Sorry, I don't post often and had forgotten. mts
LIBRARIAN TOOLKIT SUGGESTIONS 2008
Toni,
I forgot to mention that I read your book this morning, "Our
Librarian Won't Tell Us Anything!" and I just loved it.
I wish you had written it 8 years ago when I started this job and needed
a fun roadmap of how to be a LMS!
It should be given at the graduation of every school librarian as part
of a toolkit!
mts
I would include one of those screw drivers with the tips that you can
change. I keep one in my bag and one in each desk at my 2 libraries
because I seem to need it every day to fix something or other.
And along with the soap, a gallon size jug of extra strength
moisturizing lotion. Working in a library gives you a whole different
view of the term "dirty books", especially in a school library!
The large economy sized bottle of Aleve from bending over book shelves
and computers and a pair of Crocs to cushion your feet as you race back
and forth helping people.
And we mustn't forget the gallon sized jug of anti-bacterial hand soap!
I say we include *The Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense* since we're
always having to advocate for ourselves and our students!
I'd suggest a
copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People since so much of our
job is about working with the other adults in our buildings!
Well, if we are building a toolkit what about a lifetime supply of
office supplies? Pens, pencils, markers, glue, tape, crayons...and I
work in a high school!
And not to be rude, but how about a box of Depends? <grin>
The items that NO librarian should be without:
SAFETY PINS
Bandaids
Gel insoles
Don't forget: A large pack of baby wipes for those "dirty" elementary
school library book covers.
And something unique and interesting to set on the
circulation desk for students to look at and talk about as they wait to
check out books (i.e. seek and find bottle, tornado in a bottle, a
bone, tangrams in a frame, feather...)
INTERESTING THINGS WE KEEP AT THE CIRC DESK 2008
We have a small display case built into the circ desk so I often fill it
with books or objects and the kids can 'guess the theme' while waiting
to sign in or check out. Generally it is just about genres or obscure
historical events but this month it has books written by authors who
have the same last name as teachers in the building. The teachers heard
and came in to see what 'their' books are. One of the English teachers
surprised us---the book with the same last name as his was written by
his cousin!
I have a tangram calendar at the high school circ desk. Originally I
purchased one from those calendar displays in malls at Christmas as a
gift for my father to keep his mind sharp. When he passed I brought the
calendar to school. It's become an addiction for some students and the
first thing they touch when coming into the library. A few even make
special stops to see what the day's puzzle is.
The same 7 puzzle pieces are used to fill in a different design for each
day. The kids are sometimes stumped and are certain there's NO WAY it
can be done. Then another student gets involved and they usually manage
to figure it out. I try to undo the solution between classes, but there
are a few determined kids who guard it until the bell rings to insure I
don't "mess it up."
I have a literary map of New York State which I find continually
fascinating. These maps came from a project sponsored by the NYS
Council for the Arts. I don't know if the maps are available anymore,
but you can learn about the project at this website: www.nyslittree.org.
I also have the following quote:
"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning
to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness
is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not
only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of
life."
I have a pen encased in a wooden stick - on the stick is carved a face,
and the face's mouth appears to be mouthing the letter "O". It sits in a
little wooden stump. I kept it on the circulation desk as no one would
dare walk off with it - it was too recognizable - so I was assured that
I always had a writing implement there. One student suggested that it
was my "Overdue" pen - as I used it to hand write (yes, we did that
pre-automation) the weekly overdues. When I retired, I brought it home
with me and it sits by our phone - and never strays from there, either!
A magic eight ball and a cattle brand with an "N" on it (for Northwest
or
Naomi, or something interesting when I can think of it!) And of
course,
new galleys I'm reading : )
I'm a real fan of Japanese knick-knacks. I have a daruma doll, a
ceramic mouse (my sign), and a number of battery operated toys - like
the flip flap from Tomy - it's a solar powered plant toy. Here's a link
to a youtube about them and others
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rX19_hrM1aA&feature=related
<http://youtube.com/watch?v=rX19_hrM1aA&feature=related> . I'm lucky
enough to live nearby a Japanese store, but there's a great online store
called JList.com that sells a lot of these things. The kids especially
like the toys that are motion sensitive, like a little robin that
chirps. They have really great tschokes in general
Any time I encounter an item that I think might arouse interest in
students, I get it and put it on the filing cabinet near my desk. Right
now I have a jumbo stainless steel "hall pass," a gyroscope, some
pictures, and a ball that changes color when you throw it up in the air.
Behind the circulation desk I have the deluxe Librarian Action Figure
and over my desk I have a hand-hewn wooden mallet that says "Attitude
Adjustor."
The display changes slightly every year - but most stays the same as the
continuity seems strangely "comforting" to our big children (gr 9-12)
I have:
The Amazing Librarian Action figure and the DELUXE Librarian Action
Figure - complete with circ desk, computer, rolling cart and tiny books.
(the kids love to pose the pair of them, create Librarian Wars etc.) Mr.
Peabody (stuffed dog) Mr. Potato Head - Darth Tater version - complete
with light sword, cape and helmet.
A walking-oinking toy pig
A flying pig suspended over the desk, ready to fly at the touch of a
button A small collection of crystal pigs A Super Librarian Sign.
A sign that says on one side: Help provided; Questions Answered; but on
the flip side says: Help provided; Questions Answered; Evil Schemes
Planned. (the sign was made by a work-study student 2 years ago. He
returns to flip it over to the evil side whenever he can)
My assistant has:
A collection of ceramic fish (her last name is Marlin) Numerous
"pooping" animals. That collection got started with her "Porky Pooper"
who "poops" chocolate jelly beans (or would do if she were silly enough
to remove him from his packaging)
Mary, some things I keep at our circulation desk routinely are books
that do not circulate (one is a dinosaur picture book that has these
large three-dimensional eyeballs that are imbedded in the book) and
pictures from various things in the library through the years. I also
have a large clear-glass milk churn that belonged to my father. It's
about 2 1/2 feet high and a foot and a half wide. I generally put
seasonal items in it for display or guessing contests. I've had Easter
eggs of various sizes, Seuss-related-memorabilia, Christmas ornaments,
stuffed animals, etc.
My students all know I like snakes, so I keep a rattlesnake ashtray I
picked up in Arizona and a mug with a rattlesnake head in it (fake)
right by checkout. I also have a water fountain and a stained glass
lamp in the shape of a turtle in the circ area. From time to time other
things appear:
a railroad snow globe (Christmas), a collection of Curious George
figures (when we do Curious George), etc. The kids really enjoy seeing
what will show up next!
I have "things to fiddle with" on my circulation desk. Right now it's 3
egg timers (the kids love to race them), 3 fossil shark teeth
compliments of Freecycle, a perpetual calendar that's sort of like an
abacus (Goodwill), and a wooden sign that says NO WHINING which I once
stuck in my daughters Christmas stocking. I also have a Lighting Ball
(garage sale). My computer area has 10 Lava Lamps (also compliments of
garage sales).
I find if the kids have "Please touch" items on the desk they are much
better behaved while waiting to check out their books.
A small toy box on the counter with:
Yoyo (1)
Rubik's cubes (2)
Wooden snakes (5)
_http://storeforknowledge.com/Small-Wooden-Snake-P2684C220.aspx_
(http://storeforknowledge.com/Small-Wooden-Snake-P2684C220.aspx
<http://storeforknowledge.com/Small-Wooden-Snake-P2684C220.aspx> )
Cast iron disentanglement puzzles (3)
Juggling balls (several)
Nerf balls (several)
Hand grip exercisers (2)
Toy cars (3)
Minature spinning top (1)
Slinkys (4)
and a bunch of miscellany that has made its way to the bottom of the
box.
However, this year probably the most interesting thing at the
circulation desk is my teaching assistant, a senior who is with me for
3-4 periods a day.
He keeps everybody entertained and runs the library like a well-oiled
machine...with the occasional monkey wrench thrown in.
Our most interesting thing is Tigger, our library cat. He sleeps mainly
on the countertop near the circulation desk. Being 13 years old now he
doesn't roam the library very much--but he does create quite a stir
when he does. He has been around since 1998. The students and most
faculty love him. He has a mailbox and receives and responds to Tigger
mail--I serve as his secretary. Visit
www.ironfrog.com<http://www.ironfrog.com> to see him and other library
cats.
My favorite things at the desk this year are three turtles in a big
aquarium--two red-eared sliders and a snapper-- and a Venus Fly trap
that is growing like crazy.? The turtles are addictive and the plant is
growing so fast that the library may soon become the little shop of
horrors!?
We keep a variety of interesting things on our charge desk. I am always
on the look out for what I can "oil toys", those eye catching items made
of two different weight oils, that can be reversed, so the oil moves in
interesting ways, spins water wheels, rolls in droplets down a scaffold,
etc. The kids love to play with these while they check out. We also
have many "goober" toys, things with some kind of thick filler, that
ooozes around when you move the toy, and drops in interesting patterns.
We have had sand toys, that come in a frame, and that when upended forms
interesting sand pictures, and "pin"
toys, where you move your hand under pins, and by adjusting the heights
you form interesting patterns. We have also had magnetic toys, bases
with many loose magnetic pieces on them that can be formed into
interesting shapes, although the pieces of these tend to get lost
quickly. We find anything that can be fingered and shaped is
irresistible!
Over the summer I dumped the circulaton desk. I thought it was serving
as a barrier. So, I have a computer desk in its place - this desk would
serve for a library aide - if I had one. I like the look of no
circulation desk - wish I had dumped the official desk years ago.On the
desk now are 2 Bibles (The Message and the NRVS); 1 small statue of
Mary; a vase of flowers (fake), and the "gun" for the circulation
system. I've gone minimalistic in my old age
I keep a digital photo frame on the circulation desk. High School
students find it "cool". This way they see what happens in the library
or outside the library when they are not around.
I have lots of toys -- a couple of magnetic toys to make different
shapes (nobody can keep their hands off those); a Nancy Pearl action
figure; a miniature labyrinth and a "ladybug" battery-operated massager.
I have pop-up books at the end of the circ desk. The Pop-Up book of
Phobias might be the most viewed book in the library!
We have a revolving lamp that looks like fish swimming in an aquarium.
The little ones want to know if the fish are real. We have 2 real
aquariums elsewhere in the library and another revolving fish lamp (of a
different type) at one of the computer stations.
We keep the newest WEBKINZ on our circ desk! :)
I have my Nancy Pearl action figure (the kids all she's Harry Potter in
a skirt), a clear tape dispenser with sand in it that is a kid magnet
and toy blocks that spell my name. I have to police the blocks often,
'cause the kids like to anagram my name into new words, some of which
are of questionable taste.
I always have fresh flowers or a living plant. For most of three seasons
I have my own flowers to cut, but during the winter I buy potted mums or
a quick grocery-store bouquet, or whatever will provide a little color.
They complement the (many) green plants scattered around the room. I've
had so many students comment about liking the "green stuff" over the
years that I make a real effort.
I also try to have some kind of toy for the kids to play with--yes, this
is a high school!! Right now it's a duck puppet from Joann Fabrics that
quacks three nursery songs!!
We have an easy button from Staples.
I have to add to the thread. I have plants, plush critters according to
the theme - bunnies will soon give way to many ducks, several in rain
slickers.
But students' favorites are snow globes they can shake, and those
magnetic free form puzzles - I have one of stars and moons, one of
frogs. Kids (and
adults) will rearrange them by the hour.
My desk is so boring after hearing about all of yours! However, i do
have a sign behind my circ desk that reads, "The witch is in" The in
can be flipped over to say out also. Of course the obvious comment has
been made that perhaps witch should have another word that can be
flipped over also ! :O
Mary E. Tichey-Staack
Library Media Specialist
Branchville Elementary School
40 Florida Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-544-7980 x2137
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