[ISLMA-Share] Going SOLO

Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association islma at list.railslibraries.info
Fri Mar 10 20:06:24 CST 2017


I have never had a paid aide, just a wonderful volunteer. But I would say if they are going to cut your aide, then the quality of your programs WILL suffer.  We all try to be super women (and men!) but shoot ourselves in the foot by just working harder for them as they cut our staffs. 

Sue Meegan
Hoover School
Calumet City

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 8, 2017, at 10:32 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
> 
> My advice:
> 
> 
> You can't do more with less (although that is what administration will say) - you do less with less.
> 
> 
> SO - you will need to triage.  Decide what is important and drop or reconfigure what is not.
> 
> 
> I'm glad you are getting the hour a day.  I hope that means you can take lunch without closing the library.  Do NOT SKIP YOUR LUNCH!  We tend to sacrifice ourselves and that is how we make impossible situations work.  Don't do it.
> 
> 
> When we faced cuts we designed an impact statement.  We communicated to administration what was being impacted by their cuts, with rationale and reasons.  (They so often do NOT have a clue.)  By presenting cold hard facts (not complaining or whining) perhaps you can get your clerks restored someday soon.
> 
> 
> Since you have middle school students you may have to use student workers.  The impact = privacy concerns.  But is it more important that you be at the circulation desk or helping students select books in the stacks and/or give instruction?
> 
> 
> Perhaps volunteers (student, staff, community, parent) can handle shelving.  Impact = there will be mistakes.  
> 
> 
> Bottom line - the library isn't going to work right.  You need to decide what is most important for YOU to do and other things will just be sacrificed.  Make it clear what is being sacrificed and why.  Communicate this to administration regularly in a positive, problem solving fashion.  Can't leave the library to help with 1:1 technical problems in a classroom?  That's an impact.  Encourage faculty and students to communicate what they have lost.
> 
> 
> Marcia Brandt
> Emeritus Director of K-8 Library Media Services
> 
> Herscher CUSD#2
> 
> 501 North Main, Herscher, IL  60941
> 
> 
> 
> brandtm at hcusd2.org
> 
> 
> Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one.
> –Neil Gaiman
> 
> Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.
> –Anne Herbert
> 
> What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it feels about education.
> –Harold Howe
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info <islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> on behalf of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 8, 2017 8:13 AM
> To: Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association
> Subject: [ISLMA-Share] Going SOLO
>  
> Well Folks, it's happened to me!
> 
> My district has eliminated the Media Associates starting next year.  I will be working in my middle school library of 750 students, alone! I will have help for an estimated 1 hour a day, so I am thankful for that.
> 
> I wondering if any of you have gone through this transition and if you have any tips?
> 
> I have 3 large reading programs and 2 passive reading programs and various activities throughout the year.  I also teach 29 (+5 on various weeks when I can schedule in other teachers) classes every two weeks. We are also 1:1.
> 
> Any tips on programs that are more self-run?  I don't want to lose quality, but am having a hard time seeing how to run these programs without being able to check with the students on their reading.
> 
> Again, this is a huge change in my world and am grateful for any help and advice that anyone can share!
> 
> -- 
> Sincerely, 
> Amy Hamernick
> Teacher Librarian 
> Century Jr. High
> @AhamernickCJH
> #CenturyWildcats
> 
> 
> "If we always do what we've always done,
> we will get what we've always got."
> ~Adam Urbanski~
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