made me 
wonder just how much emphasis is placed on library skills beyond the 
initial introduction they receive in school.  I remember attending a 
mandatory library skills class in the seventh grade when I was a 
student--it was a comprehensive class in how to use the library and 
included "volunteer" time working at the circulation desk and shelving 
books.  We've always been regular patrons of the public library and the
girls have done a good job finding their way around the stacks.  We 
have dial-up access (from home) to the our public library, and through 
that, access to all libraries in the North Dakota University 
System...we take care of everything from searching the stacks to 
placing books on hold via the computer, this saves quite a bit of time 
when we visit the library.
 
 
Dale
--- TriDog 10.0
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