LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Here are the responses I got to my newbie question, "What do you know now
that you wish you had known when you first started as a library media
specialist?" Thanks so much to all of you that took the time to offer your
words of wisdom to those of us who are beginning our career as an LMS.
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One thing I wish I had known as a newbie was to make myself indispensable
from the beginning, especially in collaborating. When teachers didn't come
to me, I wish I had known to go to them and suggest things or take materials
and show them what we had that may be helpful. I learned this strategy much
later.
Also, I wish that I had established a protocol from the beginning for
classes coming into the media center, as it is very difficult to change,
once a pattern of behavior has been established (like showing up at the door
and saying something similar to "I just had a brainstorm and couldn't resist
bringing my class to the media center to check it out!!" when it was my
lunch hour). I missed many lunch hours (minutes-LOL) by allowing spur of the
moment class scheduling. (BTW, I thought it was unprofessional of the
teachers and really, unprofessional of me to allow it, as there was no
preparation. It was akin to holding class without any lesson plans, which
couldn't be too rewarding for the students. I must admit that occasionally
this is not a bad practice, when it truly is a brainstorm and not just a
lack of preparation on the teacher's part.
Finally, I wish I had known how important it is to keep the principal
informed on a weekly or even daily basis of activities in the media center.
It is my common practice now to report activities and keep the principal or
school administrator informed. Consequently, there is never any question
that the media center is a busy, active place and is justified in getting
almost every reasonable thing I ask for (when I explain how it will be used
and so on).
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It took me a looong time to realize that I would never get it all perfect and
that I would never finish with my work. It's just the nature of the task.
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Two things come to mind:
1) if you don't know the answer, be honest and tell the kids you don't know,
but will find out AND follow through with it. Funny thing, you may have
forgotten the promise, but I assure you they haven't.
2) be able to laugh at yourself and the kids when they do something funny.
We were told in library school "NEVER laugh at the kids," but if they do or
say something funny it's pretty hard to hold it in. I think it shows that we
are human, too.
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What I know is that everything comes down to relationships, and
therefore, the best energy you can spend is to build lasting and
collaborative relationships with your teachers, your administrators,
your library colleagues, your school staff (including secretaries and
custodians), and your students. It will lead to success in everything
else!
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My answer would be.....that you are never finished. There is ALWAYS
something to be done and not to stress out over this problem. The key is to
keep working and be consistent in what you do.
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Every year I learn something new about being a librarian and running a
library. It is NOT a static profession.
One of the things I have learned to do better and wish I had done it as a
newbie is prioritize. I am getting better able to decide what is
important in my library and me, e.g. it more important to help a first grader
find the book she wants rather than finish filing the catalog cards.
I also wish I had known that the job is never ending and you can never get
it all done. No matter how much you do there is more to be done. Took me
a long time to accept that and shut the office door without a shudder.
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1. Be Flexible. The world will not end because things are different than
you think they should be.
2. Speak Up. Too many of us sit back and don't participate. If you have an
opinion, say it. We have freedom of speech around here!
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I wish I had realized sooner that there will always be work to do, nothing's
ever done; there will always be piles of "stuff" (books to process, cards to
file (or disks to load)); it will always look messy, etc., etc. Don't give
away your life for the life of your library. No matter how tired or how
frustrated or how much work there is left to do - GO Home! Have a project
waiting, have an appointment so you have to close the doors and _leave_.
Tell that teacher (and there will be chronic ones - you'll soon figure out
who they are) you're sorry, but you can't wait until she has free time after
school to meet with you. A few teachers get warped over it, but they also
get over it. Other teachers will be so appreciative of whatever you do for
them - bend over backwards to help them - it makes you both feel good.
I guess this sounds negative, but overwork and under appreciation are the
top reasons library media people burn out!
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To save more money in the first years I taught because it will earn so
much interest.
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I suppose the one thing overall that I wish I had known is that the
children DO NOT respond, act, or think like I used to twenty years ago.
There are some that believe that all kids are alike, but I submit that
they are shaped by their past just as we all are. The world has changed
and we change with it. I remember that I used to get giddy just thinking
about holding a boys hand in 6th grade when I was 12. Nowadays...well,
you know what I mean. And the YA literature is reflecting these changes.
Perhaps I was naive when I first started, but I wish I had had more on
classroom management and the logistics of how to deal with over 450
students streaming in and out of the library every day. Thankfully, a
veteran teacher took me under her wing and was courageous and strong
enough to tell me exactly what I was doing wrong...the unadulterated
TRUTH. And let me tell you, it did hurt as the cliche says.
I learned...I just wish someone had warned me. :-)
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It is much easier to "overhelp" students find information than to let them
do it themselves. In the long run, however, you are much better off
teaching the students how to find it themselves.
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That the vast majority of teachers could care less about your library media
center or the program you provide unless they can see how it can benefit them
in
the classroom. Also, you will never have 100% of the teachers on your side,
because some teachers just like to work on their own and don't collaborate.
Does that mean I give up on teachers - No!! Sometimes it might take me five
years to win a teacher over, but I never give up.
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I'm the LMS at a school with nearly 1200 K-5 students and 100 faculty/staff.
I've been a LMS for 18 years and I truly love my job. I wish I'd known:
1. You cannot please everyone, no matter how you knock yourself out. Some
teachers will always think you have a cushy job. I now suggest that they
become certified in the field.
2. Harry Wong's method of classroom management. His book, The First Days
of School is wonderful.
3. Librarians do make a difference in the lives of children. I have had so
many students tell me so years later.
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What do I wish I had known??
How to chain 4 TVs with one VCR to show a video in the gym. (There were 3
models of TVs available to figure into the equation).
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Brenda Young
Library Media Specialist
Rosehill Elementary
Omaha, NE
brenda525@aol.com
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