Today's Member of the Week is Kiley Ging. Kiley works at Owen Elementary in Tulsa, OK. She has been a school librarian for 4 years.
We asked Kiley some questions about her experience as a school librarian and we would like to share them with you.
What's your favorite thing about your job as a school librarian?
I love seeing the excitement on my students’ faces as they learn and grow in the library. Whether it’s the joy of a long-awaited new book, a well-loved read aloud, or just knowing that they’ll be spending the next little bit with me, it always makes my heart swell to know that they love being part of our library. Their enthusiasm and happiness is infectious.
Name one children's book that you couldn't live without in your library.
Bear Snores On
Tell us why you decided to join the Elementary Librarian Community. What's your favorite thing about it?
I decided to join the Elementary Librarian Community because as the only librarian at my school, I felt a bit like an educator stranded on a deserted island. As classroom teachers, they have the support of one another and the benefit of working as a team. They also have a district curriculum guide and pacing calendar. While I love the flexibility this allows me, it can feel overwhelming to constantly be trying to figure out what to do next with so many students.
What's the biggest challenge you're currently facing when it comes to your school library?
If you could give one piece of advice to a brand new school librarian (or someone considering becoming a school librarian), what would it be?
Get your students to a level of independence that they really don’t need you for checkin/out so that you can make yourself available to those who want help finding a book they love.
I think my biggest challenge is time. I see each class for 40 minutes a week, which includes their lesson and checkout time. While I have good classroom management in place, there are still behavior issues. Having to correct such behaviors takes away time from the lesson. It leaves me feeling rushed and as if I haven’t accomplished what needs to be done each week.