I'm not reading that - it's old!

As regular readers may know, I m approaching my first anniversary as a School Librarian. When I started I had worked before in business and government but never in a school so for a while I was flying blind (pun intened).

There didn't appear to be that many user-friendly ideas for school librarian newbies on the net so I wanted to put a few tips on here for future newbies.

Our library is quite large for a school library I'm told. I've never worked in another one so I have to take their word for it, anyway there's over 20,000 books in it. While I know there is a need to keep up to date on new literature, in fact we are always buying new stock, but there's a lot of books there that just never gets read - and there's some really good books there that I read when I was in school.

So here's what I did:

• Made genre specific displays. i.e. science-fiction, horror, historical...
• Face out displays on the shelves

and my favourite, a tiny bit of trickery...

Choose books which don't look that old. My first one was Dreameaver by Louise Lawrence. This was published in 1997 and was last taken out of the library in 1998. A perfect candidate and actually a really good book for sci-fi fans.

Next, I took out the date stamp sheet and put a brand spanking new one in its place and placed it casually on a window display (we have odd books on them (another of my 'innovations').

Within days it was taken out as the childen thought it was a new purchase. it has been borrowed since then as well. Critics among you may think that the child would have picked it up because it was out of the main stock. However to test this theory of mine I had removed it and artfully placed it somewhere else a month before with no success. As I mentioned before in this blog - a little trickery gets 'em reading!

Gee I hope they never read this or they will get wise and my circulation will go DOWN.

Librarians 3, Children 0 :-)

Films from Books: Golden Compass vs Stardust

I went to see the Golden Compas recently and I have to say I was completely gutted. You have to understand the children I work with rave about Northern Lights. "It's brilliant they tell me, you have to read it!"

Well, I am quite lazy about reading some things. We have several copoies of this book and they fly off the shelf and I know its OK for the kids to read so I have been concentrating on the other books we've been getting. So I thought I'd watch the film... It'd have to be as good wouldn't it?

We settled down ,the H2b and me on the front row (I am the Batty Librarian after all - I can't see from further than that!) and started to watch. The first thing, which has nothing to do with the film, which disgruntled me was the cold breeze decending from on high. What idiot thinks air conditions is a good idea in the middle of December?

So there I am with my white furry hood and coat wrapped snuggly around me ready to concentrate on the film. Quite apt for that film, don't you think? Well to say I was disappointed would be an understatement! I obviously hadn't read the book at this point so I thought it was so-so - not the brilliant story the kids had been telling me.

The next day I took the book out of the library - being a Friday I read it over the weekend. Now the book - that is brilliant - can't fault it. There are a few discrepancies with the film. Why do they do it? The book is obviously popular - why mess with a winning formula? Everyone I've talked to about this says it was the worst film they saw this year - that includes children and adults!!

So Stardust. I saw this a few weeks before. A friend had leant me the book a couple of years ago and I just hadn't got around to reading it. The writing style was a bit long-winded for my personal taste. Still I thought the film was BRILLIANT and so did the people I talked to. I tried reading the book again but unfortunately I got half way through and just gave up - the film is undoubtedly better. In this case messing with the formula was areally good idea. Saying that the book is not really aimed at children from what I read and they needed to change it to make it suitable for children to read.

Anyway ranting over, my recommendation is:

Stardust
Watch the film - avoid the book

The Golden Compass
Avoid the Film - Read the book!

A New Year Approacheth

It's that time of year when we should reassess our lives, what we've achieved and what we want to achieve in the next year. Hmm, my favourite part of the year...

Let's see what have I achieved last year in my thirtieth year:

• Got engaged (very important!)
• Became a School Librarian
• Bought a House with H2B
• Wrote a book - (needs editing tho)
• Created a Blog

What I should aim for next year:

• Get Married!
• Get said book published
• Maybe look at other jobs? (Gotta keep your hand in).
• Maybe get a short story published
• Do some networking with fellow librarians
• Read more on librarianship
• Add to my librarian Portolio (i.e. marketing materials, policies etc)
• Investigate PhD for 2010? (Could get bored by then)

I think that'll keep me busy for a few months! :-)

I don't like reading...

This happened to me only last week.

The library was quite quiet and there were only a few children around. It was the end of the day and I didn't want to start any big tasks. As the end of term was fast approaching I thought I would just remind a couple of them and see if I could get them to take some books out. Here's how the conversation went:

Me: So, have you got your books sorted for the end of term then? (in a light friendly tone, it's good not to sound too desperate to improve the circulation figures at this point. Children can be soo fickle).
Child 1: I don't like reading.
[A-ha, a challenge]
Child 2 with a horrified gasp: You can't say that to the Librarian!
Child 1: It's OK, She's a nice Librarian. [She turns to a secretly delighted me]. I only like Jacqueline Wilson books and I've read all the ones you have here.
[Little does she know and why are Librarians always supposed to be scary?]
Me: Actually I've just bought some new teenage Jacqueline Wilson books, have you read those?
Child 1: No...
Child 2 runs eagerly to the far side of the library to pick a couple of the new ones up to show her. I walk away. I find the secret is to walk away at this point. It won't mean anything if she feels pressurised into borrowing it. Anyway half an hour later, she takes one of the books out!

Success -

Librarians 2, Children 0
(Keep an eye out for the running total!).

Five Reasons Why I Love/Hate Being a School Librarian

I'm finding writing this blog quite cathartic, so I thought the next thing was to write about five reasons why I love and hate being a school librarian.

Why I love it

The children
The children do make it worthwhile. I love the way they think, the enthusiasm and the way they seem to appreciate what I do for them.

The challenge
Every day is a challenge. From the moment you unlock the library to the time you leave, its non-stop. Remember at those job interviews they ask you about prioritization? Well, if you are rubbish at it then you'd have to resign the next day! There's so much to do the time just flies by. ...and don't get me started on multi-tasking...

The books
Well this was an obvious one - who'd become a librarian if they didn't like books! There's always the thrill of spending someone else's money on books, but most of all I love the smell of them as well. mmmm, Bisto

The creative side
Where can I get started on this one. From the creation of leaflets, posters to computerising the accounts and arranging the furniture. If you want to use your creative side then this is the job to do it!

The quiet!
When break and lunch ends and its just the sixth formers quietly studying I almost think it is heaven...

Why I hate it

The Library as a dumping ground
This means the naughty children who get sent in because the teachers don't know what else to do with them to being the place equipment gets dumped because we happen to be open all the time. My favourite is laptops and cameras. We only hold them because no-one else wants the responsibility and the reason mentioned before. I love the way teachers come in to book the laptop and expect me to know a) what software is precisely on the thing and b) to know how to fix it if it goes wrong. If I wanted to be an IT bleeding consultant I would have done an IT qualification not a MSc in Library studies! ...and then the idiots go an lend it to another teacher without telling me and the others expect me to know where the stuff is at all times. I'm stuck in the library - I can't go chasing after errant staff members all the time! Grr.

Prep
Looking after 50-60 children on my own after school ends. I'm not trained in childcare and I dread that something bad will happen. Unfortunately it is the one thing I really do not like about my job. It is impossible to control that many children but I am expected to. If I complain then I am told that is what the job entailed and they explained it in the interview. I never dreamed that I would be expected to look after that many though and I'm pretty sure that it would scare a lot of other librarians as well!

Management
I am in charge of the library but still have a line manager, which made sense when I was new to the job. However what is the point of a line manager who does no personnel reviews, doesn't make decisions or give important information when needed? For example, if something is arranged for the library we don't always get told. Just the other week a meeting was arranged in the middle of baby-sitting duty (Prep) one night and the first we found out about it was when the canteen staff delivered the drink for it around mid-day. I had to chase my line manager to find out what was happening!

Lack of Communication
Unfortunately the library staff is neither part of the teaching or admin staff. we are classed as other and get forgotten. I have to constantly chase people to find out what is happening. I also have to take every opportunity to collar teachers to find out what they are teaching and what kind of resources they need for the library (They never turn up for meeting - they forget).

The hours
I work part-time as a lot of school librarians do. It is very difficult to get the work done in the time allocated. I know I criticise CILIP a lot but they do acknowledge that a full time librarian is needed in schools which includes working in the holidays. I work approximately 75-80% of term-time. Personal development has to be done in my own time. fair enough I do that anyway - Its just annoying.

Riddle Me This

When I began this job less than a year ago I was shocked at how few of the children knew how to find a book using the Dewey Decimal System. I'm not one to stand there and lecture them until their eyes glaze over, so I had to find a way to make them want to learn how it worked - enter the Daily Question!

The Question

This can be anything as long as an object is the answer. I find riddles and jokes the best. I put them on a board with a hint or clue. If you want to repeat this be ready for an onslaught of cat, house or outer space (anything that pops into their head) before they give up and use the clue provided.

The Clue

Just the Dewey Decimal number is best but if you have two books with the same classification like we have, then we put the page number on so they can work out if it is the correct book.

Example:

Here on earth it is true, yesterday is always before today, but there is a place where yesterday always follows today. Where?

Hint: Dewey Decimal, 423

Countless of hapless victims have been tricked into looking for books with just a number. I recommend using this method. It's useful now as I can just give them a DD number when I am busy and they can toddle off to find the book, but when they go to university it will be an invaluable time-saving skill not just for them but for the University Librarians!

The Birds & The Bees

It's that talk every parent is supposed to dread, but what if you're just the Librarian? Well, my assistant (Y) who used to work in a public library seems to have the perfect answer.

Picture the scene:

It's lunchtime, you have a room full of teenagers, chattin away and reading or doing homeowork. A group of the gigglers (Year 8s) have just come in from a 'Biology' class. They want to find a book on reproduction.

"Fine," you might say, "just this way" and lead them to the human biology section. They take the book and disappear into the corner.

The next five minutes are taken up by loans and requests for help on homework and then they come back.

"Miss, I don't understand?" one of the girls say.
"What don't you understand X" asks my assistant.
"I don't understans what this page means" she replies.

The assistant has a quick look look to see what she is referring to and hides a grin.

Oh OK, read out to me what you don't understand and I'll try to explain it.

The girl starts to read quietly.

"I'm sorry X, I can't quite catch what you are saying, can you say it a bit louder please?" My assistant asks with a deadpan expression

The girl glances around, no-one is looking at them so she carries on louder. "...and the man puts his thingy in..."

"What was that?"
"His thingy"
"It doesn't say that surely." Y picks up the book and takes a closer look. She turns it back round and hands it back to the girl.
"No it doesn't say that, you need to say the words or it won't make sense".

A look of panic crosses the girls face "He puts his penis in..." Her friends let out a peal of laughter and they all ran out of the library.

Funnily enough they've not asked us to explain it again...

Kidz! Who'd have 'em, eh

Today was another busy day down the mine, or should I say Library. 40 kids running riot around a library with me running around shouting shh, shhhhhhhh. ...or the other favourite, QUUUIIIEEEETTTT.

We have a reading zone - note the careful choice of words there - Reading Zone. Do you see chat anywhere in that sentence? Nope, neither do I. So out of the 40 or so children about 15 were in the small reading area, blithely chatting away as if talk was going out of fashion.

We have a lovely reading area, a lovely black leather sofa, a couple of comfy chairs, a small square table and a few bean bags. The plan was to create a lovely environment where they could feel they could read in peace. Of course in practice that is not what happens...

Several year 7 and 8s descended on the library at 3.50. Huh? The school day doesn't end until 4.00. Anyway, they come in, sign the sheet and head straight for the 'reading zone'. I check they've signed in and follow them giving them the riot act, ie. this part of the room is for reading, I expect to see it after in the same condition as they found it and no, they can't chat and yes the guiness book of records is OK as long as they are quiet about it.

Job done for ten minutes, I go to sit down back at the desk. Wait! what's that, is it giggling I hear? After a long heartfelt sigh, I close the cataloguing window again, (will I ever get any work done in the late shift?) and lock the computer screen and trundle back to the corner where the reading zone is kept.

One boy is lolling on a bean bag groaning with the other kids pointing and giggling. I manage to calm them down with crossed arms and a magnificent glare (if I say so myself) and get told "Miss, he got hit in the ghoulies with a football'

Now what I ask you was I supposed to reply to that?

Why I don't believe in Chartership

Don't get me wrong, I believe whole-heartedly in self development. I just don't think it is worth going down the CILIP chartership model. It maybe because I came to librarianship through the back door. I was first an Information Assistant in a business before I did the Masters degree in Library and Information Science.

I did the Masters degree because it proved my willingness to learn, to develop and grow. I will have the qualification forever and no-one can take it away from me.

Chartership on the other hand is a whole other kettle of fish. You do the learning, the hard work and are rewarded with Chartership - that is dependant on CILIP and paying their fees.

What happens if I take a year out go travelling and don't pay the exorbitant fees? I lose chartership - and then you have to start all over again.

What happens if I go redundant, get a lower paid job and can't pay the exorbitant fees? Yep you guessed it. I lose chartership - and then have to start all over again.

How is that fair? I would rather do a PHd which shows my ability while being forever mine. I am continually learning and developing and resent paying an extroadinary amount of money just to prove it. My record should stand as it is. I can prove my capabilities and I can get good references as a result. This should be enough and luckily for me, for most employers (including my current one) - it is.

I don't subscribe to CILIP. I have done in the past but only because my employer paid at the time. The problem was that the only thing I could see that was beneficial was the magazine but even then most of the time the articles were irrelevant for the sectors I was in.

You could argue that they campaign for better pay and conditions - but do they? They themselves say they are not a trade union. So what power do they actually have? If they were a trade union with bargaining power - I would certainly join. But for a trade union's poorer cousin - I don't think so. I can't afford it and I don't think it is worth losing a few nights out to pay for the subscription - there are far more important things to spend my money on. For example that web design course - or that presentation skills course I went on.

So I ask - what did CILIP ever do for us?

Christmas Shopping Tips (UK)

It's that time of year again, when the christmas panic sets in. That is if you are not me. I did my christmas shopping weeks ago and I just have to sit back and wait for them to come rollng in. It's not just the ease of shopping that I love but how much cheaper it is to shop online - even including delivery!

To help fellow Librarians and even shoppers, here are some of the best money saving websites in the UK:

Quidco.com This is a brilliant cashback website similar to Greasyplam but in my opinion better. You get a better cash back rate and it only costs £5 from your savings per year. If you don't save - they don't earn. A perfect arrangement in my book.

HotUKDeals.com Amazing voucher site. I never shop without checking here first. In my grocery shop I never pay a delivery charge thanks to this site.

Moneysavingexpert.com Occassionally has vouchers where HotUKDeals doesn't, but also lets you know about other great discounts. A great back up site.

Go on, have a look - you may even save a little!

The RSPCP - Calling all pen lovers

I work in a secondary school library (High school equivalent for any Americans). Reading the Vampire Librarian blog reminded me of the RSPCP faze around last February.

My assistant was checking some pens and throwing them away when they were dry. A group of Year 7 girls (11 year olds) caught her in the act of throwing them in the bin.

For about a month we were then cruel librarians with no thought for the feelings of the poor hard working unwanted pens. Can anyone else hear those violins? It was so serious they were going to call the RSPCP.

What is the RSPCP you may ask? Wait for it... The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Pens. I ask you, has anyone heard of anything so daft. The good news was it kept them busy for the rest of the lunchtime composing a letter to the this mythical society.

Ahh the joy of a school librarian...

Freezing Library

Ok, I know I feel the cold more than most, but this takes the biscuit. I'm wearing my overgrown duvet-like coat right now and sat next to a portable heater, scarf around my neck, periodically breathing into my fingers to try and warm them up. There is no way I can do cataloguing i n this cold, so I thought I'd have a quick moan instead.

So I may have a cold. OK I do, but if it's a tenth cold as I feel it then it's bloody cold. Still at least I have heating at home now. We've just had a complete heating system put in. Its wonderful! Yes, because of the heat but more because we had to tidy up for the workman and there is so much SPACE now!

I've been doing the termly library report today. I hate to say it but I secretly enjoy doing this. I feel vindicated. There's nothing like increasng your circulation by 150% over the last librarian to make you feel good. Not that I am bragging. Well OK I am. I think with the growing trend for teacher librarians, we should all brag once in a while. How can someone who works only 30% of term-time on Library duty do better than someone who does 80& of term time. It's not possible. The only good thing about that scenario is that it makes us 'proper' librarians look good. we've had the training and the passion to get things going!

OK, enough ranting for one day. See you soon...