Jeff,
Did you go to the principal and clear the new policy? This is one way to
defuse any potentially explosive situation. Remember, these teachers are the
veterans and you are the rookie. You are, in their eyes, challenging them.
I know it seems logical that books should be available to all, but they feel
that their needs come first...So, diplomacy is needed and a clout - your
principal. Anytime I have ever had something could cause some conflicts
(such as this) I would sit down with my principal and explain why I felt
that the change was a good one, listing my reasons as for the good of the
students, other teachers, the budget, whatever. Then asked him to support
me in the change. I would then do a memo and ask him to initial it also.
This way the teachers saw that I wasn't just being arbitrary, but had good
reasons and administrative backing.
Finally I would then go the teachers perhaps at the faculty meeting - or
even one-on-one and ask their help in making sure that the needs of the
students were being met. They, being so much more experienced, could surely
see how frustrating students and other teachers with needed materials when
asked. And, of course, with all that they have to do, it would eliminate the
time needed to keep track of, and the responsibility for, those materials.
Toni Koontz
Media Specialist
St. Charles Preparatory
Columbus, OH
Carpe Diem
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]On Behalf Of jeff taylor
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2002 11:42 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Checkout Policies for Teachers
I am looking for some assistance in a sticky situation. This is my =
first year as a Media Specialist. I am working at a school that has had =
several changes in the Media Center in the past few years. I am still =
trying to learn the collection, but I've noticed that there seems to be =
a lot of books lost or way over due. I have found that there are two =
teachers that are absolutely hoarding the books. I checked the system =
to see how many they had out. One teacher had over 75 books out & sent =
her assistant to check out 50 more. The old librarian also allowed =
teachers to have books for 200 days! No one else could use these books. =
I have now set a limit to the time books can be checked out. I said 45 =
days, which is one grading period was the new deadline for teachers. I =
also set the limit at 75 books, which seems very generous to me. =
However, when these teachers were given this information they were so =
upset that they said they would just return all their books if I didn't =
want them using books. They both have books out from over 2 years ago =
that they can't find. I believe one of the reasons is because they were =
allowed to keep them for a whole year & of course they're going to get =
lost! Now these teachers are causing a big problem & acting like this =
is the end of the world. I'm new & don't want to cause enemies, but a =
limit has to be set so that we don't lose all of our books & so others =
can use them as well. When I said other teachers needed these books as =
well, their comment was that those teachers could come & ask them. So =
why even have a library at all if they are going to hoard all of the =
books & expect other teachers to ask THEM to use the books. I am really =
frustrated & upset about the way they have handled the situation. Am I =
in the wrong? Could some of you give me your policies on teacher =
checkouts?
Thanks!
Crystal Taylor
Media Specialist
Blowing Rock Elementary School
Blowing Rock, NC
tay928@bellsouth.net
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