Ideas on Troop Librarian

[Buffalo Skipper]

Greetings fellow scouters (and scouts).

 

Our troop has not utilized the "Librarian" position for many years, and I am considering discussing this with our SPL. We do have an extensive library, though much of it is quite out of date. I would very much like to see the really old books (some of ours date back to the 70s and even a few to the 60s) removed from circulation and the mostly current ones used more. We have no system for recording check outs on MB books.

 

Can any of you offer some ideas on what your troop does and how your handle the troop library?

 

FYI, the scout the SPL has mentioned for his is a 4 month Tenderfoot, so he is not holding this position for rank advancement. Likewise he is 11 and inexperienced, but methodical and responsible; however, it will be difficult for him to singlehandedly organize and sort the 200+ books we have.

[shortridge]

A few ideas -

 

(1) Make sure the books are out in the open and accessible, not closed off in a closet or office. A Scout working on Carpentry can practice his skills by building a couple of shelves. If you do have to store the books in a box in a closet between meetings, you can still build portable hinged/folding shelves for setting them out during meetings.

 

(2) Don't throw away the old books! Sure, separate the old MB pamphlets from the new ones, but keep them all. The older program materials, handbooks, fieldbooks, etc., often have a lot of great ideas.

 

(3) Expand the library beyond Scouting materials and books - especially beyond MB pamphlets. It can be done with a small budget and some patience and planning. Hit used bookstores and thrift shops and pick up books on backpacking and camping for gear ideas, conventional cookbooks for recipe ideas and older travel guides for trekking inspiration. I've assembled most of my personal outdoor library in this way. Got two older copies of Colin Fletcher's Complete Walker books for less than a buck total.

 

(4) Include all the leaders' guides and training binders, too. There's no reason why the PLC shouldn't have access to that IOLS syllabus that the SM hasn't touched in years, or that 1990s copy of Woods Wisdom. Just because it's not current doesn't mean it doesn't have ideas.

[Eagle92]

A few ideas to help since I am a one man library show ata hospital

 

#1 Check with the local library to see they may have old check out cards and book pockets. Most libraries do not use them anymore. If they don't, try DEMCO and get the cards and pockets for checkout. they are relatively inexpensive.

 

#2 Get labels and put numbers on the books, as well as troop info in case they get lost. the numbers will make it easier to discover which ones are checked out, missing etc.

 

#3 in referefne to the older MBPs, again don't throw away as some, if not most, of the info is still viable. Usually onthe requirements have changed so...

 

#4... get Requirment books.

 

#5 Use an index card box to keep accountof the books checked out. Yep I have a handy dandy computer system, but I also have two index card boxes: one for checkout, and one for overdues.

 

#6 Another method of checkout we use for journals is a binde with a simple checkout/checkin log.

 

PM me if you have any questions.

[dg98adams]

To answer your question: "Can any of you offer some ideas on what your troop does and how your handle the troop library? "

 

I suggest making it simple with what you have for the Librarian to organize.

 

In fact getting it organized and a record keeping policy is worth a SM assigned project for Position credit by itself.

 

The latest MB handbook will list the individual MB books and the revision date. You can find this list online at:

 

http://usscouts.org/mb/mbbooks.asp

 

Sort the MB books you have the resort each MB by rev. date (we use a marker on the spine/cover) and note which MB's need a new book.

 

I suggest a simple Excel spreadsheet any "XBox trained Scout" can understand.

 

It's easy enough to hide old books on the list, create a quantity column and a check out/in column.

 

Once you get that all done, then it's a matter of maintaining inventory, and printing out a sheet for the PLC/SM (to see who has books checked out and what books need purchased).

 

The other material can be sorted by date, and listed the same way....

 

KEEP It SIMPLE.

 

 

[kbandit]

We use an index box, lined index cards for each book, and for the pocket I glue 1/2 of a small envelope. Be sure and mark book and index card with the number you assign. Books are signed out with name and date and put in the index box.

 

We replace our outdated books as scouts request them or need for summer camp. Eagle required badges are always current. Please check the requirements before you get new phamplets just because they went color or changed picture on front. You can find this at meritbadge.com along with revision dates.

[boomerscout]

we have two bookcases on wheels & a file cabinet (for the mb manuals) since we have to store stuff in the Scouts' closet between meetings. A sheet of paper is glued into each book. On the sheet we use a date stamp to indicate when the book needs to be returned. At the next checkout, the new date is stamped below the previous date. When the sheet is full, it is removed & a new, blank sheet glued in.

Until then, each book is shelved with a rubber band around it. The rubber band is to hold an index card for each book with the title, author, copyright date, etc. On checkout, the index card is stamped withthe same date stamp, and the Scout(er) writes his name next to the date. The card is then placed within one of two accordion files. One file is numbered one thru five to represent weeks in the current month; the card is placed in this file if the book is due back current month. The other file is Jan thru Dec (twelve pockets) for books, such as mb manuals, which check out a bit longer. We do have duplicate titles - mostly mb manuals - these are numbered with the corresponding number on its index card (5 x 8)

Books returned must be placed in the hands of the Librarian, and not just shelved or left on top of the bookcase. The Librarian retrieves the matching index card from his file, & rubberbands it back on its book - around its rear cover. Merit badge manuals and paperbacks get a paperclip instead of a rubber band

We keep a master list of all titles in a looseleaf: title, author, when acquired, when disposed of. There is also room below each title (one sheet of notebook paper per title) for anyone to comment about the usefulness of the book.

our librarian, with help & advice from the PLC, also sets up a twice yearly display at the local library -- nothing fancy, just some manuals & handbooks in a display case with some troop pix on the bulletin board above.

One potential weakness with our system is that we can't tell who has which book without digging thru the cards in the files, but that has not seemed to be a problem

 

[Buffalo Skipper]

Our troop has plenty of other books in our library, including cook books, outdoor books and much more, and in fact, we do have that 1990s edition of Woods Wisdom. ;-) It is not off in the dark rescesses of some hidden closet; it is right out in front for everyone to see.

 

I do like the idea of getting surplus check out cards and book pockets (I will call the library this morning). Another thing I like is the idea of inserting a "sign-out" page in the front or back of the book. Here, any scout who checks out can sign and include the date he completed the MB.

 

I also just remembered that the wife of one of our committee members (mother of an ASM) is a retired school librarian. I will ask her for ideas also.

 

Any comments on how you utilize the Librarian as a POR? As I said, I don't have a scout in that position right yet, but it would be something to consider for the future, especially as we are growing and fast.

[SSScout]

Connect with your Community Library. See what resources there might be for Scouts and help promote them. Does the Library have maps? Park guides? Does it have a Boys' Life subscription? Why not give the Library a BL subscription?

You have some extra Scout books? Inquire about donating them to the CLibrary!

Do they have any books about B-P? Donate them!

 

Your Troop Librarian can take the lead in all this. And look for service projects, and possible Eagle projects. I know our local "Media Specialist" always welcome Scouts and Scout info to the library.

 

[boomerscout]

additional librarian duties

five minutes of every troop meeting, librarian tells the Scouts about one book in the library, and how it will help them learn skills

during PLC, librarian suggests some books he would like to buy for the library and why. PLC gives go ahead for some.

other resources:

http://www.wcnet.org/~tmckibb/libraria.htm

http://www.boyscouttrail.com/blog.asp

and scroll to Dec 1, 2007 "Librarian - a Real Leader

[boomerscout]

is also responsible for selecting the appropriate field guides, etc for troop campouts & activities

[EagleBeaver]

www.TroopKit.com has a Librarian area. Since using that, use of the troop library (and work for the Librarian) has increased and it's easy to see if a book is In, Reserved, or Out.

 

The actual library is a couple big boxes of books that resides at the home of the current Librarian. The last Librarian just cleaned house just as Skipper described to make room for the new MBs.