A couple of great pieces of advice given to me -
1. Said by my Library Science Professor: Learn the correct way things should
be done and arranged, then customize it if you need to for your patrons.
2. Said by one of my college teachers who later became my boss: It takes
three years to really own your job. Don't worry about it. As you become more
relaxed and confident in the job, you will become better in the job. In
three years ( which will pass VERY quickly) you will be the experienced one.
Toni Koontz
Librarian
St. Charles Preparatory School
Columbus, Ohio
akoontz@cdeducation.org
Carpe Diem
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harry Coffill" <HCoffill@EGRPS.ORG>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 1:46 PM
Subject: Re: GEN: New media specialist seeks advice -10 humble suggestions
from me.
> 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
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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