HIT: What I didn't learn in library school, Part 9

[Nancy Westendorf <NSpringWes@AOL.COM>]

1001 Ways to Thank the School Maintenance Staff for
        Hauling out the equipment labelled "Unrepairable March 1963"
        Upgrading the electrical box so you can run two computers and the
                lights simultaneously
        Returning all the extension cords teachers left in their rooms over
the
summer
        Putting up poster rails and hooks
        Rearranging the shelving so you can see most of the corners
        Volunteering to take down the classroom TVs before the drop ceilings
are
installed
        Calling in July to say the roof leaked and what should we do with the
wet
books
        Telling the architect that the new library really needs electrical
outlets every 10 feet
        Cheerfully moving 312 boxes of books into storage, then into the new
library
        And, last but not least, telling their children that "that librarian
is a
smart
                lady -- you listen to her!"

You know, we have Boss's Day, Secretary's Day, National Library Week,
American Education Week, School Lunch Week, but no designated time to
recognize the maintenance staff.  Our library staff couldn't manage
without them, so we're always racking our brains to come up with thank
yous -- this year is lunch at Applebees the week after school's out.

First of all, I am NOT a librarian, however being in the position for 1
year, and having been an elementary teacher, here's what I see as
difficult........trying to integrate literature into what classroom
teachers are doing. Some teachers are GREAT about telling me what they're
doing, themes, etc. Others are not....."I'm doing Acid Rain".....oh, ok. I
doubt I have any books--read aloud books--for that topic......and she has
never been one to want to be integrated. If you could stress how important
that is......I know, because the previous librarian used to integrate books
into my curriculum, and it was wonderful. My students made all sorts of
connections between what they were studying, and what she was adding to the
program.....

I spent 12 years as a library aide before getting my masters and so I
learned all that nitty-gritty stuff first.  I have a friend who had neber
worked in a library setting until she got her master's of information
science from Univ. of Michigan and had to call me about how to accession a
book! Also a good thing to cover is the dealings with purchase orders and
how the treasurer's office always is very picky that everything be done just
so.  Seems everything in library school was on planning budgets, but little
said about how you actually spend the money.

I did not learn anything in library school about managing circulation
problems.
This includes getting students to return books, getting the administrative
support,  setting limits on checking out, and managing automated circulation
systems.

Don't forget grant writing! Where to find information about possible
grantmakers for your project. The nomenclature such as the differences
between goals/objectives,  ongoing funding/operating expenses/annual appeals,
capital projects/programs, and expenditures/inkind contributions.  I'll bet
there are more, I am learning a lot.

Nancy Westendorf, Librarian
Community School 14
Rochester, NY
NSpringWes@aol.com

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What I didn't learn in library school...
    How to convince a first grader there is more than one copy of the same
book in my media center and that the one on the shelf is not theirs
    The Dewey Decimal System
    How to repair books
    How to do pack and move a media center

Just some thoughts!

A suggestion--How to deal with volunteers.

What a great idea.  Love the mylar lesson.
Here are some quick short hand thoughts:

behavior problems
different learning styles
special ed. students
working with parent volunteers
balancing job and family
repairing bookshelves

And I absolutely love my job.  Really.  It is the best thing that could ever
have happened to me but it is also the biggest challenge in my life.  This is
my second career.  I'm in my mid-forties, but this is my first year as a
teacher-librarian.

Good luck with your session.

Be sure to add that the custodian can be you best friend.  Have fun with
the topic.


     How about using glue and a knitting needle to fix book spines?
     How about answering the phone, checking out books and answering a
     reference question at the same time?
     How about using yardsticks to scrape spit wads off the walls?
     How about diplomatically asking a teacher for a book unreturned since
     the beginning of the year?
     How about ditto for the principal? School Board member?

     Does this help?

...however "good" or talented or loved or skilled your programs & library
are, they
will go NOWHERE (or even survive) if you don't realize the superintendent
is in charge.  You can influence him/her, educate him/her, even BRIBE :-)
him/her but the superintendent decides or HIGHLY influences EVERYTHING.
After 15 years in a school I've learned the only power higher than a
superintendent is a board.  That board is SEVEN different individuals.  If
you think you can win all seven over to ANY one thought, think again.  The
only power higher than a board is PARENTS!!!  My little school has 1,400
parents!!!!  It's almost impossible to MEET all of them, let alone
influence them all.  The connection to parents is THE STUDENTS.  I have
talked with EVERY student, at least enough to look them in the eye and say
hello.  Another way to promote your services is through the teachers, your
peers.  They will see all the students who will see the parents who will
talk to the board who will hear from the superintendent. It is a circle of
influence, but it is funneled (choked???) at the individual...the
superintendent.

What to do with this knowledge???  Get that superintendent knowledgeable
about the library.  Encourage the use of the room for meetings (AFTER
hours, not when students need it!)  Hear he's looking at a new car
purchase??? send him some consumer digest articles!  See him in the
hall??? invite him down to see a powerpoint presentation on researched
information.  The library is VALUABLE.  The library is USED.
Superintendents are BUSY...they don't realize these things!

Hope this helps!

As many of us burn ourselves out, trying to give and give and give,
perhaps a healthy discussion of reciprocity, as the way to promote a
thriving library environment, would be of use.  Without mutual exchange,
and the acknowledged need for it, our efforts are foredoomed; and this
serves no one, including ourselves.
        (Been there.)
        Take care.

        Welcome to our library--the library of our making.  Here, we invite
and are invited, in mutual trust and respect, to share--thoughts, hopes,
dreams; all the world, in fact, and more... because it is our choice, if
not our need.

        The individual or institution which fails to honor and support
viable libraries is simply not credible.  For, a library, as a society, is
people, sharing in trust, for their mutual benefit and edification.  The
naive who fail their libraries fail themselves.
        'Nuff said.

I call it "juggling"  There are always so many things that we are doing at
one time.  Getting ready for a class, helping students, and thinking about
a project to work on with a teacher.  Then there is always instructing a
class, while at the same time there are almost as many people for a wide
varitey of classes, and with a variety of needs that all must have your
attention at the same time.  Oh, and don't forget just making sure that
everything that you are responsible for is still there at the end of the
day.  People forget how much is invested in the average library
collection.  You also need to be able to fix anything in your room, or at
least know who can fix it.  If you can't fix it, it should be able to be
fixed in less than 24 hours.

I never knew that people outside of the education profession (students
parents)
didn't know that I was a classroom teacher to begin with, or that I even had a
college degree.  When I left a full time position 4 years ago to take a part
time
position (to spend more time with my kids) one of my parent volunteers with
just
a High School Diploma asked if I would recommend her for my position to my
principal.  She felt that her volunteering ,and her having helped in her
library
when she was in high school was qualification enough.  Ever since this
experience
I always introduce myself as a teacher who is a library Media Specialist. We
need
to let everyone know that we are a VITAL extension of the classroom!

just graduated from library school and feel like i learned little. wish i
could be at your workshop!

Nancy Westendorf, Librarian
Community School 14
Rochester, NY  14605
NSpringWes@aol.com

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