HIT: Opening?Closing...Part2 (long)

["Nadine R. Lipman" <CTlipz01@AOL.COM>]

I am open the first day of school. The students and teachers and
everyone else is expected to work the first day and I will also be open
for business with everyone else.
*******************************************************
This was my first year
as a media specialist in a rural high school.  There=20
was no clerk (only 347 students) to tell me what to
do the first week and no policy and procedure
handbook for the media center.  The principal gave me
the keys and said, "Its all yours!"  I had a week
before teachers came so I was basically alone.  I
cleaned out the office.  So I would appreciate
hearing what others say to you.
********************************************************
We open the day school starts, but I begin working 5 days before that.
We quit checking out books about 2 weeks before school is over because
the assistant principal wants to be able to chase all delinquent
obligations down before finals. Students may continue to come to the
library right up until the last day to study or to use the materials in
the library.
One year, we had a couple of teachers schedule *research* the last 2
weeks of school so they wouldn't have to make lesson plans! They just
sat and visited or read a magazine knowing all the while that they would
not be able to grade the research paper. I imagine they even had their
grades already averaged, etc. We try to do our schedule so they can't do
that now.
*********************************************************
I do 2
buildings, K-3 (fixed schedule) and 4-8 (flexible schedule).  I have a fu=
ll
time aide in each building (although the K-3 aide has a lunch duty).  We
have a technology coordinator who also works both buildings but we are
called on mostly for the AV, her concentration is the computers.
  In the K-3 building I have classes from the first day to the last.  I
cannot close down, but in extreme situation I can send my aide to cover t=
he
class while I do something else, like an author visit.  We have one of th=
e
2 telephones available in the building, so teachers are in and out all da=
y.
 The library is available, but not often used, on the days I am in the
other building.
  In the 4-8 building I usually use the first week and a half to catch up
on summer mail, prepare info for teachers regarding new purchases and
encourage teachers to plan on using the library.  Although I am technical=
ly
not scheduled, I have set up a semi schedule for the first part of the ye=
ar
since no one seems ready to use the library for research.
  At the end of the year we usually close down for books the first week o=
f
June.  We have done inventory in June, but since my middle school is
automating, I may change the time of the year for that. Teachers are give=
n
a little additional time to keep out materials, especially videos.
********************************************************
I am in a 4-6 school with a fixed schedule that is part of the teacher
planning period required by contract.  I am open the first day of classes=
 to
the last day of school.  It is a constant problem so things don't get don=
e in
the way of a "normal " library and probably library school profs would
shudder at the inventions we have come up with in order to keep the libra=
ry
open every school day
************************************************************
In TN we get approximately two weeks (10 school days) both at the
beginning and end of school--days children are present.  Some librarians
don't take all these days, they "spoil" the teachers.  I'm not in
Elementary any more, but the three years I was, I felt the teachers were
"spoiled" enough with the fixed schedule I had of 30+ classes per week.  =
I
really needed those days at the beginning and end to get things together.
Now, I'm at a middle school, but there is just much to do--it's just
different tasks.  We have two laminators in our library that we have to
keep supplied and running (we don't actually have to do the laminating,
just the maintenance).  We also are in charge of all the A/V equipment fo=
r
a school of 1800 students and 100+ staff members. =20
Ask anyone who doubts that you need this beginning and ending time to com=
e
spend a day with you!
************************************************************
School opens on Wednesday, I open the following Monday.  Pschologically,=20
I need to get started.  Some classes miss that first week because they=20
are not ready, but I've been her 11 years.  Teachers pretty much know the=
=20
routine.  I find that I can't prepare enough.  I know there will be=20
glitches in cards, times, etc.  So the sooner I do a dry run, the quicker=
=20
we will get on-track.
        I close the last school day in May.  Teachers have access and so=20
do students, but no classes.
***********************************************************
In answer to your request for info about the beginning and ending of scho=
ol
year:
We close the library for the 1st two and last 2 weeks of school.  Teacher=
s
can check out if they need to.
In the beginning of the year, we work on cataloging and processing new bo=
oks
received over the summer in preparation for an open house/tea to introduc=
e
the new books.  In additon, we take care of  the physical facility, and w=
ork
on any changes that need to be made to Accelerated Reader.  This is also =
a
time we decide on what reading programs we will offer for AR, purchase an=
y
computer equip., etc.
The end of the year we devote to retrieving lost books, inventory, genera=
ting
necessary computer reports, finalizing any additional orders.  Our hs
librarian does let classes or indivual students use the library for resea=
rch.
We are a K-12 school with one large library, two librarians (I have K-6, =
my
friend=20
6-12) one full-time aide and student aides during each of our 4 blocks.  =
We
have a combination of flex and fixed schedules, but K-5 are fixed one ses=
sion
each week and,of course, may come to check-out at any time.
Although we are a part of the county system, each library does their own
thing.  The hs librarian and I decided on this schedule.
I am very interested  in the replies you receive, as we would like our co=
unty
to go on a 10 month schedule for librarians so we would not have to disru=
pt
student and teacher service so much.
******************************************************
My district has discussed this same matter ovver and over.
        Before school we get no more time than the classroom teachers. We
all usually go back 1 week before the kids. This week is also used for
inservice. 1 day is a pull out by supervisors and the others are at the
disgression of the principal. I am very lucky my principal calls very few
meetings that week.  I am responsible for getting my classroom ready, the
library ready and the computer lab.  I am also the person who is called
for any computer problems as well as AV problems.  I also then have to
process all of the new materials.  I have no tech help or clerical help. =
=20
        At the end of school we teach until the last day.  I have a fixed
schedule and have my scheduled classes until the end.  I get 1 day after
the students just like all of the teachers. I have to shut down my
classroom, library and the computer lab.  I( also take care of all of the
AV and computers. I again have no tech help or clerical help.  This is
pretty much the same throughout the district unless a principal decides t=
o
do something different.
        We use to get a day or two before and after everyone else. This
was paid from workshop money, but this has been gone for the last 5 years
or so. The one thing that I really find impossible to do is a complete
inventopry. I do stop book exchange the end of May but still do not have
enough time to complete an inventory in the time alloted by the district.
*******************************************************
I have always had three=20
weeks/fiscal year which could be divided between Aug and May.  This year=20
the extended contract time was cut completely.  Of course, the work is=20
expected to be done anyway.  I have always put in lots of extra time,=20
summers and during the school year.  This year I am having trouble with=20
that.  I resent every hour I spend after 3:30. And, though I still come=20
in occasionally on weekends, I do not enjoy it.
I never did get a cart full of books barcoded and catalogued.  They were=20
donated last spring and are still sitting there.  It took me two weeks at=
=20
the beginning of the year to get the patron barcodes ready.  Since I am=20
prep time for teachers, the students came to the LMC even though they=20
could not check out books.  That took alot of my time that should have=20
been spent getting ready. I had a Mom who volunteered to help me.  She=20
was great and speeded things along, but also made several errors with=20
the patron data.
I'm blabbering, I think.  I still get mad about it. But I have an=20
administrator who says,  "If you can't do the job, I guess we hired the=20
wrong person!"  Even when they cut time, add duties, increase class=20
sizes, cut budgets, if you cannot do the job, you are the problem!
I'm afraid I didn't answer your questions, but thanks for letting me=20
vent! ( my note-YOU=92RE VERY WELCOME!!!!!!!)
*************************************************
High School library:
We are open for classes and student on the furst day of classes.  I come =
in
one week earlier (unpaid) to make this possible.  No one says I have to,
it's my choice.
We close to students one week before the end of school.  We do a full
inventory each year.  we stop circulating books about four days before th=
e
colosing day.  This gives us some time to get in the books that are out. =
 We
send overdue notices daily during this time.
*******************************************************
Librarians in our district open the first day with "full" service.  We
remain open until the last day; of course, with limited service, as
students must have all books turned in about 3 weeks before last day.  Th=
e
reason we can do this is that we have a 10 month contract which is what a=
ll
we school librarians should "shoot for".
**********************************************************
I have a K-5 school with fixed scheduling. I meet 23 classes a week and a=
m
the release time for the teachers of 15 of those classes. I have no paid =
help
during the year with the exception of 5 days that I may take at the begin=
ning
of the year, end of the year or split it. ( I usually take 2 in June & 3 =
in
Sept)  This help comes from the district=92s clerical substitute list so =
you
must train your own and hope she doesn't get a full time job!
I see classes from the first day of school . This was decided by the
administration. If I didn=92t, those 19 teachers would be entitled to be =
paid
for missing a prep. To open< I must distribute the AV equipment stored in=
 my
room over the summer ( I get extra for that), decorate, go through the ma=
il
of the summer, check in orders, rearrange the circulation book by the new
class lists, do my own plans, and pull the materials the teachers have le=
ft
requests for in my box ( I won=92t let them pull themselves until the com=
puter
system is up again)
I usually ( to the ire of my union) come in 2-3 days early to get started=
 and
bring some of it home.
End of the year, I see classes up to the last day although I can stop see=
ing
the 8 classes I am not a prep for the last week so all the other jobs get
squeezed in , Circulation stops 2 weeks before the close of school. I sho=
w
videos to the classes those last 2 weeks so I can work while they=92re th=
ere.
******************************************************
This fall I had 2 weeks to work in the library before classes
started because we were starting Accelerated Reader & had a new auto-
mation program. My library is NEVER closed to anyone...teachers & stu-
dents come before, during, & after school. The computer lab is in the
library & I'm in charge of it too.  The classes come for an hour a week/
half of the time is for library instruction/story activities & the other
half for computer instruction. Yes, I have tech help...in my school
building & also district people to call when the file server goes down,
installation of software on the network, etc. Every school in our
district has its own policies...made by the librarian & principal.  Last
spring I did not close the library at all but this year I'm going to ask
for a week at the end of the year.  I didn't complete inventory & went
in on my own during the summer to finish up. I do help with field trips,
am mentoring a problem child & spend a lot of time with him one on one,
get the library ready for meetings, parties, PTO open houses, etc. &
even clean it because our janitors are lazy.
***********************************************************
I begin one week before school starts.  I am open for teachers and try to
catalog any new books and put up some displays.  Now that I think about i=
t, I
am unsure exactly what I do but I am busy all the time.  My aide even com=
es
in the last 2 days before school starts.  I cut off checking out about 8 =
days
before school end.  This seems to give me time to collect books and any $=
s
owed for lost materials.  We also have been successful in completing our
inventory within that time frame.  I still read to kids and let teachers
check out.
*****************************************************
I am in a K-5 school where we see all classes from 1-5 for 50
minutes a week covering for teachers' prep periods.  Our classes are held
starting from the first day of school (Years when I had a first period
class scheduled, they were brought to me almost before the teacher had a
chance to meet them.)  These classes continue until the last period of th=
e
last day of school.  We are expected to work the same number of days as t=
he
classroom teachers.  Naturally, it is impossible to get everything done. =
 I
usually come in on my own time both before and after the school year.
Although the librarians in my district have been trying for years to get
this changed, we have not made any progress. We are the only one who care
if the work gets done.  Administration could care less.
**********************************************************
School opened on August 27 this year and I opened the library to
Students around September 11; except a few students from one class did
come earlier with previous arrangement.  Once students come in it is
very hard to get things done of course.  We usually close around June 5
to all students for our inventory, etc.  I always allow staff to take
things out anytime except at the end of the year.  We usually do a
district wide opening date and closing date with our four schools which
seems acceptable.
*********************************************

Nadine Lipman
CTlipz01@aol.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 To quit LM_NET (or set NOMAIL or DIGEST), Send an email message 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
 For more help see LM_NET On The Web:  http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=