Re: [LM_NET] 6-8 crowd control?

[Susan Grigsby <susan.grigsby@GMAIL.COM>]

I, too, am open in the mornings and the library has become the "spot du
jour" for students to come hang out. It only became a problem when they
started printing pictures of scantily clad Eminem or other rap stars or
started visiting questionable web sites then stealing the mouses from the
computers to mess with us...
I have a couple of advantages that helped me nip all of this in the bud: 1)
I pleaded with my administration for help and now the front door of the
media center is a morning duty location with a teacher posted to check for
passes from homeroom; those that used to come to duck out of homeroom &
cause the problems just kept on moving. (2) I have NetSupport on my computer
so I can watch the computer activity from my workstation; when I see
inappropriate activity I simply log the student off from my workstation. It
takes so long to get logged back on they usually just give up and leave -
thus the students who are here to work on projects and do legitimate school
work got a computer to work on.
It is still crowded, it is still somewhat noisy, but it is now a controlled
chaos and manageable.


On 2/4/08, Dr. Allan O'Grady Cuseo <acuseo@bkhs.org> wrote:
>
> I do the exact opposite - but then I am a shushing librarian. I get from
> 50-75 students every morning - from 7.15 (when the outside doors open) tp
> 8 AM. It is for silent study only. Ditto during lunch - when I will get
> about 20 students each lunch period. I agree it is very difficult to run a
> library without help. The administration has promised me that I will have
> help next year. This is the 4th year I have been promised  -- we shall
> see.AllanDr. Allan O'Grady Cuseo, MGCDirector of Library ServicesBishop
> Kearney High School | A Golisano Education Partner125 Kings Highway
> SouthRochester, New York 14617585.342.4000 
>x231585.342.4694(fax)www.bkhs.orgCollege Prep. Plus.-----Original 
>Message-----From: "Connie
> Williams" [chwms@MAC.COM]Date: 02/03/2008 07:10 PMTo:
> LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDUSubject: Re: [LM_NET] 6-8 crowd control?This is the
> hardest thing about library service in schools!  I'm the
> only adult in my school library in the a.m. and I will sometimes have
> well over 75+ students! They are, indeed there to socialize and to
> stay out of the cold. I have, however, decided that the way I work it
> is to allow mornings to be socialization time,[they get to play games
> on the computers,hang out in small groups etc.]  and break, lunch and
> after school to be school work, quiet study and homework time. It
> works for me.  Mostly. On cold days it's still full at lunch, but I
> try to keep the numbers down, don't let kids stand in groups and all
> the regular things that we do to keep some sense of order.  By having
> the morning 'open', it seems to take away from the 'mean lady'
> approach.  I  always say: "lunch is for quiet work, before school is
> for socializing. Many kids want to get their homework done before
> school is out, so we're quiet"  Again, mostly.  It's never really
> quiet in a middle school library. And I always hope for sun.
>
> What I'd like to know, along with this question is how do the folks
> who provide food [ala SLJ's article about library cafes] keep the
> numbers down and the place quiet?  Maybe it's better at a high
> school.  Thanks for asking this question, Sandra. I too, would like
> to hear how others do it. Anyone successful?
>
> Connie
>
> Connie Williams
> Teacher Librarian
> National Board Certified
> Kenilworth Jr High
> Petaluma, CA
>
> chwms@mac.com
>
>
>
> On Feb 3, 2008, at 7:08 AM, sandra carswell wrote:
>
> This year I've had the library open before school (25 min.) starts
> for anyone who wants to come. The number of students who take
> advantage of this has grown. (up to about 30-40). Most of them
> however, are only in there to socialize or play Study Island games. I
> am the only adult in the library at this time. I have some student
> volunteers to help run the circ desk so I can monitor the computer
> use and the students congregating among the shelves but I really have
> to help them as well.
>
> My question is, how do I keep the students quiet and in their seats
> so the ones actually there to work/study can get anything done,
> without limiting access or becoming the shushing librarian? Suggestions?
> Sandra Carswell, Librarian S.C. Lee Junior High School 1205 Courtney
> Lane Copperas Cove, TX  76522 254-542-7877 sandracarswell@hotmail.com
> sandraca@ccisd.com
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-- 
Susan Grigsby, Teacher-Librarian
President-Elect, GLMA
Elkins Pointe Middle School
Alpharetta, Georgia
susan.grigsby@gmail.com

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