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Here's the 2002 version of the preparation list I've posted to LM_Net for the past 
few years:

MONTH BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS:
1. Make friends with school secretary.
a.  Get copy of first month's school calendar.
b.  Find out school/district timetables for purchase orders, admin. reports, major 
events, etc
c.  Find out names/phone numbers of any district contacts you will need to interact 
with (supervisors, personnel office, accounts office, other librarians, PTA 
volunteer coordinator, etc.)
d.  Find out school policy on use of copiers, laminators, poster-makers, etc., 
especially if they are located anywhere near the library.
e.  Find out about supply room, supply orders, etc.
f.  Discreetly try to find out what clerical help (if any) might be available from 
the office staff, especially if there is no library staff.
g.  Find out if/when/how the library facility is used after regular school hours.
2.  Make friends with library staff, if any.
a.  Discuss roles and responsibilities, and schedules.
b.  Discreetly try to find out:
     - what previous librarian did first week of school
     - which teachers tended to 'hang out' in the library (you need them)
     - who (if anyone) organized volunteers from PTA (might be different info than 
from school secretary!)
        - which local librarians are/were friendly with previous librarian.
3. Make friends with school custodian(s).  Ask questions about cleaning schedules, 
use of library space after school, etc., and provide cookies.
4. Meet with principal, and discuss his/her goals for library program.  Ask what 
s/he wants you to concentrate on.  Find out what library schedule will be (fixed 
vs. flexible, open immediately or a week to set up, what kind of orientations 
necessary, etc.) and WHY.
5. See if you can go through the library files (you hope there are some), and find 
out what last year's schedule was really like.
6. Figure out the circ. system (automated or not), and decide on borrowing policies 
and rationales.
7. Make contact with pro-library faculty (see above): pump them for info.
8. See if you can talk to previous librarian, or neighboring librarian, re: 
circulation system, circ. policies, faculty attitude toward library.
9.  Find a copy of “The Little Engine That Could.”
10. Inform family that you will NOT be cooking dinner for the first week of school.

WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS:
1.  Select enough titles for read-alouds or booktalks to cover all classes.
2.  Plan and rehearse your orientation lessons.   Make sure to allow at least 10 
minutes for book browsing/checkout.
3. Figure out the circ. system's quirks (if there IS an automated system), and find 
out what kind of clerical/volunteer/student help you could hope to have.
4. Learn how to use any computer and/or AV equipment you are responsible for.  Find 
the instruction manuals (yeah, right) or send for more.
5. Figure out the shortest route to the faculty bathroom, and how long it takes to 
get there.  Add 5 minutes to that, to account for interruptions, crowded hallways, 
etc.
6.  Read "The Little Engine that Could" to yourself.
7.  Pick out wardrobe for entire first week of school.  Make sure that you have 
comfortable shoes,  clothes with pockets,  and that everything fits and is ready to 
wear.
8. Practice looking welcoming but not over-eager or terrified.
9. Remind the family that you will NOT be cooking dinner next week.  Make alternate 
arrangements, plans, etc., as needed, and post them on your refrigerator door.
10.  Buy throat lozenges.


FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL:
1. Re-read "The Little Engine that Could" to yourself every morning, before you get 
to school.
2. Wear pin or badge that says "Hi, I'm ----.  How can I help you?" at all times.  
Be very visible in the library- at the shelves, etc., NOT hiding behind the desk.
3.  Greet everyone who comes into the library.  Remind library staff (if any) to 
introduce you whenever possible, and to give you background info discreetly.
4. Eat lunch with different faculty group each day (if possible).  Do NOT skip 
lunch, or eat by yourself in the library.  Yes, you may have tons of work to do, 
but one of your most important jobs is to get to know the rest of the faculty.  . . 
.  as a person AND as a professional.
5. Observe faculty interactions and school culture carefully.  Do NOT get sucked 
into any one clique or grade-level group.  Be equally friendly to all (even those 
you hate at first sight -- you don't know who *they* are friendly with, yet).
6. Do not make any changes in the library routines right away, unless absolutely 
necessary. Be prepared with good 'practical' reasons for any changes you do make.
7. Do NOT be the first person to arrive at school, or the last to leave.  Work 
regular hours, just like the teachers.  You don't get overtime pay or brownie 
points for extended time in the building.
8. Keep a work log of what you did each day.  You'll be amazed at how time 
disappears.
9. Start a personal diary.  Use this for venting, instead of spewing every night to 
your family.
10.  Have dinner delivered or brought in this week.  You will be too pooped to 
cook, or even to  go out to eat.

FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL:
1. Use every spare moment to learn your collection.  Read shelves, play with 
technology, etc.
2. Learn kid's names, or at least 4 in every class.  (You will probably quickly 
learn the names of the trouble-makers, but make sure to learn others, too)
3. Learn all the teacher's names.  If there is a yearbook with pictures, use that 
as your cheat-sheet.
4. Find out which teachers are the most influential faculty members (and why), and 
find ways to work with them.
5.  Start a “teacher-interaction” log:  a separate page for each teacher you talk 
to/with.  Make brief notes about any discussions you have about library use OF ANY 
KIND.   You will find these notes invaluable as the year progresses.
6. Remember to HAVE A PERSONAL LIFE on the weekends.

38 years in the profession, but always willing to learn new tricks:
Alice Yucht
Heritage Middle School Library
Livingston NJ



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