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Holmen Middle School students have something in common with a 10-story building. If the students stacked on top of one another all the books they checked out for summer reading, it would be as high as a 10-story building. Or, for sports fans, 10 professional basketball hoops stacked on top of each other.
In its second year, the summer reading program allows students to take out a maximum of 25 books for the summer. Last year, 18 students participated. This year, students checked out 1,369 books.
“They were walking out of here with armloads of books,” said Lisa Risch, library media director at the school. “It was crazy.”
Risch said she had to go to Festival Foods and beg for plastic bags so the students had a way to carry all the books. On the last day of school, the library shelves were mostly empty.
Risch believes one reason for the increased interest was because the teachers brought their students into the library instead of leaving it up to the students.
“Plus, they are attracted to the idea of having their own mini-library and not worry about due dates,” she said.
Risch said she advertised it more in newsletters, and parents were calling saying “make sure my child checks out at least five books.”
If even more students take part next summer, Risch doesn’t know where all the books are going to come from.
Risch started another new program this year. As an alternative to paying fines for overdue books, students could bring in canned food items to help stock up the district’s food pantry.
Students could also “work off” their fines by doing minor chores around the library, such as stacking books or other activities. Students could work for 10 cents a minute to pay off fines.
One can of food was the equivalent of $1 in fines, and Risch was pleased with the number of food items that came in to satisfy the fines. “We had a lot of food here,” she said.
It’s the first time the school implemented the food-for-fines program. “Our goal isn’t to exclusively gather monies for the library,” Risch said. “Instead, our purpose for fines is to help students become more responsible and accountable for their borrowing.”
The library always has allowed students to work off their fines, but the food-for-fines program just started this spring.
“I would do it again,” Risch said.
The overdue charges are 5 cents a day after being a week overdue. Funds are used to purchase replacement books and pay for reading incentives such as a breakfast each month.
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