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7.  What should I be doing now that it is summer and I have extra time
to go up to the school?
Put up bulletin boards, enter students into the circ. station, plan
orientation, do a welcome letter to parents and teachers, do some
beginning of the year bibliographies for teachers, browse the
collection, do a How May We Help sheet for weekly passing out to staff,
decide how you are going to handle check out, put feelers out for
possible good parent volunteers, get your bearings as far as where
supplies and other stuff is kept.

EVERYTHING!  Just kidding ... sort of.  Do the following in order:
- make sure the kids are all in the computer under the correct classes
so you can start check out right away.  Do NOT delete all of the
graduates without checking to see if anyone owes any fines.  Good luck
chasing them down.  - check to see if the magazines have been ordered.
If not, do that.  Also, put in an order for books.  They will arrive by
September, and everyone will love you.  - wander around the library to
get an idea for titles and where stuff is.  Do a print out of the age of
the collection and start working on weeding and updating your worst
area.  Give this collection report and your plan to the principal.  Also
get book/video requests from teachers at the beginning of the year.

Go in and familiarize yourself with the layout of the library.  Where
the Clifford/Arthur/encyclopedias are located and where your previous
media specialist kept supplies, etc.  Make a list of items you want to
order, items you want to change.  I wouldn't make too many changes the
first year though -- let them get used to you.

You might go and read old files, try to look at what your collection is.
Move in any of your personal "stuff"

Familiarize yourself with the collection.  Read from the fiction and
picture books.  Know your reference collection.  Pick topics of interest
you have such as flexible scheduling and read through the postings on
LM_NET.  (http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html) I
have learned A TON from this LISTSERV!  I regularly scan through old
postings when I have questions and I am in my 4th year.  (Just received
my MLIS this spring, however!)

Staying at home and resting to get ready for the big year ahead!  No,
really - you could be getting to know your collection, thinking about
and making any changes in arrangement, etc.  Getting to know your
automated system if you have one.  Decorating, rearranging, getting
policies and procedures in print, preparing Orientation lessons.

Familiarize yourself with collection and curriculum.  plan some of
your lesson plans for orientation/skills; Relax!

Summer stuff to do - spend a lot of time browsing your new collection -

pull books that you could use with lessons. Get your center looking
good- way before anyone arrives- this always catches everyone's
attention;Organize your files, write up your first month or two of
lesson plans; Write some goals for your first year - I always write
five, using a diverse approach, so I am developing in many ways;
Drop by the classrooms, as you see teachers dropping in - this is a
terrific way to get a start with your teachers!

        Get to know the curriculum and key resources, especially the
technology. Teachers want and welcome help with technology.

Sit in a rolling chair, roll down those isles of shelves and learn your
collection

Great question - so hard to do things ahead of time.  I'd take a look at
the curriculla for various grade levels and subjects and actually or
just pretend to create a "pathfinder" or bibliography that you could
hand to the
teachers.  That way you'd handle the collection in a concrete way.  Go
in a few times over the summer and get to know the office staff and
custodial staff.  Don't ask any favors until they know how wonderful you
are. Ask
advice or how to best work with them.  Then they'll know how wonderful
you are and you're golden!

I am spending my summer developing the new web page for my school. I can
do the majority of it at home and then take it with a zip drive to the
server. I don't go to the school too often during the summer.

Just start thinking of your PR.  How to approach teachers and organize
your program.

Another thing this summer, make friends with the custodians and the
secretary--the principal too if possible, but I wouldn't push that
latter.  Spend some of the time you have this summer getting  familiar
with your library and your school, so you can answer questions.  Know
how to operate equipment in your area.  (In my case the two most
important things would be the laminator and the copy machine), so you
can help other people.  If your district has a buddy or mentor program,
can you ask for another librarian to be your mentor?  If it's not
officially a program, find someone anyway.

During the summer, besides what I have mentioned.  Deal with the mail.
Go through the files. (if you don't do it now, you never will and you
may throw out things you should keep because you're in a rush)  Organize
some files of your own.  Prepare a clever but useful teacher
introduction to yourself and ask the principal for time on the schedule
during the preschool meetings.  You might even compose a couple of
preliminary newsletter for teachers and parents.  Do some dynamite
bulletin boards.  Consider a contest of some kind
to encourage book return and good library behavior.  I usually have a
theme to tie things together. Star Wars, Bears, Dogs (Books are Best
Friends) Oceans of Success, the Sky's the limit, Reading is your
Passport to ...
Reading puts you in the Driver's seat, etc.

8.  Is anyone in an elementary Media Center by themselves?  Any advice?
(I'm looking forward to it!)
        Take advantage of being being THE person in charge!

Don't think you will get everything done you set out to do!
Prioritize.  Let the kids help!

I am a sole MS with a good size school. I do have 2.5 hours of afternoon

help by high school student. Heavily count on parent volunteers. Ask
principal if you can send a letter home in first day packet, (or however

stuff is sent in your setting). Create a colorful, attractive volunteer
form. Ask for morning and afternoon help. I have 30 steady volunteers
who do so much- all the checkout,checkin, shelving, pulling collections
for teachers, help with students, do overdues, input my books and
magazines (after I catalog any that need it), process new stuff - you
name it! I write tons of thanks , constantly - provide candy, and little
treats through the year. This will really lighten your load!!!!!!! It is
very hard to do alone - almost impossible to deal with behavior,
teaching, assisting without help.

I love being by myself,too,  but it is HARD work!  I love doing it all
- from ordering and receiving materials, to processing, cataloging and
shelving!  It helps me really know my collection.  I love checking out
-
it helps me know my students!  But the work never ends - I kinda like
it
that way!  The best advice - stay organized, and don't kill yourself
trying to do it all.  What doesn't get done today will still be there
tomorrow.  Use parent volunteers for shelving and bookfairs - I have
problems with consistency and quality of work to depend on them too
much
for processing and other clerical things.  Take home what you can - I
do
all my journal reading and book selection at home.

I am all by myself.  Best advice I got from an older librarian
was to teach kids to reshelve their books.  Otherwise reshelving
becomes
and ENORMOUS chore. As mentioned above I have INTENSE lessons with 3rd
grade, then review for 4th and 5th.  Then for about 6 weeks they work
with partners to make sure books are put up correctlly.  I shelve for
1st and 2nd, which gives me opportunity to correct things. Also, kids in
3-4-5 who do not bring their books back have to go to shelves, and
correct any misshelving.--This is "gentle punishment" for not
remembering book, keeps them focused and helps me....some are so
pleased to find errors they can correct.

I'm alone but do have good volunteers.  Again, that's a tough one
because the techie/clerical work calls out to be done, and I find myself
thinking that I'm not getting to the professional side of the job.  But
very few other people know what the job of the librarian is anyway
(personal opinion, obviously) so do what is your own priority and keep
things moving so you feel some accomplishment at the end of the day.

I would definetly employ student assistants.  Make a list of priorities
and revise as needed.

Teach fifth graders to help you. Treat parents great so they will come
in and shelve your books. I am by myself in the media center with no
para help, so I train whomever I can to do the tasks that can be done
without having a degree. Students are the best and they LOVE to help. I
teach ABC order and the order of the easy books by teaching 1st grade to
shelve. Works great. I always have a reward for helping which are
usually neat pencils that I get at a school supply store and really
special ones at the holidays.
I am a teacher first and try to spend my time doing that verses anything
else.

If you are the sole person in the LMC, then you need a strong parent or
student helper program.  I have a clerk, but when she was half time, I
really depended on 5th grade students.  I kept the same ones all year if
they were
good.  I also always picked my key people from a certain teacher's class
because she would let them come even during her class time in an
emergency.  Normally my helpers come at recess or right after lunch.  I
don't have any trouble finding kids to give up recess.  I never let
anyone do it every day, though.  My only daily helpers are the ones who
come for just about 15 minutes after lunch to deliver book return carts
for the next day, deal with the mail, and put away their assigned books.
I assign a kid to the popular
series books such as the Berenstain Bears.  My clerk puts away most of
the books because it's important to me that the books are in pretty good
order so I can find things.  I prefer kids to parents because in our
very low income area, it's hard to find non-working parents who have
even basic skills that you need in a library such as how to file.  Also
kids don't need as much of my attention as parents do.  However, you do
need to make them feel needed and appreciated.  I give them candy on
Friday and usually an extra treat at Christmas and maybe Valentine's
Day.  I invite them to eat lunch with me in the library 2 or 3
times a year.  Usually I provide lunch at the end of the year although
that can get expensive.  However every situation is different.  I have
had parents who were absolutely marvelous.  The bottom line is you do
need help.  I have some working parents who will do things at home for
me like cut things out if I ask them.  I've experimented with  weekly
volunteer nights but they usually are more trouble for me than they are
worth.  However that is how I got my collection barcoded when we were
getting ready to automate.  We did it in the summer, two nights a week.
I used some junior high alumni for this project as well.  (And no, I
didn't get paid for working all those summer nights.)


9.  Did anyone NOT have a chance to speak to the previous Media
Specialist before you started?  Any advice?
Our previous media specialist quite in the first two months of opening
the school.  I was a parent volunteer who helped her put books on the
shelves before they opened.  I knew NOTHING about being a media
specialist.  My MLIS classmates were a great support to me as was the
2nd media specialist I worked with even though she had not worked in a
library for 20 years!

I did speak with former MS - but honestly - other than wanting to know
about orders outstanding, and a few little things the info did not
really effect me. Advise - you are bringing to this job - your
strengths, your goals, your experiences. I have been told so often -
"you have big shoes to fill" - which I dislike hearing. It is not many
months before those words have faded and the staff is seeing a more
vibrant, educationally-based center. No bragging here - but my case in
point - if you are a progressive MS educator - you will present a
wonderful

She was very unorganized and scared me half to death but it was her
personality.  With the right person, I highly recommend it but don't let
them intimidate you or frighten you with "so much work" stories.  You
need to "work smarter, not harder."

I did not have opportunity to talk to previous librarians at
either school in which I have worked.
How I teach spine labels/catalog: I cut posterboard into 3 inch
wide
strips which represent spine of book.  I write call numbers on these
imaginary spines.  I begin with E section of library.  Introductory
lesson I give spines to 5 kids, they are "books' on shelf.  They have
to
arrange themselves in order.  Rest of class critiques them.  Then 5
more
join the "shelf" etc. until entire class is in shelf order.  Then they
go to our shelves and show where this book would be shelved if it were
real.  We do this for 3-4 lessons.  Then we put a real book up.....Then
move to Fiction area.  Repeat....Then NF area.....After we have
"conquered" shelf order we go to catalog and learn how to look for a
book and find it.
Other advice: Report once per month to principal what is
happening
in library.
Make friends with secretary (a must) and janitor...They can make your
life miserable if you do not have them for your friends.
Work to be friends with staff.  Worst part of job is
isolation--each grade level will be friends with one another but you
are
"odd man out."

        Depends on your goals; my predecessory was quite different in her
approach; I  spoke with her and picked up some ideas, but I relied on
the secreatary who had been there to answer most of my questsions.

Make sure you get a chance to speak with a media specialist in your
district.  They can clue you in as to policies and procedures.  This
was
especially helpful to me as I was coming from another state.

I didn't really get to talk to the previous person.  The hardest thing
for me was having to take the time to learn the circulation system and
the Accelerated Reader program.  I'm great with computers, but it took
me time to learn both systems (DOS based at the time by the way -
YUCK).
Plus, the library had its shelf card card catalog furniture and TONS
of catalogs.  I spent too much time cleaning junk out.

this can be a benefit - you will have an "open mind" and not be
prejudiced against students or staff!  Your library coordinator for your
county can be a great resource for info.  Also joining this and other
listserv - galileo for example – can be helpful.  Join GLMA.  Try to
attend the Georgia Children's Literature  Conference or the Georgia
Council of Media Organizations Conference.  Usually there are several
excellent presenters doing literature/curriculum based programs.  Get to
know other media specialists in your county!Collaborate with your
teachers.

It's been 7 years ago, and she spent part of a day with me.  Mostly it
was on district stuff - like ordering, purchase orders, accounts/budget
- all of which has changed now.  We covered a little about scheduling -
I stuck to her schedule for the first year - gave me time to get to
know
teachers and formulate my own plan.  I depended more on other
librarians
in the district to help me - I was on the phone a lot that first year,
to the librarian at my children's school, and to a librarian friend who
left public libraries at the same time I did to move into school
libraries.  Also, remember LM_NET is ALWAYS here for you!

I replaced a woman who had burned out long ago, and she was happy to
give me her take on things in the building and her routine.  Boy, oh
boy, I tell you, that's the way to go.  No matter what I did, it was
better/different/more fun than the previous librarian and they think I'm
great (faculty and students!) When of course she knew all the stuff, but
was
simply tired.  It would have been different for me had I replaced
someone whom everyone loved (not that they didn't like her, but it was
time for a change.) or if I hadn't spoken with her.  I do think everyone
is very open
and understanding that different people and personalities do things in a
new and different way.  It's your territory now and unless you have a
micro-managing principal, everyone will soon understand it is your place
after the initial recognition that change has to occour, and whatever
you do
will be fine.  Keep the best of what the teachers liked, but do what you
want to do, with the understanding everything is negotiable and more
change may be coming.

The media specialist before me was a good friend that retired. At
first I was afraid of replacing her, she was the best, but since I have
been there, I have established my own personality and my own program. In
fact, I think the teachers like my program as well.

No, and was most glad.  They can give you a preconcieved notion about
the building and staff.  It is better to go int there with your ideas
and your philosophy so you can create a media center that will work for
your patrons and for you.

You indicated you do not have a clerk and you didn't get to speak to
your forerunner.  My advice would be to try and locate her.  When I
first came to my present school, I had always been at the secondary
level and had not a clue about elementary stuff.  The move was made as
part of a reduction in staff, and the librarian I replaced actually did
not have a job at all for a while.  Although I felt bad for her, I still
called her with questions for several months.  I figured if she resented
me too much she would hang up, but
actually, she didn't mind.  People like to be valued for their
expertise.  So don't be afraid to ask questions of whomever you peg as
most likely to know.


        Have fun!  Media is such a wonderful job!!!!!!  And, be sure to hang
out with other media specialists, go to conferences etc etc etc. Welcome
to the profession!

I always say I've go the best job in the world - hopefully, you will
still have that attitude too after the first few "tests"!  Congrats &
enjoy.  By the way I had been in an independent secondary boarding
school for 6 years then moved to a public K-8 school in a rural setting.
Just completed my third year at this school - it has flown!! - and I
love it.






















Tiffani De L'Eveille,Media Specialist
Cascade Elementary School, Atlanta, GA
stu7107@westga.edu

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