HIT: Survival-1-Before you begin

[Joy Hendrickson <joymicah@4EZ.COM>]

DURING THE FIRST WEEK
+Establish a good relationship with the secretaries, lunch staff,
custodians, and maintenance staff.  Learn their names.  Do what you can to
make their life easier.
+Join the committees that interest you before you are put on one you won't
like.
+Find out who the users of the library are.  Work with these people first.
The work will get around about the things you are doing.
+Get out and around the building.
+Get to know the staff.
+Don't be afraid to ask questions and ask for help when you need it.
+Attend department/team meetings.  Take notes and keep files to refer to.
+Post a copy of the school's schedule with everyone's planning period
highlighted.
+Make a chart listing every teacher with 10 empty columns.  Try to make at
least ten contacts with every teacher during the year.
+Delegate jobs.
+Make as few library rules as possible but enforce them when necessary.
+Write down a list of things to do daily when you open and close the media
center.
+Make lists for you.
+Encourage others to put things in writing when they ask of you, so you
will be sure to do the task.
+Don't change anything in the first year if you can help it.
+Do a special introductory program of some sort like a book talk in
costume.

Joy Hendrickson
Media Specialist
Frostproof Middle/Senior High School
Frostproof, FL
joymicah@4ez.com

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First of all, thank you, thank you, and thank you to the following
librarians and media
specialists for their advise and willingness to share with those of us who
are entering the profession: Linda Sears, Lyn Crawford, Miriam Boots,
Katrina Larkin, Barbara Jinkins, TK Cassidy, Charlotte Osburn, Cynthia
Cassidy, Richard Shook, Jeni Friedland, Carolyn Gierke, Sandy Stone,
Ginger Williams, Cathy Rosenstock, Kari Inglis, Liz Kaminetz, and David
Linger.

I have put the HITS into categories.  There are 5, which include: BEFORE
YOU BEGIN,
DURING THE FIRST WEEK, DURING THE FIRST YEAR, AFTER THE FIRST
YEAR, AND MOTTOS/WORDS OF WISDOM.  Enjoy!

BEFORE YOU BEGIN
+Network with other librarians.
+Subscribe to LM_NET.
+Learn something unique that makes you the "go to" person.
+Come up with a realistic 5 year plan then cross off ½ of the list and make
it a 10 year plan or create your own timeline.
+Get a camera and have it available to document events.  Take pictures of
people enjoying the library and display them.
+Prepare a media center information booklet for the staff.  Refer to it
when teachers say, "I didn't know".
+Expect to spend considerable time beyond the school day.
+Go through cabinets and drawers and take stock of things.  Don't throw
anything out until after your 1st year.
+Organize supplies, make sure you have the things you'll need and label
media center things.  Put items that will most likely "walk off" out of
temptation's reach.
+Develop a letterhead for information from you and make sure your name and
your staff's name is prominently displayed.
+Visit the public library's staff and get to know them.  Most are eager to
collaborate and to share resources.
+Become familiar with the policy and procedures manuals from the school and
the district.
+Get an answering machine so you are not distracted from more immediate
needs.
+Review your budget.
+Become familiar with your collection.
+Subscribe to a good professional journal.
+Get a yearbook and start learning the staff's and student's names.

Joy Hendrickson
Media Specialist
Frostproof Middle/Senior High School
Frostproof, Fl
joymicah@4ez.com

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    All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email 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
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