Well, this is it: the last week of class visits! It has been a great year in the library. Thanks for all the support the whole school gives the library, and especially the support of the PTA and MBEF. I feel lucky to work among Pennekamp's dedicated and skillful teachers; and it is a great pleasure spending my days among the children and families of Pennekamp.  

Now is the time to return ALL library books to the library. I'm really hoping all of them are back by the latest due date, which is this Friday, June 13. Fifth-graders know, but I will mention it here, that they cannot go to their class party if they have outstanding library issues (or lunch borrows, or textbooks, or perhaps other things that I have nothing to do with...). Please pay for any lost or damaged books in the form of a check payable to MBUSD or exact change. District policy requires that a hold be placed on a student's report card if the student or his or her parent has not returned all library books. Getting them all back and properly shelved is a big job, and your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Monday, June 16, the library will be closed for the annual shelf-reading event. Books can be returned in the school office (but there shouldn't be many, because they will all be back by the 13th, right?).

Students from any MBUSD school will be able to visit the Pacific Elementary library this summer to browse and check out books. As is the rule districtwide, a student must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult when using the library. Thanks to MBEF for the funding that makes this possible. Pacific Elementary's library will be open Monday through Friday, June 23 to July 25 (except for July 4), from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Happy summer, everyone!

Last week I was out-of-town for my son Austin's college graduation, which was of course a very proud and exciting event for me and my family. I apologize for the library being closed and for missing open house, but I hope you will forgive me under the circumstances!

This week the library is up and running at its usual pace, if not an accelerated one, due to the approaching end of the school year. Classes will be visiting the library this week and will do so next week. Classes will not be visiting the library during the partial week of June 16. The library will be closed to all patrons on June 16 for the annual "shelf-reading party," made possible through the awesome efforts of our wonderful library volunteers!

Attention parents and students: All PK library books are due no later than June 13. Please note that a hold will be placed on a student's report card due to unreturned library books. This applies to books checked out by the student or by his or her parent. Please contact me if there are any questions or concerns about library circulation. For any library materials that are lost or damaged beyond repair, payment must be made in exact change or a check payable to MBUSD.

Many parents have asked whether the Pacific library will be open this summer and… it will! MBEF has generously agreed to the funding that makes this possible. Students from any MBUSD school will be able to visit the Pacific Elementary library this summer to browse and check out books. As is the rule districtwide, a student must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult when using the library.

This week is the last meeting of the 5th-grade book club. What a great group this has been! It has been a genuine pleasure meeting with these students to discuss a novel every month. Their commitment to reading and the focus they bring to our discussions have made the club a very rewarding experience. The book club will start again in December for next year's 5th-graders. 

Finally, a note from the world beyond Pennekamp: The Kickstarter campaign to bring back Reading Rainbow has succeeded far beyond its initial goal. Opinions vary on Kickstarter and the appropriate uses of it, but personally, I am delighted to see so many people willing to support a program that put its faith not in flashy special effects but rather in exemplary children's books that enrich our experience of the real world. "Take a look, it's in a book…"