LM_NET: Library Media Networking
I had not planned to post this as a HIT - I did share the information with
everyone that asked, but given the discussions of late, thought I may as
well share with everyone. I agree that more HITS should be posted but the
LM_NET ETIQUETTE rule 6 states: Never post a message to the group which
would not be of interest to thousands of people. It is considered wasteful
of the time of list members to be pestered with meaningless (to them)
messages which are of value only to a small number of people.
Since new media specialists are in the minority on this list, I figured that
my "newbie" hits would NOT be of interest to thousands - I guess I was
wrong. I will post more HITS in the future.
ORIGINAL POST
I will be starting my first year as a High School Media Specialist in the
Fall.
I would like to give my new principal a list of goals and objectives for the
coming year. Since I will brand new to the field, the only goals I have been
able to come up with are
1. Get to know the teachers and curriculum. (attend department and
faculty meetings)
2. Become familiar with the circ/cat system. (Winnebago)
3. Build a library webpage.
4. Train a small number of student library aids. (Is this too much, too
soon?)
5. Survive:-)
If you have any ideas or suggestions for my (very rough) plan – please let
me know. I will be meeting the principal on Monday and would like to discuss
some ideas with her.
******************************
Angela Y Northern
anorther@seidata.com
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REPLIES
I would add: Get to know the collection
I am not at a high school, but I believe an important part of your/my/our
role in our schools is to **use** that training that made us information
specialists--unlike anyone else in the building. When my teachers don't
bother to "use" me, I feel like the students are getting the full benefit of
the school's resources (me!); I also believe that in many cases the
teacher's time could be best spent somewhere else. Example: teacher comes
in to the IMC unexpectedly with her class to research on Ancient China.
She works with them, though primarily keeping order and reminding them of
what
the required resources are for their assignment. If she had let me know of
this plan, I could have prepared myself and the IMC for a research period
for those kids--freed up my time, made sure no related materials were on my
desk, in repair, the book return, etc. I could have "pre-" searched for
appropriate materials in my vertical file, Internet, periodicals. Granted,
we hope your high schoolers will be more accomplished at research than my
K-8, but my point is that you are specially trained in ways that your
teachers are not (and vice versa, thank goodness).
Ideally, you could meet with teachers to find out what their upcoming units
include, and then offer them materials, time in the IMC to research--always
remembering to make their jobs easier, not more involved that they have to
accommodate you. ***Communication*** and planning. One of my teachers will
clear a shelf of materials for her class; another teacher will finish a unit
before I overhear a student say something about Gallileo--while some great
Gallileo books languish, unread, on the shelf.
Babble, babble. My point--I suggest you find a way to make a goal of
integrating the media center and your time with classroom learning. Meet
regularly with teachers to plan, come up with an alternative communication
to know what they are teaching and how you can accommodate/enhance that.
Yes, to some this will sound like you are protecting your job, but I truly
believe that we have training that will serve students well if we can serve
them at that appropriate time!
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I would add OBSERVE EVERYONE, LISTEN, and ACCESS NEEDS.
Become acquainted with ALL of your library's resources -- all types,
even human ones -- parents.
You have good basic goals.
No it is not too ambitious to get a cadre of aides. You'll be glad you
did. GREAT, great luck to you.
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Be especially nice to the custodians and high school secretary. They can
make your life much more bearable that first year and remember, there is no
such thing as a stupid question.
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I am also new to school libraries, but not new to libraries in general.
I got my MLS in 1986. I am working on getting state certification here in
TN, and will start as a school librarian this fall. I think your list is
very ambitious, I would not add any more to it, it will take at least a
semester to get to know the teachers, who are all busy getting to know
there students. Several practicing school librarians here have told me not
to make changes the first year, or very few changes. Do things gradually
they have all warned me!
See what works and doesn't the first year and prioritize those things that
need to be changed or fixed the most. Good luck to you in your new job!
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If you don't have an adult aide, this seems like a HUGE list for a
first-year librarian! But they're all-important tasks so if you can
handle it, go for it! Maybe the Web page is the one that can wait for a
while
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I always like to include
"Share my enthusiasm for books and reading"
and it has impressed more than one administrator!
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Get to know the whole staff--cooks and custodians are great friends
and helpers.
Get out of library and around the building--
be familiar with every room.
Keep library doors open.
Go out and recruit classes/teachers who don't volunteer/ask to come in.
GOOD LUCK--and WELCOME
to the profession.
It's a great job!!!
Richard Librarian
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Your goals sound fine especially the one about student helpers. Although
you may find that you already have some. I am in an elementary school so it
is rather different but one suggestion, if I may, - what about goals that
deal with students. The library webpage may be great but does it help or
increase student learning. I always try to remember - student first the
rest later. However, getting to know the teachers should be that first
goal. Good luck in your first year. #5 will be the hardest but you will
make it. Just try not to do too much. My first year I felt that I wanted to
do it all and around January realized that all I was doing was reacting to
situations. Decided to focus on only a few things at a time and everything
starting to fall into place. Again good luck. It is really a great job
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I am just completing my second year a high school librarian. One of my
grad school instructors, Bea, told us to take things very slowly and plan
few
if any changes the first year. She was absolutely right. If the staff in
the building is not used to collaborating with the librarian, then it's
important for you to develop these relationships. The goal in the first year
should be identifying one teacher with whom you could develop a research
project. The second year, work to plan the unit and develop the collection
to support that research project. After implementing a successful unit with
this teacher, begin to spread the word. Gradually, teachers will come to
you. Remember, teachers are used to doing a solo act in a classroom with a
closed door. It's asking a lot of them to let you share their stage.
One thing I noticed that was missing on your list was getting to know the
collection. This is critical. You need to know what you have so that you
know what to buy new, what to replace, and what to weed out. A close
familiarity with your collection will also make it possible to market the
library to the faculty.
Also, take time to get to know the kids well. High school kids can be
wonderful and test you to your limits. Today, some kids let loose rats,
mice, and crickets in the building. <<<sigh>>> end of year....
Good luck in your first year. It's exciting, and wonderful. By this time
next year you'll be an old hand at it. Have fun!
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I was in my first year this year and I think your
goals are right on the mark. Getting to know the
curriculum and who does what when are very important.
You can try to implement changes the second year. If
you can get hold of old records, that helps. My
predecessor kept class schedules in a large format
plan book with a week to two pages. The days were
marked into blocks for the class periods so that you
could write in classes coming in, etc. I found
reading these to be helpful - she kept the class
assignments in the weeks where the students did them,
so looking at that was helpful.
Also get last year's yearbook, if you can and start
memorizing teacher's names. My clerk had been here
many years, so she was invaluable in getting to know
who was who among the teachers and students.
Also, keep track of stuff. I started keeping track of
how many students were in the library each period from
study hall and for other things, it really helped when
I tried to impose some order by giving the teachers a
maximum number to send. I also wrote down each
projection lamp and type as it was used so I have some
idea of how many to order for the coming year.
The webpage and library helpers might be a bit much.
I'd do the helpers first, because if you don't have
clerical help, they could reduce the load. Basically,
the first year you are just trying to get through.
Don't forget to have library orientations early in the
year for the students. Make sure you eat with the
teachers so you get to know them and can do some
networking. They're checking you out, too and
comparing you with your predecessor.
Good luck!
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> I have been away from the list for the last few weeks as I finish
up my MLS.
> I will be starting my first year as a High School Media Specialist
in the
> Fall.
>
Congratulations! I'm sure you'll enjoy it. This summer will
probably be a good time to plan your year. I just got through my
first year, so I feel somewhat qualified to comment on your ideas,
even though I'm in an elementary library...
> I would like to give my new principal a list of goals and
objectives for the
> coming year. Since I will brand new to the field, the only goals I
have been
> able to come up with are
> 1. Get to know the teachers and curriculum. (attend
department and
> faculty meetings)
This is a great idea. Do you do flexible scheduling? If not,
you might want to consider it. Not only that, you can tailor your
lessons to fill in some of the fun extras the teachers might skim
over in the interests of time. For instance, when our third grade
studied electricity, I was able to set up various experiments for
them and I showed them books on how to do their own.
> 2. Become familiar with the circ/cat system. (Winnebago)
I don't know too much about Winnebago, but I will warn you: 90%
of what you learn will probably be "on the fly" when someone asks
you to do it. I'd be willing to bet that you'll pick the system up
rather quickly.
> 3. Build a library webpage.
This is very fun and rewarding. One of my ideas was to make
bookmarks with our school's web address on them and give them out
when students check out.
> 4. Train a small number of student library aids. (Is this too
much, too
> soon?)
I waited until after the Christmas holiday to do this, and had I
done so sooner, I would have found #5 (survival) much easier. I had
fifth grade students come in early to turn on computers and check in
and shelve books. With your group you could do so much more! One
local high school has a Media Assistants Club that meets once every
two weeks to learn new software. They also set up a rotation of
helpers who came in at various times to work. They did fund raisers
to buy new software and books too. While this might seem like a lot
of work at the beginning of the year, it will pay off later. I plan
on doing something similar at the start of this upcoming year.
> 5. Survive:-)
Hee hee, that's what it feels like sometimes...I would suggest
that you spend some time at the school during the summer - get to
know the software, where materials are located, etc. I didn't have
that luxury and I wish I did.
I guess my advice, after one year, is to keep up the status quo
for the first year and then try to make changes. The teachers will
be much happier that way. Best of luck!
>
> If you have any ideas or suggestions for my (very rough) plan –
please let
> me know. I will be meeting the principal on Monday and would like
to discuss
> some ideas with her.
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Does your new library have a Procedural Manual? (including procedures for
challenged materials) If not, you might begin developing one.
Evaluating and building your collection to support and enrich the curriculum
is always an on-going goal for me.
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Well, DON'T say yes to anything that your principal wants you to do that's
not under the library realm, usually when you are new they will dump on you
and then you will by overwhelmed. Your goals are fine.
Good luck!
Michele
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Get to know the students. Try to get your hands on the most recent yearbook
and put names to faces. They appreciate it.
Have a sense of humor.
Don't be afraid to set and hold to consequences for inappropriate behavior.
Within legal and ethical limits, don't betray a student confidence.
Show your knowledge. They will respect your competence.
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FINAL PRODUCT
First Year goals/objectives
1) Become familiar with
a) the teachers and curriculum (attend department and faculty meetings)
b) the students (Observe everyone, listen, and assess needs)
c) the collection (Evaluate and build a collection to support and enrich
existing curriculum)
d) the Winnebago circ/cat system.
2) Train a cadre of student library aides.
3) Share my enthusiasm for books and reading
4) Build a library webpage
5) Begin to develop ways to integrate the media center and media specialist
into classroom learning
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