[LM_NET] Reading in the Library

[Holly Gillum <exlibrishg@YAHOO.COM>]

Good Morning, All!
   
  I realize I'm a bit late responding to this topic and haven't even read through 
all the entries as of yet.  However, I wanted to share my new discovery.  (It's new 
to me - some of you may already be doing it!)  This year I've developed a 
"guilt-free" way for me to read with my kids.  I am a 2nd - 4th grade librarian.  
Since our curricula is so rigorous, I want our library time to be more relaxed.  I 
routinely read to the students, but have added an extra reading time this year.  I 
have a large carpet with beanbags and stools where we have "story-time".  I'm 
waiting on more carpet for more seating areas. Now, after checking out books, 
students find some nook or cranny in the library and read until I call them 
together for story-time.  If I can get caught up - all books checked out and 
reshelved, I take a children's book of interest to me, flop down on the carpet or 
under a table with them, and read.  They get to see me reading and involved in a 
story.  I also try to let
 them catch me reading from time to time.  They are often amazed to see me in the 
public library after school checking out books for me.  (Of course, you've probably 
realized they're amazed to see a teacher anywhere.  At least once a month I get 
"Mrs. Gillum, YOU go to Wal-Mart?"...as if I live at school!  )
   
  It's true that life in the library is very, very busy.  However, like any 
merchant, if you don't know your merchandise, you can't sell it to someone else.  
Would you buy a car from someone who couldn't tell you anything about it?  I envy 
you librarians who read every book before you put it on the shelf.  I'd love to be 
able to do that.  But, with the size of my library and the masses in which I order, 
it's just impossible.  I am a voracious reader on my own, and read very quickly.  I 
rely on my memory of childhood reads - such as the Boxcar Children, Anne of Green 
Gables, etc - to make recommendations.  When new series come out - like Captain 
Underpants, Eoin Colfer's new series, The Spiderwick Chronicles, etc., I try to 
read at least one book of the series to "know" how to recommend it.  
   
  I believe the library has to be like the classroom.  If you don't truly love what 
you're doing, you aren't enjoying it.  If you aren't enjoying it, the kids know 
that and it just seeps into the atmosphere of your teaching space.  In the library, 
paperwork is a nightmare, cataloging (and recataloging) never gets caught up, and 
being the organized neat-freak I am, it's a LOT for me to leave it in my office.  
However, if seeing me read encourages one child to love books, then who cares if 
the paperwork gets done.  There is more to life than having everything done.  
There's that old saying "don't be so busy making a living that you forget to make a 
life."  In a twisted way, that applies here.  We don't have to be so busy being a 
librarian that we forget to BE a librarian.  
   
  That's just my two-cents worth....but it only stands to reason.  We've got to 
read in order to do our jobs the way they should be done.  Thanksgiving Holidays 
are next week and I know I'm getting my BTSB order in tomorrow.  I can guarantee 
I'll have a bag of books to take home with me over the holidays...and I can't wait! 
 Have a great week everyone!
   
  HG


Holly Gillum, LMS
  Anderson Elementary
  Crossett, AR 71635
  exlibrishg@yahoo.com
   
  "Reading gives you some place to go when you have to stay where you are."  ~Mason 
Cooley

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