WHAT IS A LIBRARY? MRS. GRAFF

DEFINITION: li·brar·y- place set apart to contain books, periodicals (a magazine or other journal that is issued regularly) and other materials for reading, viewing, listening, studying, or using as a reference.

HOW DOES YOUR LIBRARY KNOW WHAT BOOKS IT HAS? When the library gets new books the book’s information gets entered into a computer and it is given a barcode and a catalog number. Your ID tag or 6 digit number serves as a Library card. When you check out a book, the bar code on the book and on your ID card are paired together. This way the library knows who has what. Most libraries use the Dewey Decimal System which serves as a location tool while grouping items on the same topic together.

WHAT IS THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM? Melvil Dewey was a librarian who lived from 1851 to He was so unhappy with the way the books were NOT organized in his library that he created the Dewey Decimal System. This system is still used. It breaks the non-fiction books up into different subjects, assigning a range of numbers to their subject. Each book is labelled with a specific call number according to it's subject, so when items are put on the shelves all the books on one subject will be together. This makes it easier for us to organize the shelves and for you to find individual books when you need them. If you want a book about dinosaurs, you will find all the books about dinosaurs in the same area on the shelves, regardless of who the author is.

WHAT IS A DEWEY DECIMAL NUMBER? A Dewey Decimal Number always has three numbers to the left of the decimal point. There is no limit to how many numbers can be after the decimal point. The more numbers that are added after the decimal, the more specific the subject. So by looking at the example below, you can see that a book with the number will be about dinosaurs in general, but a book with is about a specific dinosaur J 560 Lin "The Complete Guide to Prehistoric Life" This book is about all prehistoric life in general. This includes dinosaurs, but it also includes other types of prehistoric life J Bro "The Day the Dinosaurs Died " This book is about dinosaurs in general. J Les "Giant Meat-Eating Dinosaurs " See now we are getting more specific. This book is about many types ofdinosaurs, but is limited to only those that ate meat J Gai "Tyrannosaurus Rex" This book is about specific type of dinosaur J McG "T-Rex To Go - Build Your Own from Chicken Bones" This book is a specific topic related to one type of dinosaur

HOW TO LABEL BOOKS Life is better with stickers, so we have them on the spines of our books! The stickers on the spine are called genre labels. Genre simply means category and tells you what that book is about. Some genre labels also help you find where some books are shelved. Non-Fiction: Uses the Dewey Fiction: Starts with FIC followed by Decimal Systemthe first three letters of the author’s last name in alphabetical order

NON-FICTION

GRAPHIC NOVEL If you love to read comics, this is the section for you! Our collection includes Manga and regular comic strip format books. So pretty much a Graphic Novel is a novel in comic-strip format.

ONLINE READING *Can’t make it to the Library? Make use of our resources 24/7!* E-Books  An electronic version of printed books read on a computer or handheld device. Holton has over 1,000 titles on Mackinvia. You can check out a book from home any time!  You will be given a username and password that you can use to go on Mackinvia.com In the line that says, School you will type: Holton Intermediate School, Austin, MN

WHY DO WE NEED LIBRARIES WHEN WE HAVE THE INTERNET? Libraries provide access to a wide range of culture, education and recreation as well as information in a human environment. Libraries are a community destination, a place for individuals and families. There are programs at the library as well as expert help. The librarian is full of information with advice on the next book to read, how to find health information, or even how to use the Internet more effectively. Library usage has increased every year for the last five years. Technology is great, but so is the power of a good book

IJ HOLTON LIBRARY RULES: Open to students at 7:15 After school you can stay until 4 if you are doing work or waiting for a ride Please be respectful to those around you by keeping your voice to a whisper You can check out 2 books at a time You may have your books for 3 weeks You are allowed 1 renewal You are responsible for the books you check out. Don’t leave them where a sibling or pet can get at them. Always remember where you put them because if they get lost you are responsible for finding them or paying the fine to replace them ENJOY! Books are great and can teach you many things and take you to many places. Have fun with your books!

THIS HAS BEEN A MRS. GRAFF PRODUCTION