Day Seven: Playing Librarian

February 25, 2009
7.5 hours

Lisa was sick... so I was the librarian. It was fantastic in an overwhelming, scary kind of way.  Don't get me wrong; I didn't save the world, balance the library's budget, procure additional funding, order books, teach lessons or so many of the other important tasks that SLMS's do everyday. What I did do was manage some of the minutia of the day and that was a wonderful learning experience!

I became better acclimated to SIRSIDynix. Many districts use this so spending some real time managing it was a great opportunity. Checking in and out books, renewing items, checking on “what do I have out?” were just some of the tasks I managed to get right. Placing holds is one I am still unsure of how to do.

A few students had overdue books; this meant I had to make some judgment calls about letting them check out the one they “really, really, really NEED!” It was tough to determine the right answer since it isn’t my library. I realized that I need to dig out my policy manual and make sure it is handy when I am at my library.

Throughout the day I spent a great deal of time asking myself questions that started either, “If this was my library, how would I…” or “In my library, how will I…? Let me share a few of the many questions I asked…

The main stacks are at one end of the library with the entrance at the other. When I was I in the stacks shelving books or helping a student, teachers & students could come in & out without seeing me. That’s not what I want – but how do you help patrons if you cannot leave your desk?

A great problem to have is circulating materials. Everyday there is at least ½ a cart to a full cart of materials to get back on the shelf. Lisa is only one person and has 2 sporadic ½ volunteers. How do you get the materials back yet keep up with all the work that needs to be done in the day? What kind of student volunteer program could be created?

All of the English teachers have at least one period a week blocked for library. The rationale is this gives students a good space to read and ample materials to choose from. However, it frequently turns into students circulating the stacks like vultures on prey – hoping to not be noticed when they dive down to hide from their teacher & chat. It does not help that there are reading nooks tucked into the stacks, which as you may recall are at the opposite end of the librarian’s desk. How will I ensure that students have this great freedom to read yet prevent abuse of it? Is it worth preventing if it interferes with those who are reading?

54 of 100 hours completed