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Dear LM_Net,

Having between 130-180 students in a small library is probably a fire hazard.
Find out from the district or fire marshall what your maximum capacity for
your library is, then enforce it.  You can set up a sign in sheet for every
period with a finite number of sign ins.  Once the limit is reached (all your
seats are filled) then ask students to go to the cafeteria.  Also, Carolyn
can't be expected to monitor 100 - 130 students - if a student gets hurt in
the library then their family can sue the district and Carolyn for inadequate
supervision of students.

Now to solve the larger issue.  Students coming to the library without any
purpose for doing library work.  Go to the teachers who use the library a lot
for research assignments and ask for their help.  They need to let the
principal know that their students can't do any research in the library for
their classroom assignments because it is a zoo.  With teacher support, the
principal should see that the current setting is harmful to the academic
achievement of the students.  Hopefully, the principal will work with the
staff to change the current system.

If not, then Carolyn needs to talk with her union.  No certified teacher
should have to be responsible for supervising individual 100-130 students per
period in the library and be expected to teach library skills and handle
research classes at the same time.  This places the librarian in a dangerous
position of being sued if a child is hurt.  Also, the union should be
concerned about teacher to student ratio in the library.  A grievance could be
filed if the principal doesn't change this dangerous situation in the library.

Peter G. Mohn, LMS
Snohomish Freshman Campus
Snohomish, WA
pmohn@foxinternet.net

Carolyn Gierke wrote:

> skatz@bedford.k12.ny.us writes:
> >Do any of you out there have a similar problem?
> >
> >In our high school of 1,000 students (and growing), many students have
> >"free periods" on their schedule. Because we are in a relatively small
> >building, the students are told to either go to the library (monitored by
> >me and one aide) or go to the cafeteria, which is monitored by a security
> >guard. No one wants to go to the cafeteria, so about 100-150 students end
> >up in the library every period. Usually there is a class in the library,
> >adding about 30 students to the total. Obviously we do not have enough
> >seats for all these kids, so kids are camping out on the floor between the
> >stacks and basically all over. It is a complete and utter zoo in here, not
> >conducive to studying, researching, or even thinking!
> >
> >My question to you all is how can I approach my adminstration about this?
> Your teachers who are trying to use the library with their classes have to
> back you up.
> >I
> >was thinking about video taping a typical period in the library to show
> >them how awful it is to use the library as a study hall. Any ideas?
> A video is not a bad idea, but you need a group of adults to go with you
> to the principal, (or bring up the topic at a faculty meeting) and discuss
> it.  You need backing.  It will be a big change that the kids will resist.
> >
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Sarah Katz
> >Library Media Specialist
> >Fox Lane High School
> >PO Box 390
> >Bedford, NY 10506
> >skatz@bedford.k12.ny.us
> >
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>
> "In theory, there isn't any difference between theory and practice.  In
> practice, there is."  - Yogi Berra
>
> Mrs. Carolyn Gierke,  Librarian
> Sweet Home High School
> 1901 Sweet Home Road
> Amherst, NY  14228
> Phone: 1-716-250-1227
> FAX:    1-716-250-1360
> email:  cgierke@shs.k12.ny.us
>
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All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) 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
4) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
 See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
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