That IS important. I know how difficult that can be because when I started
my first job, I was 21 years old and I had students in my senior English
class who were 19!! Luckily, the ages increased as I continued, but when
there aren't many young teachers, someone who is younger or newer can often
find themselves associating with the "minors."
It's also hard to explain to new teachers how they appear to others when
they think that they're just being nice to students or learning from them.
If they're the "cool" teacher because they're younger, it can cause many
problems when they begin to associate with students outside of school.
I was lucky to have a professor who told us horror stories of what NOT to do
as a young teacher, but I know that I still found myself associating with
those students who were just two to three years younger than myself.
Unfortunately, I've also seen new teachers who were my age get caught up in
some serious problems that could make headline news (and later, Monday Night
Movies). I've also learned from watching their mistakes, as a few of them
no longer are able to teach.
This is why mentoring is SO important to new teachers and telling them
"straight" about what is or is not acceptable (especially in their own
communities--smaller ones are often the worst because everyone knows
everyone). As mentors, we need to be available for around-the-clock
counseling with these younger teachers. Unfortunately, librarians are often
the "new teacher" who is left out when it comes to mentoring because
sometimes there just aren't enough of "us" around to help one another.
That's why this list is so important to new librarians.
~Shonda Brisco
Trinity Valley MS / US Librarian
Fort Worth, TX
sbrisco021@charter.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Debra W. Waugh" <debwaugh@FRONTIERNET.NET>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 4:51 AM
Subject: Re: Topics for Workshop of Useful Skills not taught in Library
> A recent incident in my area brought to mind one very important Useful
> Skill Not Taught in Library School. How to Align Yourself with the
> Faculty: The Importance of Not Fraternizing with Minors. Maybe it's not
> a skill per se, but in this case, the repercussions could have
> permanently negative consequences on a young man's career and
> reputation.
>
> Deb Waugh
> Library Media Specialist/Technology Facilitator
> Graham High School
> Bluefield, Virginia
> dwaugh@tazewell.k12.va.us
> debwaugh@frontiernet.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: School Library Media & Network Communications
> [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Maria Johnson
> Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 7:59 PM
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: HIT: Topics for Workshop of Useful Skills not taught in Library
>
> A recent thread about book care/repair inspired me to post a request
> for
> ideas for a workshop built around "Fun and Useful Things not Taught in
> Library School." Thank you again to all who responded! Here is the hit:
>
> How about How to Deal with Book Vendors?
> I must admit, I worked reference throughout library school (that is my
> specialization), so I wasn't familiar with school libraries. When I sat
> down with my Follett rep for the very first time and he gave me a
> three-page
> list of how did I want my books marked and how were my MARC records
> encoded,
> I was dumbfounded. I had to look in the Athena manual regarding MARC,
> and I
> finally got a clue as to how I wanted my books marked.
>
> It was very imtimidating for a first-timer! Fortunately, that was last
> year, so now I can "walk the walk and talk the talk." :)
>
> *************
> Unjamming copy machines
>
> Giving directions to: water fountain, bathroom, pencil
> sharpener
>
> Removing graffiti (colorful words)
>
> Removing gum (pressed into furniture)
>
> Removing grafitti left in gum (colorful words made of gum
> and pressed into furniture)
>
> Dodging phone calls from salesmen (politely but efficiently)
>
> Lunch duty, bus duty, hallway duty
>
> ****************************************************
>
> Maybe how to make copies? Or how to figure out why the machine isn't
> working. At our school, I'm the trouble-shooter for the photocopier,
> which is in the library. (Years ago, when I first became a librarian,
> the first thing the principal told me to do was make a schedule for
> class visits for the year, and the second was to copy it on the ditto
> machine. I had no idea how! In another school, I was the first one
> called for help with the Risograph. Although it was not housed in the
> library, teachers had their first introduction to that contraption in
> the library, so somehow I was thought to be the "expert.")
> Helping busy people in ways that are not, strictly speaking, our
> department can give us an entree with teachers so we can push the
> things that *are* our job.
>
> Another thought: my library administration class did not teach me
> about using adult or student volunteers. Perhaps some pointers there
> would be good.
>
> Advice on how to do playground duty? I've known teachers who brought
> out a chair and graded papers while supposedly "supervising" a hundred
> children.
> **************************************************************
>
> "How not to have a stroke when you find 10 keyboards drip drying in the
> sink
> after the assistant "washed" them"
> "How to deal with equipment and help teachers who try to put a CD-Rom
> in
> the A drive while still teaching a full load of classes"
>
> "How to work as a librarian, clerk, social worker, teacher, babysitter,
> computer wiz, etc, all at the same time"
>
> The two best things that I came away from the master's degree program
> with
> were the understanding that you need to plan and document changes even
> though you never have time to do it and a basic understanding of
> computer
> skills (and that was just because I took all of my classes online via
> distance learning) so I think it's a shame that so much of the
> "old-timey"
> stuff such as book repair, equipment maintenance and repair, and
> customer
> service skills are so sorely neglected in library school.
>
> *****************************************************
> One thing I didn't get in Lib. School was how to order books. I learned
> about different vendors and different bindings from other librarians. A
> demonstration of Follett's Titlewave would be an essential part of such
> a
> topic.
> ************************************
> Basic trouble-shooting and preventive maintenance for a-v equipment
> Basic maintenance of office equipment (photocopiers, fax machines, other
> types of duplicating equipment (I have to do this for all copying
> equipment
> in my school and simply learned it by trial and error plus looking over
> the
> service man's shoulder and asking questions.)
> Basic computer troubleshooting, repair and maintenance
> Effective bulletin boards and displays, sources for inexpensive or free
> items for these
> ******************************************************************
> For those still not automated - ways to keep circulation cards by class,
> by
> date due, depends on how you intend to have the books carded when they
> are
> returned. I keep mine by class and have the aide or teacher card the
> books
> when a whole class returns at once but this would not work in a HS
> setting.
>
> Shelving tips - most of us have very little time to shelve books and
> work
> out "quick and dirty" methods that work in our libraries - I shelve Easy
> books by the first letter in the authors name only - I do not even try
> to
> keep "good" shelf order. On the same topic - ways to help students
> reshelve
> during browsing - using shelf markers or some other method.
>
> For the elementary set - short finger plays to to use to keep students
> attention during the time they are waiting to line up when the teacher
> is
> late.
>
> Attention getting methods for when the class becomes too noisy.
>
> Ways to keep track of teacher requests for books not in the collection
> to
> consider at order time.
>
> Non-sexist ways to line up - those with tie shoes, those with slip on
> shoes
> or for the kinder set who are still learning their colors - those who
> are
> wearing red, those who are wearing green
>
> *****************************************************
>
> How to download MARC records from LC, SUNLINK, etc.
> Care of living things - plants, aquariums, "shelf
> pets".
> We often inherit these or have people who want to
> donate. For those of us without a green thumb it
> can be challenge.
>
> AV equipment maintenance and repair. Many of us get
> this job by default and we have to learn "on the fly".
>
> Cleaning supplies. Unless you have a top-notch
> cleaning crew, there are many jobs that don't get done
> or don't get done well. What products are available
> for what tasks would be great.
>
> (When I was in another state we wanted to do a
> conference session on this topic, but the organization
> was afraid of offending the library school people!!!!)
>
> I am working on this type of workshop right now and have decided that in
> addition to book repair something on cables and connectors
> For instance connecting your TV to computer, or multiple TVs to 1
> VCR/DVD
> player. Also, recognizing what all those different cables ends go to.
>
> I am also planning weeding criteria for different areas - I have been
> surprised the number of people who haven't heard of SUNLINK :-)
> ***************************************
> The following reply is from Doug Johnson, who encouraged me to think
> outside
> of the toolbox:
> - how to work collaboratively with teachers
> - how to develop a long-range plan and short term objectives for
> the media program'
> - how to develop a good working relationship with your
> administrators
> - how develop an objective-based budget
> - how to develop ownership of the library program by parents and
> the community
> - how to design an effective public relations/advocacy program
> - how to influence legislators
> - how set reasonable policies
> - how recognize, develop and use one's leadership skills
> **************************
> Thanks again,
> Maria
>
>
> Maria Johnson
> Project Coordinator
> Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES
> Stamford, NY 12167
> Phone: 607-652-2018; Fax: 607-652-1216
> mariamanzanojohnson@hotmail.com
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.
> http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
> 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:
> http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
> 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:
> http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
>
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
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:
http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
LM_NET
Mailing List Home