Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

I have been thinking about this phrase, which we all learning in elementary school - reduce, reuse, and recycle and how it should apply to school libraries today.

Reduce- the attitude, you know, the "but I've always done it this way" or "its my library".  We need to Remind ourselves that ours is not a regular classroom, we really do belong to our community of teachers and learners and must open our doors widely and cheerful (even if it is for testing!)






Reuse - there are lots of things we have stockpiled in our libraries that we can get rid of.  Why not use it to create a Makerspace activity? Take a look here for ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/cari_young/library-makerspaces/

Recycle - or check it out!  Just about anything in our spaces can be checked out if there is a need.  My advocacy thought is that if an item is checked out, someone needs to bring it back and that can begin a conversation that could lead to more use of the media center.

What can you do with 3 R's to improve your library media center/learning commons?  Try something new!

Signs of Spring?

    

Some people can tell spring is coming when certain birds arrive, or when they begin to see grass again, I know when I once again find myself proctoring the standardized test. Here I sit, watching students slog through a test that they took on this one day at this one time could potentially keep them from graduating with their peers.
      I am trying to use this time to make my final book order of the year.  I'm looking for some good books beyond the few trending titles; books for the discriminating reader.  If you have one with good circulation in your library, drop me a note, and I will post a list. 

This is the book that is "hot" in my library right now, we are using it for Battle of the Books and students are coming back raving!  "I cried more at the end of this than Fault in Our Stars!

Even better, one of my students discovered this book and shared
it with me. 

It might be wishful thinking on my part, but it seems as though
I have more students reading for pleasure.  If not, more students
than ever are stopping at the circ desk to talk about what they
are reading. This is such fun; I am working on a way to use
this energy to share books using social media.

Ah well, these are the things I think about when proctoring,
everything I would like to do if I could only find the time!

How about you?

Back to school, are you ready? I am and here's why

It's that time of year, back to school!  How many of us are ready?  We've read professionally, learned new web 2.0 or technology skills to share, and took advantage of the myriad of PD available, live and online.  If you did, good job; now is the time to figure out how to most effectively share this with your teachers.  Will you have a 10 for tech, a ten minute overview of a new tool you have learned?  Or maybe an enticing email teaser, if you plan with me you will find out about .....?  Maybe you are like me and you are a blitz bomber; just bound in to a planning meeting with "Ooohh, look what I have to share with you!  And, I brought candy!"  Whatever your style, remember it is not really professional development unless you use what you've learned.
Here's one great tool I use: Scoop It (http://www.scoop.it/).  You set up the topics you want searched, and this program culls the Internet for possibilities, puts them together in a magazine-like forum, and delivers it to your email box for you.  You then get to decide what articles/links work for you and you add them to your page.  People can follow you, I think this would be great to collect information for a particular course project.  In the past I have used it for "women in the military" when a student was doing a research project, I have a technology in education page, inquiry in library, and others.  I love that new material is collected and sorted for me; and it also provides a place to save this info so I can find it again!
Any great tools you have discovered this summer? Please share!

Annual Report done, just in time for Summer!

Well, it's finished, my Annual Report.  Here is the link if you want to check it out! http://bit.ly/16n79MF   I learned several things during the creation of this report, hope they are helpful to you.

1. Be sure to take lots of pictures and even video throughout the year.  I find you are either a picture taker or not. If you are not, find a student who can do it for you.  Photos share a lot of information that can't be adequately expressed in a formal report.
2. Find the human element.  Don't forget to add events or activities that show your media center as the hub of the school; not just the research center.
3. Let your personality shine through.  You are an educational leader in your building, show how.
4.  Toot you horn!  Yes, this is difficult, but your media center needs it.

Use your report "creation" as a time for you to reflect on your year; what went well, what you would like to revamp, what you may have missed.  Statistics can point out gaps, take heed of that information.  Did you neglect a content area that needs curation?  You may even want to take the time to do a computer evaluation of your collection; plans for building a particular section of your resources can be a part of your plans for next year.

I was reluctant to get this done, but I am so glad I did.  Here it is June and I already have some goals for next year based on what I learned.

Racing to the end (of the school year)

Well, my seniors are gone. Friday was their last day so things were very busy with everyone returning books and paying fines.  I have stacks of textbooks beginning, what will it look like in two weeks?  I am still working on my end of year report, it keeps getting put to the side with all of these other things that need an immediate response.  I am also in the middle of my fiction reorganization, translated that means a real mess!  My assistant and I are checking the record of every book to be sure it shows where the book will be located, very slow right now, but should pay off big next school year.  My students have been very excited at the idea of books shelved by genre, and many have helped us with the relocation.  I am very pleased with the ownership my kiddoes have taken with the media center!  Change is good, if it is for a purpose, and mine is to continue to construct our learning commons, with students often taking the lead.  They are requesting book titles, using the media center to construct their own learning, teach me about new web sites and technology, and push me to keep up with them.
I hope you are racing to the end of your school year with energy and excitement as well.

Walking the race!

There are many sprited discussions in my various professional development  places; most of which are debates about our role as school librarians in the whole school program.  Many great points and ideas from all; but for the rest of this year I am going to continue to dogpaddle as best I can!
The plans for our first Battle of the Books are going strong -- a subcommittee from my student advisory board is planning the entire event.  Another subcommittee went with me to the local bookstore to purchase books with the money from a grant received to increase our fiction section.  I have just ordered some gaming style chairs for the fiction section to make a comfortable corner.  On the surface, these things are not as substantial as co-designing units of study, or presenting professional development to the faculty; but I believe that my first order of business as an embedded media specialist is to create a space for teaching and learning that is a place where students want to be. 
Once students begin to feel invested, they will become a force that will help the rest of the program evolve.  Building a repore with teachers is a slow and steady process, done one day at a time.   Continuing to keep a viable, relevent program that meets the needs of faculty, students, and parents is one of those slow and steady races that have an important finish line -- students who become effective 21st century citizens.
What kinds of things do you do to build a learning commons that reflects the needs and wants of your community?

New Year, new ways of thinking about media centers!



A new library without books

http://www.cilip.org.uk/filedownloadslibrary/sliv32b.pdf 

This is a longish article, but well worth the time to read.  I have been thinking about change, when is it purposeful and prudent, and when is it just following the current trend.  The attached article has definitely given me a lot to ponder; I will be wondering and wandering through ideas about this "new" library space for a while.

What a lot to think about! After 25 years in elementary settings, I am in the secondary (15-18 year olds) for the first time. The media center usage is so different! It's January, and no one has used any of the reference section yet, except for a few dictionaries! Everyone goes directly to databses or the Internet! Because this school level is new to me, I go back to the evaluative resources I know, like the Wilson evaluation, or the evaluation in Follett's Titlewave, when I order materials for the library, but I wonder if "someone" out there is thinking of a  revisioning a model of what the "ideal" media center should contain.  For example, a student came in last week, to find a book about a US state; we did not have any, and I don't plan to order any, the Internet is the logical place to find update information for things like that.  Add in an online encyclopedia, and voila!, instant, current information!  But what about these areas of nonfiction that students read for pleasure -- sports books, leisure activity books, or crafting books?  Or, how many print sources should we maintain to support that teacher who has not yet joined the 21st century's tools for teaching arena?
Curation is a thoughtful, responsive idea, but your faculty needs to embrace it for it to be successful.
It seems as though we, media centers and librarians, are currently caught between two worlds, in which one do you live?  Or, are you like me, a foot in both worlds and tottering at the edge of both.

Next big wonder -- show me the books?!?  There are still students who come to check out physical books for the simple joy of reading, what about them?

Great start to a year of teaching and learning (tall students!)

Almost 3 weeks of high school under my belt, and I have learned two things; first, that students are students whatever their age.  They all want help, independence, acknowledgement, encouragement,and acceptance!  They love a space that makes them feel welcome and that gives them a sense of ownership.

Second, there are many, many things I DON'T know about high school idiosyncrasies!  At the end of each day, I mentally tally up what I have accomplished versus what confounded me, on a good day it is a tie.  It does make me appreciate what it feels like to be a new (student) in a new school.  Everything is done slightly differently, teachers want things done in a certain way that is not the way I learned, who is willing to be friendly and make me feel comfortable?

Happily, I say that I embrace change, and so I am changing, with a smile on my face.  Everyday I know the names of more students, I find one more thing I have been looking for, and I make another connection with a teacher.  Change is hard, but it is good -- I am definitely learning more than teaching right now!

Here's hoping that your school year is also off to a great start! 

First week of school

What a week! Almost 7,000 textbooks checked out, which means 7,000 students passing through the library doors. Our students come in by class to get their textbook checked out, so many students were in 3 and 4 times in a day.  Every time I looked up from the computer, I saw a sea of bodies; tall, filled out bodies with loud voices attached. The first time I looked up and saw a bearded face looking back at me, I did a double take.  This is so different from my previous life in the elementary.
But, what was the same?  The energy in the room, students ready for a new year, with new opportunities. Students dying to get to the new books that arrived over the summer, sneaking in between classes to grab a handful of titles.  Teachers who need materials, yesterday!, and others who want to plan a time to plan.
My reflection on this week?  the media center houses resources in all formats, but the students bring the life to the room!  My long term goal for this year is to harness that energy, and use it to make the physical space the "center" of the school; a place where all feel welcome, comfortable, and supported, in social as as well as academic ways.  I want this space to become a true learning commons that is shaped by what kind of learning is happening, and a place where students want to share their learning.  And of course, I will be looking for the joy in everyday!
I will be learning so much this year and am hoping to get help from all of you as I experience life in a high school.

Dithering

I always know I am trying to juggle too many things when I start dithering about the less important ones, like, what should I wear tomorrow?  Or stop for gas before work or after?  Well, here is my dithering dilemma for today, what should I put in my school library office to make a good first impression.  Silly, I know, but still ... should I hang my degrees or does that seem pretentious?  Family pictures or not?  My professional books? 
I do know that I will be rotating some of my favorite quotations about education and libraries, and that there will always be a candy jar, and soft music.  I will have the AASL standards at the ready along with our state's common core standards, and any district initiatives. These are non negotiables.
What do you think?  What is non negotiable to you? 
Any suggestions you can give me?

Check it out!

http://bit.ly/r0HCtN



That is the QR code to the library media center survey.  It is done in Google docs, and it has a Bitly URL for those who can't access by SmartPhone!  Wow!  I now have all my new technologies done for the year!  OK, not really, but this is so cool, and so easy.  (I will give your the site address to do this and you can look cool, too.  Just don't tell anyone else, otherwise everyone will be doing it and none of us will be cool.)  I used the site, http://www.i-nigma.com/i-nigmahp.html to create the code.  You just title your Code and enter the URL address and, just like magic, you have one of these boxes.  Then I used

https://bitly.com/  to shorten the absurdly long URL address of the google doc survey, and PRESTO!

I'm back to my getting ready for school stuff now.  Book marks to be copies, new signage (Yes! using QR codes!) and the other hundred  assorted things that are not teaching but that make the teaching easier.

Don't you work too hard, either!

It was a dark and stormy night ...

Some day I will write a story that starts this way, for now Snoopy has nothing to worry about! (Vintage Charlie Brown comic for you youngsters reading this!)  Actually it is early morning, the storms are over, and I am awake, wide awake, and feeling the pressures of getting ready for the start of school.  So I am going to make a list of what needs to be done as I move into the high school experience, and you feel free to add anything I have forgotten.

• Learn my way around the library print collection!  I have used the online Destiny catalog and reports to try and get a sense of what is there and how it circulates, but I still want to go in and touch books and see exactly how the collection is physically arranged.
• Check out the subscription databases!  I have an email in to my Ebsco rep to walk me through what we have already, and what else might be available. Note to self: ask rep about checking the usage of these sites.
• Find out who (teachers) already use the library, and how.  I wonder if I make a quick online survey and email it to staff, will anyone respond? (This is like the tree falling in the woods question.)
• Check, is the library the meeting place or the meeting place?  Does it get used for every meeting in the building and does that either bring people in to use the library or cause the library to be closed to individual and groups?  Other meeting place, do students actually choose to come to the library?  Why or why not.  How can we improve on that?  I want to form a student advisory board with a broad spectrum of students both to support existing users and to encourage those who do not feel welcomed.
• Virtual 24/7 accessibility.  Beyond school databases, what other vehicles are in place to assist students beyond the school day?  What do they really need to help themselves?
• Cutting edge technology tools.  Are the students using cell phones for learning? (Are they allowed?)  Can QR codes help learning and increase interest?  Kindles or nooks? iPods? Anything beyond PowerPoint as a final product?  I have a QR code for the library home page, maybe I will make book marks to pass out that have this link and also a survey for students?  I have started a LiveBinder page, want to create a "virtual book shelf", what other suggestions do you have?
• Building connections.  With staff, students, other high school librarians?  Is there anything that works better than chocolate?
• PLN?  I have found some great blogs by high school folk, and am following some tweeters who talk books with high school themes.  I just need to continue to use these and other resources when the school year is in full swing.
• ??? Everything I have forgotten, that nagging feeling that keeps me awake at night, like tonight!

I will be working on these things in the coming weeks before school starts, and will continue to share my ideas and reflections.  Please feel free to join me by adding your comments and ideas!

Liz

Are you the change?

I am wondering how many school librarians will be starting fall in a new position or a greatly changed position?  There have been so many changes, not only in my district but around my state of Ohio.  I was excited to read Judi Moreillon's question to Arne Duncan about mandating media specialists, but not surprised by his "politically correct" vague response.   Once again we must take up the mantra, "be the change you wish to see in the world" (a quote from Gandhi) if we want to continue to positively impact our students and staffs.  It will be difficult to maintain the passion for the job when you feel under appreciated and overworked, but we must bolster each other and demonstrate what could and should be expected in the library of the 21st century.
With that in mind, I was very excited to see that Judy's new book, "Co teaching Reading Comprehension Strategies in Secondary School Libraries: Maximizing Your Impact" will be published this fall; it will be a MUST purchase for me as I move to a high school library.  
What other great books are on the horizon that we should put on our purchase list?

I so appreciate other resources we have, such as: LM_Net, TLNing, AASL forum, to name just a few that we can use to "talk" to others in our field.  What else can we do to feel supported this school year?

I want to be sure to authenticate and advocate what learning opportunities are occurring in my library space this year.  I am thinking about a media page connected to my home page and a space in the school newsletter, but I want to also try something new, 21st century, flashy enough to attract attention but grounded in authenticity so that it will be taken seriously.  What things are you planning for this year?

Some questions that have me wondering

I have started reading David Loertscher's book "The New Learning Commons: Where learners win!" and have several questions I would love to discuss with other media specialists.

Should we acquire the books kids want to read vs. acquire the books adults think the children need to be reading? This is a greater question than just the budget issue.

Along with this, should we allow students to check out as many books as they can be responsible for vs. a tightly controlled number (like 2 books apiece)?

Loerscher's book asks us to rethink our "open and they will come to us" philosophy. We should think more like the creators of Google. What do you think?