Looked at Melissa's site--some great stuff there, but wanted to add a few additions:
1.) Meet your para-pro. Realize that she thinks you're playing in her sandbox. Then
realize that you probably ARE playing in her sandbox. Then--make sure you establish
solid sandbox rules and convince her that you've got some idea what you're doing.
(You don't.) Then ask her a lot of questions, and whenever possible, make her think
you're doing it her way. Include her in every success, and whenever possible--never
blame her for failures. She is your most important asset.
2.) Look at how your predecessor arranged the library. Does it work for you? If
not--fix it. Rearrange materials so they fit YOUR style. People might complain.
(It's not how SHE did it!) Smile! Apologize! Blame your "newbieness!" Then continue
to do it your way.
3.) Have a coffee machine? Get one. Take coffee out of your budget for a while.
Don't request that people bring in cans or snacks. Buy cheap stuff at Costco--out
of your own pocket if you need to. Invite teachers in to your space. Always have
cookies, coffee or other snacks available. Don't get cute and bring in a veggie
plate. Oreos are good. Use coffee-visiting time to socialize AND ask what's going
on in classrooms. Also use this time to show off new books and be eager to help.
Teachers are cheap and omniverous. If you want to find out what's going on in their
classrooms, make them come to you. Sooner or later, by the way, coffee cans and
snacks will begin to show up without you paying for them if you do it right.
4.) The minute you feel confident enough to weed, (Will you EVER feel confident
enough to weed? No. Smile and pretend.) WEED! We went from 20,000-10,000 volumes my
first year. We're now at 7,800. People WILL complain. See response to Rule #2. When
circulations increase because your shelves are now manageable--people will stop
complaining.
5.) Learn your best customer's names. Let them keep books an extra day. Hide new
books behind the counter for them conspiratorially. High-five them when they try
something new. Pull out something else when they say they didn't like it. Don't
judge their choices. I hated TWILIGHT. I must've recommended it to about 13 billion
kids this year. (<--estimated.) It was checked out about 11 billion times.
(<--completely made-up number.)
6.) I'll save you time worrying about it. YOU'RE GOING TO SCREW UP! There! don't
you feel better now? It will happen somewhere. It's just a matter of when. Worrying
about it does no good. Smile. Apologize.
7.) Four really important words: "How can I help?" After you say them often
enough--people will begin to say them to you. A member of our Social Studies
department today made his students with overdue library materials get a pass from
the library before admittance to class. Niiiiiiiiiice.
8.) You're there to serve curriculum--not teachers. Order books for curriculum. Ask
for rubrics. Make sure your shelves reflect curriculum. Teachers leave. Lessons
stay. Make friends, and buy things for teachers, but always make it clear that
those are library materials and are available to everyone. Do not offer to "limit
checkouts" to any teacher or group of students.
9.) Remember to "Show the money!" I got so much more response from admin and staff
when I said "I've got $3000 worth of overdue library books!" instead of "I've got
15 pages of overdues!" Money is magic. Say things like "I've got some money to
spend--does the English department have any focuses for me?" (Heck! I bought math
books this year!) Then spend that money wisely. (See rule 8.)
10.) You've got the best job ever. Your co-workers will see you not bringing home
papers to grade. They're going to say "You've got such an EASY job! What's it like
to sit around and read all day?" There are several solutions to this problem.
Never leave school empty handed. Get a briefcase. It's okay if you only put your
lunch in it.
Work like a dog. Let everyone see it.
If, by some chance, you ARE sitting and reading (it is part of your job, after all)
don't let people think that you can't be interrupted.
I've got more to say, but that's enough fun for today!
Enjoy your new job!
Harry
Harry F. Coffill
hcoffill@egrps.org
Media Center Specialist
East Grand Rapids Middle School
Drama Department
East Grand Rapids High School
"All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity are
easy. Stay away from easy." -Scott Alexander, Screenwriter
>>> On 5/28/2009 at 10:12 AM, in message
><6.2.3.4.2.20090528090342.02c2f8a8@pop.suddenlink.net>, Melissa Davis
><mbdavis50@SUDDENLINK.NET> wrote:
At 08:14 PM 5/27/2009, Megan Earley wrote:
>Here's my question for you: If you were just starting out as a
>school media specialist/librarian, what would your first priorities
>be? What should I try to accomplish before students come back in
>August? Is there anything you wish you had known when you were starting out?
>
>Thanks for any advice you can pass along!
>
>Megan Earley
>Language Arts
>Roosevelt Middle School
>Monticello, IN
>mearley@twinlakes.k12.in.us
Hi Megan, and Welcome ...
Every summer new librarians have the same question - OK, I've got the
job, now what do I do! The LM_NET archives are an excellent resource
to give you ideas on handling just about any library situation - and
some outside the library as well. The archives address is in the
standard LMNET signature block below this message.
I gathered a number of posts together into a "New Librarians guide"
which is posted at http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/newbies.htm. It's a
little dated by now so I guess one of my tasks this summer will be to
update it. But it is still a good place to start.
And don't forget about the LM_NET Wiki Annex where we share all sorts
of things that can't be posted to the list. Find it at
http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/ .
Again, welcome - both to the profession and to LM_NET!
Melissa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melissa Davis, mbdavis50@suddenlink.net
Retired Librarian
Conroe, Tx 77303
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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, you send a message 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
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm ( http://lm/ )-net.info/join.html
* LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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, you send a message 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
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html
* LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home