[LM_NET] TAR: Advice for a new librarian

["Norby, Blake Benton" <BBN0105@ECU.EDU>]

I am hoping to get some encouragement/advice from this very helpful group.  I have 
posted in the past as an MLS student and media assistant.  This year is my first 
year as a media specialist in an elementary school.  I am on a 100% fixed schedule 
with 5-6 classes every single day.  (This was not what I was told would happen in 
my interview.)  I am also in a leadership magnet school where I am expected to run 
leadership programs every Wednesday.  I also have been told that I need to write a 
grant, submit a monthly article for the school newsletter, and build and maintain a 
media webpage.  Meanwhile, my 5-6 classes a day should be focusing on integrating 
information skills into the classroom curriculum, but I have absolutely no time to 
meet and plan with classroom teachers.  I do not want to start teaching "empty" 
library lessons completely out of context, but I am only able to communicate with 
classroom teachers through email.  Oh, and did I mention I also need to make sure 
I'm including reading incentive programs in the library?  I am feeling completely 
and totally overwhelmed at this point.  I know that all first years feel this way, 
but I am really at a loss for what to do.  Any and all advice would be greatly 
appreciated.  My classes prepared me to know what is best for an ideal media 
program, but they did not prepare me for what I've gotten myself into.  I've 
already completely rearranged the library to better suit instruction, and I am 
about to begin a collection development plan, which is part of the grant I'm 
applying for.  I don't mean to whine or vent too much because I know all librarians 
have a lot on their plates, but I just feel like I am completely overwhelmed and 
I'm not sure how I'm going to get through this year.
Thank you for "listening."
Blake Norby
Combs Elementary
Raleigh, NC

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