Previous by Date | Next by Date | Date Index
Previous by Thread | Next by Thread
| Thread Index
| LM_NET
Archive
| |
Here are the responses I got to my newbie question, "What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started as a library media specialist?" Thanks so much to all of you that took the time to offer your words of wisdom to those of us who are beginning our career as an LMS. ****************************************************************************** ******* One thing I wish I had known as a newbie was to make myself indispensable from the beginning, especially in collaborating. When teachers didn't come to me, I wish I had known to go to them and suggest things or take materials and show them what we had that may be helpful. I learned this strategy much later. Also, I wish that I had established a protocol from the beginning for classes coming into the media center, as it is very difficult to change, once a pattern of behavior has been established (like showing up at the door and saying something similar to "I just had a brainstorm and couldn't resist bringing my class to the media center to check it out!!" when it was my lunch hour). I missed many lunch hours (minutes-LOL) by allowing spur of the moment class scheduling. (BTW, I thought it was unprofessional of the teachers and really, unprofessional of me to allow it, as there was no preparation. It was akin to holding class without any lesson plans, which couldn't be too rewarding for the students. I must admit that occasionally this is not a bad practice, when it truly is a brainstorm and not just a lack of preparation on the teacher's part. Finally, I wish I had known how important it is to keep the principal informed on a weekly or even daily basis of activities in the media center. It is my common practice now to report activities and keep the principal or school administrator informed. Consequently, there is never any question that the media center is a busy, active place and is justified in getting almost every reasonable thing I ask for (when I explain how it will be used and so on). ****************************************************************************** ******** It took me a looong time to realize that I would never get it all perfect and that I would never finish with my work. It's just the nature of the task. ****************************************************************************** ******** Two things come to mind: 1) if you don't know the answer, be honest and tell the kids you don't know, but will find out AND follow through with it. Funny thing, you may have forgotten the promise, but I assure you they haven't. 2) be able to laugh at yourself and the kids when they do something funny. We were told in library school "NEVER laugh at the kids," but if they do or say something funny it's pretty hard to hold it in. I think it shows that we are human, too. ****************************************************************************** ******** What I know is that everything comes down to relationships, and therefore, the best energy you can spend is to build lasting and collaborative relationships with your teachers, your administrators, your library colleagues, your school staff (including secretaries and custodians), and your students. It will lead to success in everything else! ****************************************************************************** ******** My answer would be.....that you are never finished. There is ALWAYS something to be done and not to stress out over this problem. The key is to keep working and be consistent in what you do. ****************************************************************************** ******** Every year I learn something new about being a librarian and running a library. It is NOT a static profession. One of the things I have learned to do better and wish I had done it as a newbie is prioritize. I am getting better able to decide what is important in my library and me, e.g. it more important to help a first grader find the book she wants rather than finish filing the catalog cards. I also wish I had known that the job is never ending and you can never get it all done. No matter how much you do there is more to be done. Took me a long time to accept that and shut the office door without a shudder. ****************************************************************************** ******** 1. Be Flexible. The world will not end because things are different than you think they should be. 2. Speak Up. Too many of us sit back and don't participate. If you have an opinion, say it. We have freedom of speech around here! ****************************************************************************** ******** I wish I had realized sooner that there will always be work to do, nothing's ever done; there will always be piles of "stuff" (books to process, cards to file (or disks to load)); it will always look messy, etc., etc. Don't give away your life for the life of your library. No matter how tired or how frustrated or how much work there is left to do - GO Home! Have a project waiting, have an appointment so you have to close the doors and _leave_. Tell that teacher (and there will be chronic ones - you'll soon figure out who they are) you're sorry, but you can't wait until she has free time after school to meet with you. A few teachers get warped over it, but they also get over it. Other teachers will be so appreciative of whatever you do for them - bend over backwards to help them - it makes you both feel good. I guess this sounds negative, but overwork and under appreciation are the top reasons library media people burn out! ****************************************************************************** ********* To save more money in the first years I taught because it will earn so much interest. ****************************************************************************** ********* I suppose the one thing overall that I wish I had known is that the children DO NOT respond, act, or think like I used to twenty years ago. There are some that believe that all kids are alike, but I submit that they are shaped by their past just as we all are. The world has changed and we change with it. I remember that I used to get giddy just thinking about holding a boys hand in 6th grade when I was 12. Nowadays...well, you know what I mean. And the YA literature is reflecting these changes. Perhaps I was naive when I first started, but I wish I had had more on classroom management and the logistics of how to deal with over 450 students streaming in and out of the library every day. Thankfully, a veteran teacher took me under her wing and was courageous and strong enough to tell me exactly what I was doing wrong...the unadulterated TRUTH. And let me tell you, it did hurt as the cliche says. I learned...I just wish someone had warned me. :-) ****************************************************************************** ******* It is much easier to "overhelp" students find information than to let them do it themselves. In the long run, however, you are much better off teaching the students how to find it themselves. ****************************************************************************** ******* That the vast majority of teachers could care less about your library media center or the program you provide unless they can see how it can benefit them in the classroom. Also, you will never have 100% of the teachers on your side, because some teachers just like to work on their own and don't collaborate. Does that mean I give up on teachers - No!! Sometimes it might take me five years to win a teacher over, but I never give up. ****************************************************************************** ******** I'm the LMS at a school with nearly 1200 K-5 students and 100 faculty/staff. I've been a LMS for 18 years and I truly love my job. I wish I'd known: 1. You cannot please everyone, no matter how you knock yourself out. Some teachers will always think you have a cushy job. I now suggest that they become certified in the field. 2. Harry Wong's method of classroom management. His book, The First Days of School is wonderful. 3. Librarians do make a difference in the lives of children. I have had so many students tell me so years later. ****************************************************************************** ********** What do I wish I had known?? How to chain 4 TVs with one VCR to show a video in the gym. (There were 3 models of TVs available to figure into the equation). ****************************************************************************** ********** Brenda Young Library Media Specialist Rosehill Elementary Omaha, NE brenda525@aol.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=