Grand View Elementary School Library
manhattan beach unified school district
Heidi snively - library RESOURCE specialist
310/546-8022 x5404
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  • Volunteers
  • CATALOG

Library Volunteer Spots Have Been Filled for this Year

Thank you for your support! To add your name to the 2023-24 volunteer list email hsnively@mbusd.org.

Parent Volunteers Are Integral to the Success of Our Library Program

Your time is valuable! Thank you for spending it in the library!
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A hot mess without parent help!
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Thank you, Rod and Sandesha!
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Bea shares a love of reading
The Grand View Library is a wonderful, busy place with excellent resources for students, staff, and parents to share. Volunteers assist with routine circulation desk tasks, help students locate materials, shelve books, help with light cleaning, and share a love for books.. Thank you for your interest in helping our students in the library! Your active participation shows your children how much you value libraries, books, and reading -- a powerful message! Grand View library volunteers are known nationwide! Read the article in School Library Journal.
School volunteer health requirements
  • Proof of a recent (within four years) TB clearance test
  • Health department mandates and/or MBUSD health and safety protocols for 2022-23 to be determined​
Experienced library volunteers
  • Experienced library volunteers will be contacted the week of August 22 about interest/availability to help during 2022-23 
  • Attendance at one of the new volunteer training sessions is optional for returning volunteers
  • Training will be offered on 8/29 9/12 10/3 at the following times: 8:30-9:30 9:30-10:30 10:30-11:30 1:30-2:30
  • Before your first shift, please review all the info on this page including clicking the links
New library volunteers
  • Please email hsnively@mbusd.org to add your name to the list of potential library volunteers
  • You will be contacted the week of August 22 about space availability
  • Receiving training about library systems and operations is mandatory before reporting for your first shift
  • Each session will include a library tour, an introduction to the catalog, a tutorial of the circulation system, and shelving procedures
  • Training will be offered on 8/29 9/12 10/3 at the following times: 8:30-9:30 9:30-10:30 10:30-11:30 1:30-2:30
  • Before attending a training session, please read all the info on this page including clicking the links

General Duties and Procedures

Students visit the library with their class once a week for 45 or 30 minutes. As they enter they return their books for check in or for renewal, then they sit on the rug for a read-aloud experience, information skills activity, or other presentation. During this time volunteers will:
  • check in books
  • renew books
  • shelve returned items
After the presentation, students select books, read, and engage with a thematic story extender. During this time volunteers will:
  • check out books
  • continue shelving returned items
  • neaten shelves by pulling books up to the front of the shelf and checking that books are in exact order
  • dust
  • other tasks as needed

The Circulation Desk: Where ACCURACY Is More Important than SPEDE

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  • Check in or renew all items before checking out new materials. Watch the screen during the transaction for accuracy and messages.
  • Students may check out the number of items that corresponds to the grade they are in: first graders get one item, second graders get two items, and so on. Kindergarten students check out one book per child to be kept in the classroom, not taken home. Student materials are given a one-week due date using the black ink pad and its stamp.
  • Teachers may check out an unlimited number of items. Use the red ink pad and its stamp to indicate a two-week due date.
  • Audiovisual materials are for staff use only. 

Learn How to Shelve Library Books

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Jessica scans for misfiled books
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Kelley remembers to take her time
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Vivian and Lisa get it done
Shelving tips and tricks
This training video was made by the library at Pacific Northwest College of Art.
​While we do not do everything the same way they do, it provides good tips and tricks to shelving books efficiently and accurately.
It is imperative to shelve items correctly
If a book is in the wrong place it's as good as lost. Ask for help if you are not sure where something goes.
  • Check surrounding "end of range" points to determine the proper shelf
  • Then scan the shelf for misfiled books. Items that are only slightly out of place can be immediately put in order.
  • Items that are "far from home" should be brought to Mrs. Snively's attention. They may have been marked as missing.
  • Ask about procedures for current displays or sections that change
  • Ask before shifting books
​Study the info found at these links
  • Shelving guidelines 
  • Dewey Decimal chart 
  • The Caveman's Guide to the Dewey Decimal System (thank you, Mount Erie Elementary, Anacortes, WA) 
  • Color-coded Grand View library map | black and white version 
Be familiar with the library catalog
  • Follett Destiny catalog (classic interface) 
  • Follett Destiny Discover catalog (new interface) ​

A Little More to Know

  • If you are unable to make it to a shift, you do not need to find a replacement; an email letting me know is appreciated
  • Silence your phone while volunteering at school
  • Respect privacy and student confidentiality
  • Assist all students; avoid focusing exclusively on your own child
  • Time spent helping should not be seen as a chance to talk to the teacher about your child; make arrangements for a conference
  • While checking out books, engage with the student in front of you, rather than chatting with the parent who may be working alongside you. Make a positive comment about their book selection, or other affirming statement.
If there is no action at the circulation desk and all the books are shelved, then it's time to straighten, organize, and clean.
  • Straightening means to make sure the books are lined up at the front edge of the shelf for an overall neat appearance.
  • Organizing means to make sure each book is shelved exactly by it's call number. A daily organizing chart is posted so all areas will benefit from this service.
  • Cleaning means to dust the shelves, even behind the books. Dusting is not any more fun here than it is at home, but it is an important task. Supplies are under the sink.

The Library and The Three Bears Philosophy

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Porridge. Chairs. Beds. Books. The Three Bears Philosophy and Reading.
  • Too hard. A student may wish to choose material that is difficult to read because they are fascinated by the subject, and it feels good to have a “big kid book" about what they are interested in.
  • Too soft. Other times, a student may wish to choose material that is very easy to read to just relax with a book after exercising the brain muscle all day.
  • Just right. Guidance will be provided by the teacher when a student needs to be paired with a book that is perfect for research or reading practice.
​Exercising personal choice
The goal is for students to have a positive experience in the library in order to foster a love of reading and to complement classroom instruction. The library is where YES happens and where learners can exercise personal choice.

Three Cheers for Volunteers!

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Your time is valuable! Thank you for spending it in the library!

Notes from the 2021-22 School Year

September 2021 principal announcement about starting to have volunteer help
​"A small number of parent volunteers will be allowed to help in the Library and in Makerspace either after school or when students are not present in the room. I will be working with Mrs. Snively and Ms. Paki along with our PTA to make this happen. Thank you for your willingness to help! Parent volunteers on campus will need to submit proof of a vaccine, a recent negative COVID-19 test, and wear a mask while on campus.  Thank you for your cooperation and more details will soon follow." --Principal Tara Grings

October 2021 library book shelving project begins

​Beginning mid-October two people at a time will help shelve book returns when students are not present: Wednesday 1:00-1:30 and Friday 3:00-3:30. Thank you for your patience as we work out health and safety protocols with a handful of randomly selected experienced library volunteers. This is the first time parent volunteers have been able to help in the library since March 2020. Welcome Back!

November 2021 parent volunteers return to helping during class library visits
  • We will limit the help to one parent at a time when children are present
  • We will begin with our bank of 40 experienced library volunteers who will be emailed the week of 11/8/21 about interest & schedules
  • Before your first shift, please review the general procedure information below
  • We will phase in new library volunteers over time. Please email hsnively@mbusd.org if you would like to add your name to the list of potential library volunteers. Training on library systems and operations will be provided.
Thank you for your understanding as we take steps toward normalcy!