Alameda SchoolAlameda Library Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is the library officially open at the beginning of the school year?
The library officially begins classes 2 weeks after school begins. Each classroom attends the library for 40 minutes once every 6 days for instruction/ check out time as per the classroom library schedule.
2. What are the library hours for the students?
Open - 8:35 am / classes – 9:00 to 3:00 / Closed – 3:15 pm
Due to security reasons, I ask parents/students to abide closely to these hours. Unless you are a student volunteer, no one is allowed in the library before/after school hours without proper documentation.
3. How many books are the students allowed to check out?
Kindergarten: 1 book
First Grade: 1 – 2 books (limit increases as year progresses)
Second Grade: 2 books (limit increases as year progresses)
Third Grade: 3 books
Fourth Grade: 4 books
Fifth Grade: 5 books
**Exceptions are made during class research projects.
NOTE: We encourage you to use the public library if you would like your child to check out more than our limits allow.
4. Are parents allowed to use the library?
Unfortunately, our library can only service our student / teacher needs. The enormous student body and lack of personnel does not allow us to serve our parent population. I recommend that you use your puplic library to fulfill student gaps that Alameda library cannot cover.
5. What do I do if my child receives an overdue notice?
Unfortunately, I do not have control of the automated overdue notices that are sent to parents via e-mail. Even if a book is overdue, return books as soon as you can, so your child continues to have the opportunity to check out their maximum limit of books during their scheduled library times. If you know where your child's book is and you receive a notice, just delete the notice from your e-mail. There is no need to contact me.
I remind students of their overdue books and they can be renewed as long as they know where their books are located. Students will not be able to check out books if they have several books overdue.
What about book fines?
Fines are not imposed until the very end of the school year. We just keep asking the student/parents/teachers to keep searching for their books. Suprisingly, many of these 'lost' books show up before the last day of school. If books are lost, please contact me via e-mail and I will allow your child to check out at their weekly limit. If 'lost' books are not found, the student will pay for the book in May or June.
6. Who do I contact to participate in the Reading Friends or Reading Challenge program?
For inquiries or sign up, parents will need to contact the PTA. The library merely houses the Reading Friends books as well as the Reading Challenge forms.
7. When can my child return their books?
Anytime! With the new external hallway Book Return, students/parents may return books anytime. Even before or after school.
8. What do I do if I accidentally return my books to the public library?
Contact your local branch and ask them to return the books to Alameda Library. Send a note with your child to library class or E-mail to vleong@pps.net explaining the situation. By notifying the library of the mistake, your child can resume regular checkout.
9. When is a good time to speak to the librarian regarding my child?
It is best to contact me via my e-mail: vleong@pps.net. The student body population once again has grown this year, which makes it more difficult to speak to me during library instruction time. If you would like to speak to me personally, please leave your number on my voicemail and I will be happy to return your call.
