[LM_NET] HIT: Inspire Me!

[Shonda Brisco <sbrisco@GMAIL.COM>]

Here are the responses that I received regarding how to "Inspire"
teachers to visit the library.  Many involve food or coffee, as well
as chocolate treats.  Some include helping teachers with
technology-related issues or activities.  Others included rewards or
prizes for participating in activities (such as reading the
newsletter, assisting with collection development suggestions, etc.)
Nothing involved kidnapping their gradebook, tripping them in the
hallway and dragging them inside, locking them in the storage closet
once they entered the library, or blackmailing them with photographs
taken during the year-end "school's out" celebration last May....(you
know I'm kidding with all of this, right?).

Interestingly enough, the new school where I'll be this next year has
a written policy of "no drinks" for teachers (in other words, no
coffee / water / soda at your desk), as it sets a bad example for the
students (?).  If this is the case, hosting a "coffee bar" may be
completely out of the question.  However, I will "investigate the
options" to see what might be done to make something like this
work....(as I am a coffee drinker and "need" to feed my liquid
caffeine addiction.)

I will try to post other ideas and suggestions to my wiki....since I
think new ideas or suggestions always come up during the year and I
forget to write ALL of the ideas down for later use.  As I brainstorm
this a bit more (or receive other individual comments), I'll repost
the HIT to direct you to the wiki page for additional suggestions.  In
the meantime, here are your suggestions:


********************************************
I am in a small rural school with 11 regular classroom teachers and
about 6 special area teachers.  I make an effort to talk to each one
of them at least once a week to see what content they are covering in
their classrooms.  I then make suggestions about what we could
collaborate on using media center resources.  On our school web page I
have created a Teacher Center section.  I have put the science
frameworks there with a list of the resources available from the media
center.  I am working on the social studies frameworks this summer.

I do the elementary web page and the teachers bring items to me to
post on the site.  This is another way that I know what they are doing
in their classrooms.

**********************************************

In my situation, I am starting from scratch trying to get the middle
school and high school teachers motivated to use the library. One of
the things that I plan to try is hosting a breakfast for all the
teachers before school starts. I am told, "if you feed them, they will
come." When they come to the breakfast, I will introduce myself and
give them a "handout" telling how I can help them and what is
available in the library.  Also, I always have a coffee pot and make
coffee and keep it in a carafe (so it doesn't get a burned taste).
Then I put a note in teachers' mailboxes to let them know I always
have coffee available in the media center. I figure if they come for
coffee, they will eventually bring their classes. We shall see.

*******************************

If your teachers have a duty period where they watch the hall,
help supervise the cafeteria and such, check with your principal to see if
you could occasionally spring them from their duties to meet with them
individually. They'll love the break from their duty, and because of that
they'll be more receptive to what you have to say. We often talk about food
as a motivator. Last year, our Assistant Principal kept a large supply of
chocolate candy in her office. We could go in anytime (unless she was in
conference) and get as much as we wanted/needed. She has moved on to a
principal's job, so I'm going to take over the candy this year. At least
they will have to dash through the library to get it, and –maybe- something
will actually catch their eye while they make their run for the chocolate.

Nothing inspires me to work with others. I am a loner, and a
claustrophobe (plus whatever the word is for fear of crowds), so I
hate being with crowds. But I can do one-on-one meetings without much
stress, and this year I'm going to try to figure out a way to have
some departmental meetings with teachers if I can figure out a time to
do it that won't make them feel like they're just spending more time /
doing more work. Our custodian provides coffee for the school, and he
sees a lot of people. That might do the trick. I'm better about
dealing with other people when I feel that I am the expert or leader.
Maybe you could make teachers feel like that: experts in their content
area and/or in classroom teaching. I'm the "technology elf" for my
school, so I do a lot of one-on-one computer troubleshooting for the
teachers. That gives me a chance to see them, discuss a technology
issue with them, and show them that I can be useful to them. What
else? Gifts if they come to the library. Only buy materials for those
teachers that do meet with you (the stick to go with the carrot). Ask
them to critique you while you teach library & information skills to a
class "because they know much more about instruction than you do".
Provide adult bestsellers and adult-interest magazines? This year I
hope to provide each department with a list of the best books in the
library for their subject area. Newsletters, frequent e-mails,
frequent "How to Do It" brochures. OK, that's all of the random
thoughts I have for now. Hope it helps.

***************************************
At our private Christian school, the promise of a teacher's Jeans Day
brings great participation to anything (we have a dress code that does
not allow jean material except on special dress days). For example,
during the summer, teachers are challenged to read at least ten new
books either on their teaching grade level or about teaching, or use
resources that they can recommend. They can then suggest these things
for future purchases, with the promise that they will be the first one
notified when we get it. Those who do, receive the free jeans day.

Plus, I and my principal use chocolate and other treats at teachers'
meetings, which are held in the library. From time to time, I also
offer free door prizes, and I always make sure my frequent visitors
are the first to check out new materials. They then brag to the
others, who will come up to me and ask for their turn.

Bribery, it turns out, really does work! (LOL)

********************************

Buy an excellent coffee maker and start a cyber café !

********************************
I'm going to have a come and go breakfast in the library (bagels, juice,
coffee) on the morning of one of the 3 working days our teachers have
before school starts. On that morning, the new nonfiction and reference
books the library received late last spring will be displayed by subject
area. I'm going to attach a small card with a note on some of the
reference sets and books that will either give a quote from a good review
the material received or a suggestion for how they can be used. I'll give
the teachers  a folder that includes a newsletter, passwords for
databases, a "cheat sheet" for citing sources, etc. For the teachers who
don't come, I'll just put the folder in their mailboxes.  Sometime in
September I'm going to offer a tech tips session to give teachers some
hands on practice using some of the technology the library has to offer,
such as a scanner, DVD recorder, SmartBoard and projector, digital camera
and Elmo projector. I'll give a copy of the handout to the teachers who
can't attend the session. I also want to create more pathfinders which I
hope to upload to the library webpage so everyone in each department can
use them. This year, in addition to giving booktalks to English classes, I
want to offer social studies and science teachers an appropriate booktalk
or a short passage to help introduce a new unit.

****************************************

At inservice, I will be asking teachers to pick a favorite book, write
a short "booktalk" on the book, and I will put their picture and the
book blurb on a small card - feature it with the book on the shelf -
advertising the book, but including faculty in the process.
Eventually I want students to do the same.  I want to make them feel
some ownership with the school library.  I may read these "booktalks"
on morning announcements periodically - making the library more of the
school community.

I want to host grade level meetings in the library occasionally-
provide snacks, listen to discussion, and offer ways to integrate the
library resources into their plans.

*************************************************
I don't know if it's inspirational or not, but we do some things that inspire.

1. John Grisham's newest book Innocent Man is really hot right now
(for obvious reasons. :D), and a lot of our faculty are reading/have
read the book. The court reporter for the case is the daughter of one
of our English teachers. So, for the first meeting of our faculty book
discussion group this year, she is coming to speak to everyone about
her experiences with Grisham, etc. We are hosting it in the auditorium
because there isn't space anywhere else to hold everyone. That book
alone has brought admin, etc. to the library who normally wouldn't
read it. One of our principals was surprised that we had books that
he's been on the waiting list at the public library to read. LOL

2.  We do a "What I'm Reading Now" and "What I Just Finished" project.
Teachers let me know what they're reading, and I create book jackets
of the titles for them. They then hang them on their doors or windows,
etc. A lot of good discussion and trips to the library for both
students and teachers ensue with this project, though I can't take
credit for it myself.

3.  When I go to a meeting, such as our Encyclo-Media program, I bring
back things to teachers who I know will appreciate them. I was always
bringing back things to our 4th grade teacher at my prior job because
Judy was open to everything that I could help her with.

4.  At the beginning of the year when the principal has his routine
back to school meeting, we are placed on the agenda for promoting
ourselves and our program. It helps the new teachers to the district
as well.

5.  The final inspiration I think is just cultivating good
relationships with every one. :)

***********************************

These are all lures - but work

I sold stamps, made coffee every morning - these small things got them
in the library. I took pictures all the time of school events and made
them into bulletin boards having to do something with reading and
information - this probably brought more teachers, adminstrators and
parents into the library more than anything - everyone loves to see
pictures

Live animals  such as monarch butterflies - see the life cycle. I had
a huge moth this year that laid eggs. Anything that kids brought in we
researched and found out more - I draw the line on snakes. Give aways
- first five to the library get a free book. Most of all I just always
had my eyes and ears open to what teachers needed and tried to jump on
it

Teachers are overloaded with things to do - if we can find a way to
make things easier for them - they will jump on it

*****************************

 One suggestion from another media specialist in my county: in her
monthly newsletter, the ms includes a "tear off" entry form for
teachers to fill out and drop in a box in the library for a drawing.
The response required on each monthly entry varies.  For example, she
might ask "Which database from SC DISCUS do you find most valuable to
use with your students and why?"  or "What was your favorite book as a
child?"  The prizes vary from month to month also - depending on what
you can afford to offer.  A Barnes and Noble gift card, a box of
chocolates, etc.

    It's a suggestion I would like to try this year if I can find the
time to put together a monthly newsletter.

********************************
After my major book order arrives, I host a "Books and Bagels" event in the
library. I try to do it on a day that teachers have more time to
browse--in-service day, conference day, etc.--or just have it in the morning
before kids arrive. I divide the new books up by curricular topic, new
read-alouds, new picture books, etc. and put signs on the various tables in
the library. Sometimes I add balloons or other eye-catching items and play
jazz on the computer. I serve bagels, spreads and danish. The food will get
them in! I let them check out anything they want to get the books into the
classrooms. It is usually very successful and the teachers like the event.
Although I pay for the goodies, maybe you can get the principal fund or the
parents' group to fund the food.

*************************************

Thanks for sharing!

~Shonda

-- 
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
Library Media / Technology Specialist
Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
http://shonda.edublogs.org/
sbrisco@gmail.com

Resources for Texas School Librarians:
http://txschoollibrarians.ning.com/
http://txschoollibrarians.wikispaces.com/

"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal

--------------------------------------------------------------------
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
 * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------