Library Work, 11/8-11/12/10

This week my work in the library was brief due to Think Show projects. I spaced out the professional section to make room for the overflowing reference section. I also set up my students station so that jurors could view thier blog/Think show project. Several teachers and students were in and out of the library this week.

Library Work, 11/1-11/5

I just spent one class period in the library this week due to Think Show preparation. I continued reorganizing the reference section. I am in the 900's now (yeh!). As I re-shelved books the FBLA club prepared for a program and a field trip. Teachers were in and out collecting supplies for thier students Think Show projects.

Library Work, 10/25-10/29

The beginning of the week was rather slow. I continued with my project of organizing the reference section of my school's library. I was referred to a student and an exceptional education assistant by the LIS for an audio recording of Monster,which I have in my classroom library. The school library owns the book but not the audio. I was excited to help, and happy that the student, LIS, and assistant approached me for resources that could help a student in need. At the end of the week as the student council members prepared for a trip to a nearby dare care (under the supervision of their sponsor, & LIS) to host a Halloween party for Daycare Goer's,I continued shelving and organizing the reference section. As the LIS directed student's to get dressed in their costumes, the DECA members and sponsors came in to prepare for their event. The DECA Club hosted their induction ceremony in the library as well. I am in the 900's now. Hopefully my project will be completed soon.

Library Work, 10/18-10/22

Reading shelves and reorganizing the reference section transcended over into this week of my library work. The end of the week many patrons came in for various reasons, speakers, computers, books and class visits. There was nothing extraordinary happening this week. I am learning a lot about organization as it relates to book/shelf size, also to dress down when shelving because you will get "down and dirty'. Freshmen checked in the classroom set of "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers and the Seniors eagerly checked them out (they had been waiting for them for two weeks).

Library Work, 10/11-10/15

My task this week in the library was to re shelve books in the Fiction, Reference and Biography sections. While working in the Reference section I learned that it was not very organized. I asked the LIS about it and she said it had been that way since she had been at the school. She figured the rationale for the disorder was due to book size, and that is why the previous LIS had it that way. All of the shelves are the same size so she left it that way. During my work in the library there was quite a bit of activity, and the LIC was utilized well. There were two classes there, a senior class working on their. Capstone projects and a class of freshmen who were brought in by their English teacher for an orientation to the LIC. I attempted to show the LIS and one of the teachers a video on animoto.com that would aide in their presentation, but our technology was not suitable to accommodate the idea.I assisted the LIS with a printer issue, between the both of us we figured it out. A student came in after school for help with a Power Point Project on the book Monster, which I assigned and teach every year. I was delighted to help him in the library setting.

Library Work, 10/04-10/8

This week we had a short school week as a result of the short fall break that all can appreciate thus far in the in the school year, ending the first nine week marking period and half of the first semester. Library work this brief week entailed the continuous process of re-shelving books to the appropriate shelves, assisting the school librarian with preparation of a field trip for the school leadership team to attend the National Civil Rights Museum, Public Forum.

After the school leadership team departed with the librarian, I was honorably mistaken for the school librarian by an MCS worker who informed me that he would be updating the wireless connection in the library. He asked "Are you the library person"? I smiled and said no I am just assisting her right now, and asked him if I could help him with anything (as if I could he was tech savvy, enough so to be installing a wireless system) during my time of service in the library for that period. He did not really need my help so I politely continued shelving after he was set up at a computer work station.

I also learned how the librarian handles gift items to the school's collection. She basically has a form to be completed for each donor. Then the items are review and researched for appropriates for patrons and the environment. If the items are found to be suitable they are processed via Atriuum and added to the book holdings and listed at no cost. The school librarian did admit that gifted items can be a headache.

Library Work, 9/27-10/1

Shelving, shelving and more shelving. I got more acquainted with Dewey this week. Throughout this week I shelved more books than I can count. My week began with reorganizing the Professional section of the library. As I pulled books I ended up with several books from every section and found my self working in every collection. I also continued my work of removing fines. I assisted a teacher(Band) with a printing job. We had extened home room this week.My home room students were exposed to the "We the People" exhibit that is on display in the library. The students also got a chance to learn and explore the Dewey Classification system.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=160337790659253

Library Work, 9/20-9/24

In addition to documenting damaged equipment in the library this week, I spent time getting my practice in as a Circulation Librarian. Thank God we have come a long way since the days of Charles Folsom. Many teachers had students check out popular books (The Giver, The House of Dies Drear , The Outsiders,Dracula etc.) that were in our class set section. Mid week I completed inventory sheets for damaged materials and assisted in completing a work order for the library printers that had a malfunction. I delivered a book receipt to a student's class due to delayed printing issues. Examining the "We the People Book Shelf" was the highlight of my work in the library this week. Interesting enough, that I came up with several ideas and shared them with my school's Library Information Specialist and mentor, on how to expose our school's stakeholders to the fascinating resources that we have acquired as a result of a grant. I envision forming a book club to examine all 17 books this year. This can be accomplished via various platforms. One way is to solicit 17 teachers to choose a title from the collection to explore as a class. Other concepts would be to form a book club among students, or use the rich resources for the fall or spring Think Show (formerly known as Student Exhibition)project. I will share other ideas as the year unfolds. I tested a CD/cassette player that I thought would be written up as damaged because it was so old, so I thought we should get rid of it. To my surprise the LIS said we would keep it(if it works) even if it is very old, because we still have a collection of cassettes with good information. "Wu la", I pressed play and it worked, so we kept it. This task sparked another idea, "Music in the Library" as I shelved books and listened to Ray Charles sing Georgia and other tunes. My week in the library concluded waiving fines via the Atriuum system. Although it was a very busy week it was most rewarding.

Collection Management & Organization, Day 2

Today in class I gathered a great volume of information. We discussed jobbers, orders and acquisitions. We completed a Marc Template after exploring different MARC records from various types of libraries in the country. I also learned that I will be researching Charles Folsom in addition to presenting on information on school library circulation. In the process of searching for vendors via Ingram (ipage.com), Baker and Taylor,Follet, Ritten House, Emory Pratt and amazon.com I reviewed pertinent data for the acquisition process by practicing with titles from the 100 picture books every one should know list. This session was very informative.

Library Work 9/13-9/17

This week the work of my school librarian was actually working a lot out side of the library. The Librarian Information Specialist and I spent our time checking outdated and damaged equipment. We documented the information on a form and updated it to an excel sheet to report to the school board. We will continue with this type of process until all dis functional equipment has been labeled, entered into the electronic system and picked up by the school board. A librarian's work is never done.

Collection Management and Organization, Day 1

Today I experienced my first encounter with Collection Management and Organization, "the class". From my earlier post you realize that I missed an hour and a half of the class to present "The Importance of Reading" workshop at the Memphis Public Library with the notable "Mr. Chuck. Well, needless to say anyone who knows me knows that playing catch up is not my thing. I feel a sense of overwhelmth and frustration when I have to play catch up. And those that know me know that creativity is my thing. Not Organization! So why am I taking this class ? I'm glad you asked. I am presently studying to become the most efficient school librarian as possible, while teaching Reading to struggling ninth graders , producing a play and penning my first adolescent novel. On top of that I am a full time mom and wife, always. "I need this class!" is the only rational response I have.

My expectations are high.

From the Collections course in particular I expect to learn and apply knowledge and skills to assist me in meeting my goal of becoming the most efficient school librarian that I can be.

The Importance of Reading

I just finished presenting at a workshop. The Topic was the Importance of Reading.

So I ask you the question of the day...

What is the importance of reading and how does it relate to the library?