How to Have a Successful Class Visit to the Library

The Jackson County Library is committed to its role as a secondary support center for formal education. The library supplements school resources and hosts class visits.

We want each young person who visits to have a positive experience at the library. The quality of a class visit depends largely on advance planning and preparation. Teachers and library staff working together can ensure the best outcome.

The primary role of the library is to serve the general public. Class visits must be scheduled with respect for all library patrons. Some hours may be unavailable for classes because of limited space, seating, equipment, or staffing.

• Request your class visit as soon as possible.  Available times are limited. Early scheduling allows the library to schedule adequate staffing, collect materials, and make any other preparations needed to assure a successful visit. Request forms are available at your school media center. Even if you book your class visit by phone, the request form will assist your planning.

• Request the services that will be most helpful to your class.   Class visits may include, a library tour, instruction on the catalog and other online tools, a storytime, a bookcare presentation, etc.

• Recruit other adults to accompany you and your students to the library.  The most successful visits are the ones with adequate adult support. The library suggests one adult per six to ten students, depending on the grade level. These adults may need to supervise students using the copy machine or other library equipment, or help students locate materials.

• Participate in a teacher orientation at the library before you bring your class.   Encourage chaperones to attend. See print materials and use electronic resources that will be useful for your students' research. Learn tips for the most effective use of the library's online catalog. Call the library to schedule a training session.

• Return student applications for library cards at least seven days before your visit.  Returning applications seven days before your class visit ensures that the cards will be ready for students when they arrive. Students may get a limited service library card (two item limit) without a parent's signature. Full service cards are available with a parent's signature and a parent's library card number.

• Remind students who have library cards to bring them along.  We cannot guarantee checkout privileges to students without cards in hand.
  

• Give students some flexibility in their research topics.  Students who have a second choice topic, in case their first choice is already in use, increase their chances of finding enough material.