First of all, I would like to thank everyone who responded to my =
posting. I have some wonderful ideas! I had many responses and was not =
able to list all of them here, but I hope this helps the rest of you who =
are in the same boat as myself either as a graduate student or first =
year media specialist.
Marcie Shendok
Survival hints:
#1 - maintain your sense of humor
The job will seem overwhelming at first - getting to know teachers and
students, wanting to get everything done and do the right thing. So, =
give
yourself a LOT of credit for getting to where you are, you will learn =
the
rest "on the job". You can only tackle one task at a time. You'll have
to decide how to juggle things, but believe me, everything will work out
over the school year, so don't panic and don't get upset with yourself. =
The nature of this job is that you can't get everything done in a day =
and
go home with a clear mind... get the most important stuff done. Go home
and relax - you need to not work 24 hours a day.
Keep an open mind, try not to say no to most requests, and let other
people fill you in one different things. Then, when you have had some
time under your belt, make your own decisions. Trust your clerk to help
you a lot - develop a good working relationship there. If the job has =
no
clerical help - don't take the position.
Keep posting to LM_NET next year and asking for help. This is a very
collegial profession - you'll get some great answers.
---------------------
Enjoy your new profession! I've been a librarian for 22 years, the last
5 as a school librarian (K-5), and still enjoy every day.
My advice: Always have a lesson plan. Know what you want to do for the
day. Have your books ready to read, your activities ready to hand out
and your puppets ready to pop on your hand. =20
And then have a Plan B. =20
Interesting things will occur throughout the day and as the librarian,
you will have to go with the flow. There will be fire drills just as
you turn the page to a captivating storybook, a child will throw up
sometime/anytime in your library, or there's always the child who has
heard every single book you've chosen to read and hated it. But again,
with planning and on the opposite end, flexibiity, you'll have a great
time! =20
----------So, the first thing I did was make my assistant my best buddy! =
I also got a
great mom who volunteers daily for checkout and shelving!
Then, I started to rebuild -- with the help of the kids. I did webs with =
my
upper grades, asking what they liked to read. It helped. We ordered I =
Spy
books and new drawing books. I bought lots of good series books, too. =
They
are happier now than they were in September because they see the
improvements.
In fact, my fifth graders wish they could stay -- we're getting new =
carpeting
and shelving too!
Then, I learned to work with a select group of teachers. I have my pals, =
and
they are a big help. They inform me about curriculum changes and other =
stuff.
I also can complain to them and they don't mind.
The rebuild will continue -- and my students see the progress. I make =
sure we
have lots of contests. We give away lots of prizes. We keep it loose.
Now, that said, there will be changes next year.
I'm going to post my rules early. And the consequences. I will be =
helping
with the fourth and fifth grade and their projects. We want some
accountability. So our teachers will have media folders for kids to keep
their bibliography notes, etc. I also plan to help them to include some =
of
the information on tests. I mean, I had an incident this week when my
assistant blew it into me that fifth graders did not know how to use the =
card
catalog. I taught it. They didn't listen. So next year, we'll test them =
to
make sure they know it! I also plan to post the instructions next to our
computers.
-------First day, smile a lot.
First week, ask lots of questions - observe and evaluate but hold off on
huge changes - sometimes there's a reason for things that you haven't
figured out yet.
First month - always treat your users as customers - ask what you can do =
for
them and then do it! You're own priorities often will be on the back =
burner,
but down times do come (rarely, but they do) Keep a list on your desk =
and
jump to it whenever you can.
First year - lots of what you do won't make sense until the end of May =
and
you'll have a better perspective on what to change the following year.
Be positive, plan well, implement carefully and include lots of input =
from
users on how things should be. No matter how stressful it gets always
remember you are in a most noble profession - promoting the love of =
reading
and information literacy.
-----------Stake our your own vision. Don't let what teachers are used =
to keep you from=20
your own path. Always focus on the students. Always insist that the =
library=20
stay open.
--------
What did I do to survive? Focus on the collection. There was nothing =
for me to do until I had a viable library for the students. Since =
March, I've thrown out over 2,500 books. Can you believe it? I still =
have biographies/collection biographies and fiction left to weed.
It was back breaking, tedious labor, but the best way to get to know my =
collection. I'm way ahead in that. Unfortunately, I didn't get to do =
most of the work which I love, which is working with the kids... I have =
lots of ideas for next year and I hope I can put them to work. I also =
hope I have a viable budget for next year!
--------Building relationships with the faculty and students needs to be =
your first
priority. All the "thing-oriented" stuff is secondary. If you don't =
have
relationships with the people, all the great things that you have and =
that
you organize will never be used.
----------
The first day - dress professionally, but make sure you have comfortable
shoes. Put up a colorful WELCOME banner... have some bookmarks ready =
with
pertinent info: Your name, hours the library is opened ( if different =
from
scheduled classes- for example I am open 1/2 hour before classes begin =
and
two hours after school and the library is closed the 1/2 hour I am at
lunch), and any other really important thing you want them to know... =
Smile
a lot - be ready to answer any questions about yourself...
Have a notebook handy to jot down anything that you are told - or =
overhear-
about what goes on during the school year ( "I always look forward to =
the
book fair"," I always read Beverly Cleary to my class" )
The first week, don't expect to get any of your own work done. Take the
time to really familiarize yourself with all the school routine and just
settle in. Don't promise anything - If asked if you can do something =
like a
project say "I'll check the schedule and see when we can get together to
work on it." so you don't accidentally schedule two different projects =
with
two different teachers at the same time.
By the end of the first month you should be feeling confident enough to
start suggesting things you would like to do- but again, don't bite off
more than you can handle at a time.
By the end of the year, if you have kept lots of notes, you should have =
a
good feel for how the year went and what you will need to firm up on =
next
year.
Remember, the kids don't always know you are completely new - so they
aren't judging you and those teachers who are there remember how
intimidating it could be to be the "New" person on staff.
----
My first day was so long ago, I barely remember it! However, the
first day is similar to a first day in the school. This is what I have
learned over the years.
Get to school early, before it starts for the year. Go through =
everything:
files, policies, professional materials, lesson planes, curriculum, and
etc. Decide on your policies, how to operate, and etc, what to keep =
what to
change, type up for staff. don't make too many drastic changes in the
beginning. You don't want to allienate the staff! After the first year
you'll see where you want to make changes, explain to staff your reason =
when
you do.
Plan your lessons for the first week. Generally, an introducation to =
you,
your polices and rules, routines, do something fun, and allow book =
choosing
time. How are classes going to be scheduled? Don't forget to allow
yourself lunch.
Set up your working area and files. Decorate the library and put up
bulletin boards. Be ready to help staff when they arrive.
The first year do not weed books, learn your collection. Watch what the
staff uses and relies on. Take a complete inventory noting items that
should be weeded and where the gaps are, note what is not moving. =
Compare
your collection to standards of the field; Elementary School Library
Collection, Wilson's Children Catalog, curriculum materails, and other
rcommended list or secondary standards. Note this information on the =
shelf
list or equivalent. Learn from my mistakes! The staff can get very
attached to certain materials. Sometmes you have to leave some =
materials on
your shelves until that staff member leaves.
Get to know your staff and how they work. Make friends with the =
secretary,
custodian, and cafeteria staff. Be welcoming and flexible.
Email me anytime you have questions. I have been in three schools; =
ps-8,
public and private in 2 different states, fulltime and part-time, =
automated
and nonautomated, with system support and without and have about 70 =
hours in
library science - graduate and undergarduate.
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