Digital Library Handbook

Welcome to our amazing Black Hawk Library! 📚✨

Hey there, book lovers and curious minds! We're so excited to share our fantastic library with you. Did you know we have over 15,000 books? That's a lot of adventures waiting to happen!

Our library isn't just about books (though we love them!). We've got cool tech stuff too - Chromebooks, iPads, and even robots! And wait till you see our makerspace - it's like a treasure chest of building materials. LEGOs, magnet tiles, and so much more!

For our little readers in K-2:

You get to pick one special book every other day. Remember to bring it back so you can choose a new one next time! There's more details below in the handbook!

For our big readers in 3-5:

You're in for a treat - you can borrow two books at once! Your library day is once a week, so mark your calendars! There's more details below in the handbook!

Teachers, we've got you covered too! Borrow as many books as you like. Just let us know what you need, and we'll help you find it.

Parents, feel free to join in on the fun! You can use your child's account to borrow an extra book. And guess what? We love visitors! Parents and guardians, come on in and join the fun. You can use our computers, borrow books, or jump into class activities.

Oops! Accidents happen. If a book gets damaged, don't worry. Just bring it back, and we'll figure it out together. If you lose a book, we have a special "Keep at school" shelf so you can still enjoy reading while we sort things out.

Remember, our library is here for everyone. We want you to explore, learn, and have a blast doing it. If you ever have questions or need help, just ask Mrs. Sutliff or Mrs. Kenney. We're here to make your library experience awesome!

Let's make some reading magic together! 🌟📖

General facts about the library

We have 15,565 books. We have 409 active patrons. We have a set of chrome books, 60 library iPads, four different kinds of robots (Dash, Sphero, Code&Go mice, and Ozzobots), a makerspace filled with a variety of class sets of building materials (LEGOs, magnet tiles, KEVA planks, Q-Ba-Maze, Goldieblocks, Makey Makeys, and so much more!) and two separate rooms in our library.

Library Use Policies

The library is available for use after school for meetings, such as our staff meetings and PTA meetings. I just ask that you clean up when you are done and if you move the tables (which are on wheels and easy to move!) please do your best to put them back where you found them. Just let Mrs. Sutliff know if you need to use the library for a meeting.

Check Out Policies for Students in K-2

All students in grades kindergarten, first, or second, may check out one book at a time. After students have learned proper check out procedures, then check out will begin. Students will be able to check out a book every time they come to the library, which is every other day on a rotating AB schedule for k-2 students. Please check which AB day your class has library and remind students to bring their book the day prior to their next check out. A Class Dojo message home reminding parents to return the book to the backpack after reading it would also be very helpful. Students may exchange their old book for a new book only if they return the book without any damage.

Check Out Policies for Students in 3-5

All students in grades third, fourth and fifth may check out two books at a time. After students have learned proper check out procedures, then check out will begin. Students will be able to check out books once a week, on either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday on a rotating XYZ basis. Please check which XYZ day your class has library and remind students to bring their books the day prior to their next check out. A Class Dojo message to parents reminding them of their check out day would also be very helpful. Students may exchange their old books for new books only if they return the books without any damage.

Damaged Library Book Policy

If a student damages a book beyond use, Mrs. Kenney will allow the student to check out another book after the book has been paid for. If the book is not paid for, then Mrs. Kenney will use her discretion to decide if the student may check out books from the “Keep at school” bookshelf. For normal wear and tear, like pages falling out, please return the book for repairs. Torn pages can typically be repaired, so keep the pages if they have been torn off and return to the library promptly. If a book has been written in, Mrs. Kenney will use her discretion to decide if the student may check out books from the “Keep at school” bookshelf.

Lost Book Policy

We have a policy that if a book was lost last year, then students start the next school year checking out books from the “Keep at school” bookshelf. The purpose of this policy is to hold students accountable for lost books, while also ensuring that students have books they can read. Once a book is found and returned, or paid for, students may check out regularly again. If a student claims that a book has been lost, Mrs. Kenney will use her discretion to decide if the student may start checking out books from the “Keep at school” bookshelf. Students may continue checking out “Keep at school” books when they return their “Keep at school” book.

Check Out Policies for Teachers

Teachers are welcome to check out as many books as they would like. Please use the library website to search the catalogue and see what we have available. Just navigate to the school’s library website here: https://destiny.rcas.org/  Once you locate the book, please either send a student down with a note that includes the call number of the book, or email Mrs. Sutliff or Mrs. Kenney with the book request. Including the call number of the book is very helpful, and we appreciate it! Thank you.

You may also email Mrs. Kenney or Mrs. Sutliff with a list of types of books you would like us to pull for you for your entire classroom to use. In the past we have pulled books for Pirates Day, animal research, Westward Expansion research, and read alouds like Lemon Wars. We also have an extensive list of professional books. Try a library search today and see what we have available that you would like to read.

Check Out Policies for Parents

Parents are welcome to use their student’s account to check out books as well. One additional book may be checked out under the student’s account for parental use.

Visitors

Parent and guardian visitors are welcome to the library! You may check out a computer or book to use while you are in the library or join in on the class activities.

Using the Library Catalog

Here is a link to our library website: https://destiny.rcas.org/ Click on Black Hawk School. Click on Catalog up in the top left corner. You can start with a basic search in the search bar or try a more advanced search. In the top left side bar, you can click on Destiny Discover to access a more child-friendly searching experience that will auto correct for spelling while searching. Be sure to check if the book is available before you write down the call number! For books with an E in the call number, it is best to ask Mrs. Kenney where they are, because we have genrefied the little's library and have bins of books and displays. Generally, books with OVER in the call number are in Mrs. Kenney's room on the big shelf in alphabetical order. Books with PB E are in Mrs. Kenney's room in the paperback caddy. And books with E are under the Pete the Cat lights in the main library. Books with FIC are under the blue lights on the large shelves arranged by author's last name, and books with PB FIC are on the ends of the shelves. Books with numbers in the call number are under the green lights. We have a nonfiction section for young readers that is near the Pete the Cat lights, so check if the book has a sublocation of easy nonfiction. We would be more than happy to help you find the book!

Online Resources

You may navigate to https://destiny.rcas.org/ for a list of online resources, such as Tumblebooks and Epic.

Book Reconsiderations

We have a very specific process for questioning and reconsidering books. If a parent approaches you with concerns about a book, please be sure to tell them Mrs. Sutliff has the procedures for this and would be happy to help with the process and discuss the concerns.

Scheduling the Library

If you have a situation coming up where you will miss your library time, please reach out face to face and let me know you would like to make up your library time. Mrs. Sutliff has very limited time on a rotating basis when she has planning and could swap times with you. Just reach out and we can schedule a make up class!

Makerspace Materials

We have loaned out Makerspace materials in the past. If you would like to borrow something for a special day for your students, reach out and let Mrs. Sutliff know. She would prefer to have at least a week’s notice so that she can make alternate plans if she happens to be using the items you’d like to check out. Thank you!

Acceptable Use, Academic Honesty, and Copyright Policy

At Black Hawk Elementary, we believe in creating a positive and responsible digital learning environment. Here's how we can all work together to make that happen:

Acceptable Use:

• We use our library resources, including books, computers, and other technology, respectfully and responsibly.
• We visit only appropriate websites and use the internet for educational purposes.
• We keep our personal information private and respect others' privacy online.
• We report any inappropriate content or behavior to a teacher or librarian immediately.

Academic Honesty:

• We do our own work and give credit to others for their ideas.
• We don't copy someone else's work or let others copy ours.
• We use quotation marks when we use someone else's exact words and always cite our sources.
• We ask for help if we're unsure about how to properly use or cite information.

Copyright:

• We respect the intellectual property rights of authors, artists, and creators.
• We only use copyrighted materials in ways that are allowed by fair use guidelines or with permission.
• We create our own original work whenever possible and give proper credit when we use others' work.

Remember, these policies are here to help us learn and grow in a safe, respectful environment. If you have any questions about these policies, please ask Mrs. Sutliff or your teacher. We're here to help you succeed! 

Here is the link to the RCAS School District’s handbooks: https://rcas.org/students/student-handbooks/

District Handbook

Here is the link to the district’s handbooks where you can find the library collections procedures: https://rcas.org/students/student-handbooks/

The children of the Rapid City Schools are provided with the necessary books for their classes. Each child is responsible for the good care and return of the books and equipment that he/she receives from the school. Restitution for lost or damaged books or equipment is expected. This is true of textbooks as well as library books. Workbooks used in the classrooms are furnished and are to be handed in at the end of the school term. The district will dispose of these materials.

RCAS Book Review Process

To ensure that public funding for educational resources are being used on materials that have been vetted by teachers, teachers need to complete the following form for any book they request to use district dollars to purchase.  Books must be read and deemed appropriate for the classroom audience by the requesting teacher as well as a colleague who has also read the book and deemed it appropriate for classroom usage. There will be no book permission slips sent home to parents.  If the book requires a permission slip, it is not to be used in the classroom.

*Books must be rated using the RCAS Book Rating guide. Additionally, include ratings from CommonSense media (CommonSense rating, not Parent’s or Kid’s) or other reputable sources if available. 

**If the book is rated above the age level of the students in the classroom where it is to be used, a purpose/justification must be provided.  Purpose/Justification is not necessary for books rated 1 or 2 (on the RCAS Book Rating Guide) for use in middle school or higher. 

Book Rating for Elementary Books	Characteristics
1  Comparable to a G Rated movie  –These books are appropriate for required reads, and/or small group/independent study	A 1 rated book contains nothing inappropriate in theme, language, nudity, sex, or violence.  Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation, but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in 1 rated books. Depictions of violence are minimal.  No nudity, sex scenes, or drug use are present in the book.

 

Again, we wish to welcome you to the Black Hawk Library, and we hope you enjoy your time with us!

This handbook was created using an example library handbook found at https://www.readerpants.net/?s=handbook.