Every librarian has a few things they wish they knew as a new elementary librarian. To help make your transition a little easier, we're sharing some of our best tips.
There's Power in Numbers
1. Find a district mentor. This should be your first priority if you're brand new, or even if you're just changing districts. The other librarians in your school district know the rules, norms, and expectations you will be expected to follow. These people can answer questions about equipment, software, accounting practices, book fairs, and other issues that will arise from time to time. If your district does not have a meeting where you can meet your fellow librarians in person, send them an email to introduce yourself. We're willing to bet that more than one of them will reply and offer their support. Take them up on it. You'll need it. Then return the favor by offering your support to other new librarians in the years to come.
2. Join your state email listserv and the national library listserv. Listservs are amazingly powerful. Just sign up using your email address, and you can send and receive correspondence to and from other list members. Know a few details about a book, but have no idea what the title is? How about specific book recommendations for those hard-to-please patrons? Need some ideas for Accelerated Reader or Reading Counts rewards? Listserv members to the rescue! Listservs make it possible to share ideas with hundreds or even thousands of school librarians just by sending an email message. People often use listservs to post local library related event information as well. Not sure how to join a listserv? We've compiled this list of school library listservs to help you get connected. A word of warning, though. Some listservs are busier than others. If you're joining one with thousands of members like LM_NET, you may want to subscribe to the digest format (where messages come packaged instead of individually). This way your e-mail won't be completely filled with listserv mail every day.
3. Use social media to connect with even more people. As we mentioned in this post, social media sites like Twitter can be powerful tools for education. Love Pinterest for personal ideas? Did you know that you can find tons of ideas to use in your library on Pinterest, too? Can't log onto Pinterest at school? Save the educational links in a LiveBinder! Don't forget about Facebook! There are many pages (including Elementary Librarian) that focus on school libraries. Join them, and you'll have instant access to school library experts across the country (and the world)!
Be a Good Teacher
4. Set library rules at the beginning of the year and be consistent. Many librarians spend the first few weeks of the school year going over the rules. This will eventually get easier and take less time, but if your rules are much different than the previous librarian's (or if they didn't have rules), it will take the students a while to get used to your system. You can find our library rules here. When you talk about my rules, be sure to give clear examples and non-examples of the desired behaviors. Throughout the year, enforce your rules fairly and consistently. Try to handle all problems in the library and only involve the classroom teacher or principal if a student has been warned several times. Be sure to document all student issues too.
5. Use a seating chart. One way to keep chaos to a minimum in the library is by assigning seats to every class. You can view a seating chart template here. I have several square tables in my library and each table has 4 seats. I type each student's name in the spreadsheet, then I display the spreadsheet on the whiteboard when they come in for library class. A seating chart helps keep order, gives students a specific place to go, and keeps mischief makers separated. A good way to keep troublesome students away from their friends when you are new to a school and don't really know them yet is to tell students they can sit anywhere they want to... then make the seating chart.
6. Consistency is key, but don't be boring. Let's face it. Children need consistency. It makes them feel comfortable because they know what to expect. You can put routines in place without being too predictable, however. One way to do this is by using stations in the library. At the beginning of the school year, assign each student a group. Each week, students rotate to a different activity station. The process and people are the same, but the activities are different. You can find a more detailed explanation of how stations work here. Our library lesson plans are set up for using stations, but you can also use them as standalone lessons.
7. You don't always have to be front and center. One of the benefits of being in the library is the flexibility - even if you're on a fixed schedule, like me. Allow the students to teach each other with your guidance. Let them create things like posters, videos, and tests for other students using the skills they've learned. They will learn much more this way, because we all know teaching someone else is the ultimate display of mastery; and you won't feel like you always have to put on a show! Let go a little bit and you will be pleasantly surprised at what your students can do.
Collaborate and Advocate
8. Get to know classroom teachers and offer your assistance. This one is tough when you're new, but collaboration is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. Find a way to get to know other teachers in the building. Instead of working on your supply order or checking email during lunch, eat with other teachers in the lounge. Getting to know teachers personally will help them feel more comfortable when asking for your help. For those teachers you never see, catch them when you have their class (but don't make them late for planning.) Ask, "How can I help you this week?" instead of, "Do you need my help with anything?" Admittedly, this can be difficult with a fixed schedule, but one simple thing you can do for almost everyone in the building is fill a basket of books for students to use in their classrooms each week. If you overhear someone in the hallway talking about working on fractions that week, check some relevant books out in their name and drop them off with a note that says, "Thought these books might be helpful." Order books, videos, and other resources when teachers ask for something the library doesn't have.
9. Keep negativity to a minimum. There are challenges in every library, especially if you have a fixed schedule. However, instead of wasting energy complaining about things that aren't likely to change, embrace the challenges ahead of you with a smile. When your attitude is cheerful, the attitudes of those around you are also likely to be cheerful! Enthusiasm is contagious!
10. Advocate with actions, not words. It's no secret that school libraries as we once knew them are in trouble. With budget cuts happening all around us, it's always a good idea to watch your back. Your actions will always speak louder than your words. It's one thing to hand your principal a list of all your duties to assure her that your position is a necessary one. Instead, make yourself so indispensable that yourself principal wouldn't dream of cutting the position. Find out what your principal really wants you to focus on and do it to the best of your ability. You can also take on extra responsibilities from time to time. Worry less about you and more about your school, your students, and what their library means to them.
For more tips for new librarians, check out the book New on the Job: A School Library Media Specialist's Guide to Success. It has a great overview of what to expect the first year.
Finally, if you are a new librarian, what other questions do you have? If you've been at this a while, what would you add to our advice? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Would you like a free video training on these tips? Click here to sign up - certificate available after you complete the course!
jmavinyoga says
After 2 years of working as a 1 on 1 special ed para in our district I will be stepping into an instructional librarian position next school year. As someone who is not a certified teacher, and with no background working in public education beyond the past 2 school years, I feel like my learning curve this next year will be steep. I do feel fortunate that I've had 2 years learning about the elementary education system in classrooms with passionate, caring teachers supported by great administrators. I work in a great school district, one in a town we picked exactly for that reason when our family relocated to a new community 3 years ago. We are a family of readers, and have a general love of learning, which has guided my decision to make a career change (after almost 15 years working mainly in the fitness/yoga/wellness world) to work in our school district to help support the amazing job I feel our teachers do fostering a love of learning among our students. I'm so thankful I have stumbled upon your blog as I start this new journey!
Maggie says
As I read your posts I am soaking all of your information. My wheels are turning on how I could integrate your ideas in my school. My stumbling block occurs in my schedule, our school has roughly 1200 students on a 8 day rotation that they are on for 2 days. Basically, I see students for 30 minutes every 16 school days 2 days in a row. There are other issues arising since we are busting at the seams with so many learners. I read about your stations and as a new media specialist I am excited to try to implement it. I want my students to also get books frequently and read any and every book that they desire. I also want to do so many other activities integrating technology and research, like book trailers. Seems like so little time so much to do. I do appreciate your blog and all of your ideas. Thank you for sharing.
Elem_Librarian says
Maggie, I feel your pain on scheduling, although mine isn't as packed as yours. I think scheduling is the biggest roadblock for us, generally. I applaud your willingness to try to change things in your school. I know it will be an uphill battle. I'm glad my material is helpful to you. Stay tuned for much more. 🙂
Lisa Dacus says
I am SO grateful you have this site! I just started this job last week and realize I have so much to learn. 🙂 My school is a charter school that has 500 students. Last year, the librarian used the old pencil/paper check out/in method. I would LOVE to find some type of online inventory/circulation system to use. We are a smaller school, so I don't have a real budget, but if I find something that is cost effective, I can hopefully get it. Any suggestions?
Elem_Librarian says
Wow, Lisa. I seriously wouldn't even know where to begin with that. I'm sure there are some checkout systems out there that might be less expensive than the big names, but I don't know of any off hand. You should definitely invest in that, even if you don't buy anything else this year. Can you do any fundraising? Book fairs, etc? I hope maybe someone will chime in with some ideas for you. I'm so glad the site has been helpful to you!
Kate says
I know this is years later but...Try using librarything.com. I donated 20 dollars of my own money after trying it for free and in a lifetime member. I used it to loan books in my classroom library and it was super efficient.
Georgia says
Lisa, I am in a similar position; I'm a brand new teacher-librarian at a BRAND NEW charter school. Things have been interesting, to be sure! Between getting our donated collection in order, gate-keeping our laptop carts, writing a curriculum/teaching the students, figuring out check-out without an ILS or any established system, and implementing all the programs our school leadership asks me to...I'm almost lucky that I have to wait for grant monies to make any purchases! Including an ILS (or full-time pay). My leadership is dead-set on Destiny, but I did suggest to them an open source ILS that seems great and affordable: LibLime Koha. It's been over a year since you commented, so hopefully you are set. Just wanted to give you a heads up if you're still looking!
Kelli says
Thank you so much for this post and everything so far this year. As I figure out this new job, I am learning so much from bloggers out there. If you want to follow me I started my own little blog at lovechapterbooks.blogspot.com
Elem_Librarian says
Thanks, Kelli! I'll check it out.
Elizabeth V. says
These are great words of wisdom! I so vividly remember being the newest librarian in our district and now find myself heading to the elder statesman end of the spectrum. I had the priviledge of training and mentoring a new librarian and throughly enjoyed the process. Due to budget constraints, I'm not sure she will be back this year but I sure hope so. Her enthusiasm and passion were great motivation for me!
Elem_Librarian says
Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth. I think we all have so much to learn from each other! I hope more people will chime in and share their experiences.