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HOW CAN YOU IDEALLY SERVE FIVE-IN-A-ROW USERS?
I may be Five-in-a-Row's (FIAR) most enthusiastic fan, having sent
countless customers their way, for creating
one of the most delicious and deeply effective programs ever! Because our library members thus use FIAR heavily,
my libraries support that usage by offering take-home totes
containing the main book for each FIAR unit *and* enrichment/support books that I was formerly (and repeatedly!) scurrying to locate each time someone began a unit. A patron
finally suggested we
instead tote-up the support books to save time and
effort. Brilliant!
Since, I've been
asked by other librarians, moms, etc.--who'd like to spare themselves
the same vast hours of research--for lists of the thoughtfully age-appropriate support books we lend our library members doing FIAR. These are now available here!
Blessings,
Michelle Miller Howard
If mailing checks: 526 W 14th St., Suite 161, Traverse City, MI, 49684
P.S. I am often asked by those using my main library
database if these FIAR spreadsheets are redundant. They are definitely not
redundant, because the library
database, while including the FIAR support-books in our library, does
not show which
FIAR topic is being supported by each book.
Only the FIAR support-spreadsheets perform that function, as well as
assisting
with check-out procedure. In fact, we request those using our Living
Books database not access the FIAR support info partially included
therein without purchasing the FIAR service here since so much time was
invested into the support process. A laborer is worthy of hire...
IMPORTANT NOTE: Our library-support efforts greatly enhance, BUT IN NO
WAY REPLACE, the FIAR manuals created by the authors, the Lamberts.
Each FIAR manual is absolutely essential to the patron doing FIAR at
home (they must purchase the manual), wherein the Lamberts display the
rich topics (science, geography, language, character qualities, history,
art,
etc.) they've ingeniously pulled from the main title.
The Lamberts
wisely encourage the use of library books to develop the themes, so we
have spent many hours over many years determining which library books
best support their brilliant plan. So, we are NOT REPLACING their
manual, but instead helping librarians best support their manuals! We
are working from the librarian aspect...
Our job as "living books" librarians is to help people find that FIAR is quite doable, by conveniently providing both the main title and
the support books, so Mama can spend her time DOING FIAR WITH HER
CHILDREN, not researching support books and driving around to find
them. This support service of our library greatly increases usage of
FIAR, and thus creates more support for the Lamberts' endeavors. Moms
with little ones in tow can borrow quickly, or easily send Hubby.
How do our FIAR-support
lists/spreadsheets work?
1) They
cite each covered FIAR topic/subtopic in order from the manual…and then
show the targeted "living books" we're lending in the tote to support those
topics.
2) They also serve as check-out sheets, allowing
folks to quickly inventory (by exact title, or summary counting) a tote’s
contents before conveniently borrowing it as a single unit. If a book is
missing, discovery is immediate, and we contact the last user.
3) Adhere a clear pocket to the underside of your totes' lids...so the spreadsheets are both easily visible and accessible.