To book the secondary library or teacher-librarian...

Simply "invite" libraryeast@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg to a Google Calendar event.

Current bookings for the Kishore Mahbubani Library can be viewed on the "Bookings & Events" page of the library website ( eastlib.uwcsea.edu.sg ).

Please try to indicate what the purpose is (e.g., general book borrowing, textbook checkout,  lesson, presentation) and desired location (e.g., downstairs, upstairs, stage area, Think Tank, The George Orwell Room, The Emily Dickinson Room, The Pablo Neruda Room).

If you say "borrowing" or "checkout", then we know library counter staff need to be available.

To book Katie Day, the secondary teacher-librarian, include her (kda@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg) in the invitation.

To arrange for any special furniture set-up or catering, use the UWCSEA East Calendar and Venue Booking Form -- after your initial invitation is accepted.

Create booklists and/or suggest titles for us to buy

[updated 6 June 2012 to be a more general blog post about how to create booklists]

We are always interested in suggestions of books to buy -- whether for the library or a particular department.

There are several ways to do it.

The old-fashioned way would be to create a list of titles/authors and send it to me via email (kda@uwcsea.edu.sg).

You can also click here to use a Google Form to submit information to a Google Spreadsheet for me:

Suggest a Library Resource!

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But if you want to give me more information, including an ISBN and book cover image, there are quite a few online tools that make it easy.

NB: you have to register first -- at no cost -- but then you are free to create all kinds of booklists.

The beauty of such tools is that you enter the minimal search terms needed to identify the book (key words from the title, the author's name) and it looks for different editions for you to choose from.

Feel free to use any of them and send me the link.

• Book Depository
  • Example of a wishlist labeled "ListA"
  • If you use this tool and send me the link to your wishlist, it is VERY easy for me to then just transfer those books to an order form and with one click, they will be ordered.  NB: Book Depository has free shipping worldwide (unlike Amazon).
• Amazon Wishlists
  • Example of a wishlist called "future reading"
• WorldCat
  • Example of a list of "global living" books
    
• Google Books
  • Example of a "bookshelf" list created on PYP professional dev. books
• LibraryThing
  • Example of a library "collection" called "to order"
• Shelfari
  • Example of a list -- i.e., books tagged "absolute favorites"
• GoodReads
  • Example of a "shelf" of middle-school fiction
• Follett Titlewave
  • This is an online book ordering service for both American and British books, run by Follett, the company that makes our library catalog software (Destiny).   We have a couple of generic accounts available, though we can also get you set up with your own.  Please contact me if you want to get login/password details.
  • If you create lists in Titlewave, you can then "share" them with me, making it VERY easy for me to then submit an order -- and the books come pre-processed (meaning labels are on them and they are already cataloged, so you can use them as soon as they arrive).
  • Sample booklist generated via Titlewave -- professional development books

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Want to search for titles/prices?  Try these book sites...

• International (free shipping! so a favorite of mine...)
  • Book Depository
• USA
  • Amazon.com
  • Follett Titlewave (ask me to set you up with an account)
  • Follett Educational Services - for cheaper editions
• UK
  • Amazon.co.uk
  • Follett Titlewave ask me to set you up with an account)
• Canada
  • Amazon.ca
• Australia
  • Booko -- price compare Australian booksellers
  • AustralEd

For hard-to-find books - whether new or out-of-print

• Bookfinder

Singapore Suppliers

• Kinokuniya - note you can search for books via their website and see what they cost and whether they are in stock -- and even a map of where they are in the store
• Bookaburra Books
• APD Books
  • List of publishers they carry

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Photo credit: by KJGarbutt

How to get reimbursed for a school resource you've purchased

If you have bought something you want to get reimbursed for, e.g., 

Go to the school website, under Resources & Information / Forms & Templates / Purchasing Forms, and download/print a "Request Form -- Book Order":

  

 

Take the filled-out form along with your receipt to one of the libraries and ask to have the item cataloged.  Please give an idea of the priority (remembering not everything can be urgent).  Also tell them the desired "location" of the resource -- e.g., part of the library collection or in the grade or department collection.

The librarian will barcode and catalog the book and produce a report that will get stapled to the Request Form and the receipt.  You can then take the resource and submit the form to Finance -- who will pay you back.