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I sent out a message a few days ago. Thanks so much for all who wrote me! I'm getting more and more excited about my new job, and everyone on here is definitely helping with that! This will definitely not be the last time I turn to LM_NET for help. ORIGINAL REQUEST: Hello all! I've been lurking here for nearly a year and a half, guided this way by my former school media specialist, who's now a professional colleague. However, this is my first post. I'm still only about halfway through my masters' classes, but I've accepted a library position in a local high school, and I'll be emergency certified. Even though I've had plenty of relevant classes, and I have some great contacts to ask questions of, I'm looking for more. I'll be the only librarian in a school of approximately 1200 students, and I do have a parapro. I have approximately a month to prepare myself and I've been in the facility, and I'm catching up on professional literature. I was wondering if anyone out there had some suggestions on a new librarian guidebook of sorts. I've searched the archives, and didn't see anything relevant. Some Amazon results came up, but I figured I'd rather hear from someone here what's worked for them. I'd be looking for something at least middle/secondary level, with advice or procedures or what have you. Just a general informational book. (I know there are probably plenty of websites, and I'll get to those, but I thought I'd start with a book.) Please reply to me directly - and I'll post a HIT with any responses. Thanks so much! RESPONSES: One of my favorite publishers is LMC source www.lmcsource.com and many of their authors have websites/blogs and other published info available for free. Do you have a central office? State library near you? I was wondering if there is a professional collection you could tap into. My large district has Media Services and they purchased an excellent First Library kind of book. It was published by LMC Source and has been a great tool for our newest librarians to borrow. See if you can locate a professional collection with new publications that you could borrow before you spend your money to buy. You know, live with a few books before you commit your $$$. Anyway, good luck. Let the list hear how you are doing in a couple of months. *** I just purchased Joyce Valenza's Power Tools Recharged: 125+ Essential Forms and Presentations for Your School Library Information Program. ALA c2004. It is a loose-leaf notebook with sections devoted to areas like communication, administration, instructional tools for information literacy, student tools for information literacy, assessment, and many others. I can't take credit for discovering this. It was recommended by someone on this list. *** Congratulations! The book my program is using is Running a School Library Media Cetner: A How-to-do-it Manual for Librarians by Barbara L. Stein and Risa W. Brown. (I'm taking that class this coming fall.) Please post a hit about this. I would be very interested to see what books our colleagues recommend. *** Hi Kelly. I am taking my masters classes now too. One book I used this summer was called Running a School Library Media Center by Barbara L. Stein and Risa W. Brown. It's pretty basic, but eye-opening for someone like me who had no idea what goes on in the library on a day-to-day basis. It has a lot of great ideas for everything from shelving and weeding to staff requests. It's more for the technical application, but it's one I'm definitely not selling back. Would you please post a HIT when you compile a list? Thanks! *** Kelly: what you want is Running a School Library Media Center: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians (How to Do It Manuals for Librarians) (Paperback) by Barbara L. Stein, Risa W. Brown It's the text I use for my online course for new school librarians. *** I really love The Information Powered School from ALA. It's a very practical guidebook for implementing the national standards. It also includes some reproduceable forms that can be used to assess your program and your collection. There are several forms for curriculum mapping and collaboration as well. *** Kelly, the book I used the most when I started as a newbie was Evaluating the School Library Media Center by Nancy Everhart, $40 from Libraries Unlimited ISBN 1563080850. The title of the book may not sound like a guide but it includes all sort of information on collection evaluation, librarian and parapro duties, shelving selection etc. It was worth every penny to me. *** Hi- I am also a new librarian this year, and I have found Joyce Valenza's Power Tools Recharged the most helpful book I've read. It's not exactly a book - it's a compilation of worksheets that you can use and adapt to your situation. The reason it's been so helpful is that it addresses all the different aspects of the media center that I need to think about - collaboration, collection development, teaching library skills, end of year reports, etc. It's a wealth of information. I imagine I'll use it often this next year! Good luck! *** Linworth Publishing has A book called Where Do I Start? A School Library Handbook. It's on sale now for 34.95. I used it for a course with Alice Yucht and thought it had some helpful advice. Good Luck! *** In one of my LIBM courses we all presented a reference book with a synopsis. The one that I really liked and purchased through Amazon is "Where Do I Start? - A School Library Handbook" It is published by Linworth. ISBN 1-58683-143-0. It was less than $30.00. It has templates, mission statements, displays, procedures, booktalks, Big6, etc. I just love it! I have learned about all these things, but having it all together is nice! Another book that I wouldn't be without is Carol Simpson's Copyright book. We used it last Spring in my Integration class. It is one that I couldn't imagine working without. In another class we researched policies and procedures on the internet and within our school systems and dissected them and then made one of our own with all the good qualities we found. We uploaded them on a discussion thread to share with everyone in the class. I printed them all and made a preliminary policies and procedures manual. I have loved my classes and hope to finish in December. Good luck in your classes and with the new job! *** I ran across this book in one of my courses recently and it really is helpful: New Steps to Service: Common-Sense Advice for the School Library Media Specialist by Ann M. Wassman. It contains 4 chapters and an epilogue with 7 appendices with additional valuable information. Best wishes! *** Kelly Lasher, School Library Media Specialist Middle Township High School Cape May Court House, NJ kjtomlin@eden.rutgers.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------