I replied to the librarian that posted the original question, but after
reading some of the additional comments, I decided to add my thoughts for
the entire group. I retired ten years ago, but I agreed a little over two
years ago to help a small school that had had no trained librarian before on
a part-time basis (one day a week with an aide that had never worked in a
library before). I, too, inherited an AR arranged library for grades 1-6.
The first day I looked and immediately knew that the arrangement needed to
change. The second day I discovered two huge boxes of catalog cards (yes,
we are still not computerized) that had not been filed so we started filing
those cards. The third day I was there I was trying to find a book for a
student and discovered that the majority of the books in the library did NOT
have cards in the card catalog--we have since made (with the help of a
computer program) and filed over 17,000 catalog cards in addition to all the
other duties that we librarians have. Even though I wanted the grades 1-6
filed by Dewey, it was very apparent that if there were no cards in the card
catalog and the old system was working for the students, my time would be
better spent getting the necessary tools in place to use the Dewey system.
Early on I did subscribe to QuizList Interactive to teach the students how
to use a computerized system and I am teaching the use of the card catalog
every chance I get even to the point of telling the students to let me know
if I have a book on the shelf without cards to it in the card catalog (I
even give a prize when they find one). The student and I check to see if he
is correct and I am talking to him as we are looking about some filing rules
that I think he should know.
I also discovered that there was no record of books nor inventory; this
library was apparently established several years ago using the existing
classroom libraries. Temporarily, the accession cards for my 1-6 books are
in the same order as the books on the shelf in order to establish an
accurate inventory. I am happy to report that I have almost a complete
inventory done.
My high school and junior high sections are filed in the proper manner, and
if I am able to last that long, the 1-6 grades will be also. All of us need
to thank the librarians who came before us and/or ourselves for having a
wonderful library. Sometimes I think that we forget that in some situations,
it takes a long time for a library to take those steps required to get to
the point that it can function as it should.
This listserve has been a valuable asset for me. I have always been a high
school librarian and this job covers PreK-12; I have really benefited from
the suggestions and comments from all of you.
Minta Wilson, Librarian
Hardesty ISD
Hardesty, OK
minta@allegiance.tv
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