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Newsgroups: schl.sig.lmnet Path: obstahl From: obstahl@llwcny.ll.pbs.org (Barbara Stahl) Subject: Re: 911! Organization: LLWCNY / PBS Learning Link Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 02:50:20 GMT Message-ID: <Czr3vw.276@llwcny.ll.pbs.org> X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] References: <783484526.20320@InforMNs.k12.MN.us> Judith Cravens Estabrook (judithe@TENET.EDU) wrote: : With all the technology questions being posted, I feel a bit foolish : asking for help with a low-tech problem, but I am about to lose my mind : and I don't think it's backed up on tape anywhere. I am a first year : librarian in an elementary school of 850 students. I have no help : --clerical, volunteer, or otherwise. Until last week I had been : attempting a modified flexible schedule with grades 3 - 6 coming to the : library only when the teacher requested and allowing open checkout on the : honor system all day every day. I failed to mention that I am not : automated, do not have any sort of computerized library records. My : district is in the process of automating, but there are about 200 schools : and I am 200th on the list. In the meantime my card catalog is 3 years : out of date and I have 4 separate shelf lists during the retrospective : conversion. I have no way to find materials except to check : bibliographies or browse the shelves. And right now, at least half the : collection is on carts because I don't have time to shelve. At best I : will have to deal with this system for the rest of this school year and am : pessimistic about getting my : automation up and running by the beginning of the 95 school year. I Yo: am absolutely overwhelmed with the process of getting cards returned to : book pockets and getting books shelved. I need suggestions for managing : this process efficiently so that I have time to do something else. I : still have weekly library classes for grades K-3 and starting this week, : will go back to the old system for grades : 4 -6. At this point I am so discouraged I know I am not even making : sense. My flexible schedule and my hopes for integrating the library : have been dealt a death blow by the negative attitude on the part of a : few teachers and I don't have the energy to deal with it because I am : frantically trying to card books. I feel isolated and unappreciated : --whoa! Pity party!! : I have been semi-lurking on the net long enough to : feel that I can count on some of you good people out there for : encouragement. What have you done _before_ automation to handle the : clerical duties when you couldn't get volunteers? I almost cried Friday : when a gentleman came into the library offering to : volunteer -- to read to the children. Nice gesture, but this was a man : who had had years of experience working in libraries and he wouldn't help : me on a bet because he knew how much work is involved. Is there hope?? : YJudy Estabrook judithe@tenet.edu 214-492-2938 (home) : JYeff Davis Elem. Dallas, TX 214-331-7795 (work) You are asked to do the impossible. You must try to get your administratorsr remedia1ated!! They need to decide whether they want a teaching - library - integraated program, or a book depository. No one could serve 850 students productively without clerical support. Barb Stahl, New York State -- Barbara Stahl{(OSTAHL{LLWCNY.LL.PBS.ORG) Direct Library Media Services