The Downhill Slide

This is what our circulation statistics look like for the past three years (as long as I've been working here). The y axis is total number of loans for the month (excuse my lack of proper labels).


Humm...there seems to be a trend! We start off strong in September, and then it's a downhill slide from there. What gives? Is it the enthusiasm of new school year? Students getting bogged down with homework? Teachers lending books out of classroom libraries?

Whatever the cause, the results are a little disconcerting. I want those high numbers ALL. YEAR. LONG.

My goal: Get February's numbers back up. Probably not easy, considering it's a short month, and we miss a week of school for break. We'll come up with something, though.

Anyone else see a similar pattern in your school libraries??

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Updated Facebook Template

Image
For the last couple of years, we've been using a PowerPoint Facebook page as a final product for a research unit. When we used the template last year, my students were quick to point out that the template was "old school" - Facebook has made major tweaks to the layout and design of its site, which weren't reflected in this version. This year, I finally got around to updating the template to reflect Facebook's current look. Click here to download the  new template for PowerPoint 2010 . No, it doesn't have the timeline interface (I'm not using it yet on my own personal Facebook page, so I don't feel comfortable enough trying to recreate it), but otherwise it reflects many of the recent design changes. It is hyperlinked, so when you're in "View Show" mode, you can click on "Wall," "Info," and "Pictures," and go directly to those parts of the PowerPoint - making it behaving like a traditional Facebook page. ...
Read more

Supporting Social-Emotional Learning with Library Bulletin Boards

Image
  As librarians, we cover so many different standards. Information literacy? Check. English Language Arts? Check. Reading? Check. STEM? Check. Computer science? Check. Over the last year or two, I've added social-emotional learning to the list of skills and competencies I teach through library instruction.  Some strategies are super obvious - like direct instruction as part of my teaching, but other methods like book displays and bulletin boards are more subtle. One primary focus of my library program is supporting students' mental health, which is directly tied to the SEL strand of emotional regulation.  Emotional regulation refers to the ability to manage and express emotions in a healthy and appropriate way. Emotional regulation is essential for secondary students, who are navigating the challenges and complexities of adolescence. During this time, my junior high kids feel a huge range of intense emotions, from excitement and joy to frustration and anger and everything...
Read more

January Bulletin Boards & Book Displays

Image
I thought I'd share our January displays and bulletin board before the month is officially over. Luckily, this month's themes are pretty universal, so they'd work just as well any other time of the year. In the library we went with a black and white color scheme and a "Get Inspired" theme. We hung white puff balls (snow?) leftover from a bridal shower and made large, over-sized silhouettes to define the book types at each display. This meant a jumbo chef's hat by the food books, a sled by the sports books, and a pair of scissors by the craft books. Our bulletin board was inspired by this pin . I thought it was a great January idea as the board's title is "Happy New Beginnings." The board displays the first line from 12 different books. When students lift the flap, they see a photo of the book cover that corresponds to that quote. I tried to pick titles that had really great first lines -- it was harder than you'd think! I...
Read more