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Dear Netters:

Here is my hit for my request for advice and guidance on what's really important in 
the high school library.  Unfortunately, our tech guys came in yesterday and messed 
around with my computer and managed to wipe out over half the responses I received 
before I could get them into the document I was compiling for the hit.  So, if you 
don't see your response here, I would be very grateful if you would send it again.  
There were so many good ideas and I hadn't even had time to really sit and study 
them all.  Thanks for all your help.


Marian Royal
Librarian
Socorro High School
Socorro, NM
mroyal@socorro.k12.nm.us


I went from teaching 1st grade to a 9-12 High school library that
hadn't had a librarian for 3 years.  I was petrified, though I'd worked in
public libraries all my life. And I have learned a couple of things over
the last 15 months.

SMILE
GREET them by name or even just say hi, they're looking for someone to
accept them
LISTEN ( I told my principal that was what he left out of the job
description)  if you take a minute or two to listen to them they will grow
to love and respect you.
CARE...let them know you care if they're gone or in a ball game or
contest, they love it if you ask about it.
The books and collection will work for you, and if you can RECOMMEND
books or authors and talk about reading it's great.  I found what some
kids liked and I've worked toward that are, winning them one or two at a
time.  You're fortunate to have had someone in there already, so ask
questions, I didn't have that luxury.
Teachers are your hardest sell, they tend to be so departmentalized
that they forget to use the library for its intended use.  I have to keep
REMINDING them I'm here and I can help.  It's getting better.  This
probably isn't one you will use in your "hit" but wanted to share from a
personal experience.

My change was good and I hope yours is too.


I would take a tour with the
retiring Librarian to see how
things have been done.
You have to start there and
then change things gradually.
You can see how things are checked
out and if there are fines or books
on hold.
You need to note if there are
computers and databases.
How are books cataloged?
I had an aide who could catalog
anything and some people prefer
using Marcive or pre cataloged books.

When I moved  I found that there are
lots of  different  books and lots of reference
questions.  More research is done at hs  but the
students still  need assistance.  Check your new
budget and see if there is money to spend
I have taken a serious interest in attracting
boys to the Library with magazines and graphic
novels.


Got time for one more? You'll find these are the same kids in big
bodies. They need to listen, understand, and love them. The biggest and
scariest will be your best buddy. Learn their names. Everyone. All 6,000
if necessary. Get an annual and do your homework. Good luck and have
fun!!!!


My advice would be to start reading current YA literature asap.  The reference 
materials will need to be purchased in response to specific needs in that school 
and in response to its curiculum. for now, start looking at graphic novels and 
science fiction/fantasy.  As in elem school, this is what boys who read, read. If 
you have read the high interest stuff, you will come across as a librarian who can 
recommend a good book. Incidentally, some of the so called elem. picture books will 
also fly in HS.  If you have an ELL population, Curious George is always very 
popular. I don't know why; I just know it's true.  Things like The True Story of 
the Three Little Pigs and all his others are also popular.


have been a HS Librarian for the last 20 years. The job is exciting and
rewarding. The best part of it is making the students successful. That is
true servanthood and what I love about my job. Reference research is the
most important part of my job. I subscribe to quite a few online databases
to be able to answer most reference and homework assignments. I work with
students in a class format  and also one on one. I train them how to do the
searches and find exactly what they need. Below are the online databases I
use. I hope ths helps.
Internet Databases 2004-2005

Bookmark as favorites for Homework & Term paper Help!
@School & Home

http://go.grolier.com -
        Encyclopedia Americana; Grolier Multi-media Encyclopedia; New
Book of Knowledge; New Book of Popular Science; Lands and People; America
the Beautiful

http://ars.sirs.com -
         SIRS research: Full text articles of social, health, political,
and global issues.

http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/  -
         Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL): - Full text magazines and
newspaper articles

http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/knox94674 -
Discovering Collection: In-depth reference content for the core curriculum
areas of Literature, (Authors, Poets, Critical Reviews) History,
Biographies, and Science

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center: On-line information found in Opposing
Viewpoint Books Series, on current up to the minute social issues. Access
viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to
websites, and full text magazine and newspaper articles.

http://hwwilsonweb.com -
Reader's Guide Full Text Select: Full-text magazine articles from
143 magazines, as far back as 1994.

http://www.2facts.com -
Issues and Controversies: 300 controversial topics in the news
since 1995.

http://onlineedition.culturegrams.com -
Culturegrams: Countries of the world and their cultures.

www.nettrekker.com -
Nettrekker:   High quality educationally relevant K-12 on-line
resources

http://elibrary.bigchalk.com:  -

BigChalk:  K-12 resources searchable by age or grade level.

http://school.eb.com -
Encyclopedia Britannica Online

http://search.epnet.com -
Religion and Philosophy Collection - Religion and philosophy
articles

Primary On-line Package; Searchasaurus -Animals

http:///www.worldgeography.abc-clio.com/home
World Geography: Country Profiles


Creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for both students and staff is
absolutely your most important job.   You will need to have a few common
sense rules that are enforced firmly and fairly.  I love high school
students.  It is so much fun watching them go from children to young
adults.   Every day is new and different.  There are many students who
are different and the library is a refuge for them.  They feel safe
there.  You will become very close to these students over the years.
Hopefully the high school has a tradition of collaboration.  Our school
does.   We have only 325 students - but there are so many research
projects that we are averaging 200 students in the library per day.  So
- we are busy.  I truly hope that you have a high school that has not
become too wrapped up in test scores, because that can really interfere
with teacher's willingness to put in the time necessary to provide
students with research opportunities.

If I had time to do only one thing in my first year in a high school it
would be to collaboroate with one influential teacher on one major
research project.  I would offer to assist with the grading process.  I
teach research skills, including introducing research databases and web
evaluation.  I have assignments due to me and I grade the final works
cited lists that are turned into me.  The teachers truly appreciate my
willingness not only to teach the students but also measuring the
results.  The word soon spreads.  The librarian is a "can do"  person
and the library can be a valuable extention of the classroom.  Indeed,
it can be a learning laboratory for the school.

If I could choose only one online research database, it would be Gale's
Opposing Viewpoints with Student Resource Center.  If I could not afford
these 2 mutually searchable Gale databases, I would choose The Student
REsource Center.  Altough it is not cover-to-cover periodical content -
it does have an uncanny ability to choose the articles most pertinent to
high school projects and it also includes online articles from reference
books.

I am putting more money into "leisure reading" materials these days.  So
much high quality information is available via online databases - that I
feel I can spend more on  fiction and also true life narratives and
non-fiction books about teenage interests such as sports and music, art
etc.

I hope you enjoy your new job as much as I do!!


I've been a 7-12 librarian for 6 years, and
I think the most important thing is to BE THERE.
The adage is true: "no one cares how much you
know until they know how much you care."
This applies to teachers as well as students.
No one cares that your bulletin boards are
changed every season, if you're so irritable
that they hate to approach you.  They'll
_admire_ the bulletin boards, but from a distance.
A very looooooong distance.

Teachers are usually awash in paperwork and
need someone to help, not to add to the pile.
The more you know about project ideas, learning
styles, rubrics, assessment, resources, etc,
the more they will like seeing you approach,
AND seek you out.  Sometimes they ask (AFTER they
learn to trust you), but librarians must perfect
the art of diplomatic suggestions--right time,
right motivation.  Anything that makes the
teacher's day easier, or makes the teacher look
great--is fully appreciated.

Students are usually confused, excited, bored,
risk-takers...you name it.  They need people
to LISTEN to them and take them seriously
Some have parents/friends who do this, but
many do not, and they need to know that they
are heard, and to be praised and challenged
(must be sincere--they see through facades
with an uncanny keenness).  And they need
space on those days that they're just tired
or irritable.  They need the lib/infocenter
to be THEIR space.  And they need a strong
fiction collection--THEN they'll read.  If you
listen to their suggestions, they'll respect
you even more.  They need timely and non-conspicuous
resources on high-pressure topics like sex, divorce,
grief, STDs, suicide, psychological disorders,
college, exams, scholarships, etc.  NEVER make
light of a student's interests or questions.
You may be their only "safe" person.

I've found it's not so much the resources
people want as it is reliability--who are you
to them?  what do you stand for?  Will you see
them through a problem?  Are you a leader?  A helpful
task to guide your planning would be to write
a mission statement for your lib program.
Everything you do builds this mission.
Mine is: "The mission of the Shenango High School
Information Center Program is:
1. to develop information literate students and staff;
2. to foster reading enjoyment; and
3. to help teachers teach.

I try to publish a newsletter 4x/year...the more good
PR, the better.  Be visible, be flexible, be a leader.

You'll have strengths and interests, and you well know
that the pile of work never diminishes...keep people
and your mission foremost, and let the little stuff go.
"Major on majors."  You'll be great!

PS--You may wish to peruse Patrick Jones' book:
Connecting Young Adults and Libraries--2nd ed.
Also, go to the LM_Net archives and check the
"Tips for first year media specialists" (or similar title)

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