So you think you want to be a school librarian? Top tips on getting started

So, you have just accepted your first school Librarian position. Congratulations! But you now realise its getting closer to September and you have no idea where to start.. I've recently started a new position and left school librarianship and it has made me reflect on my first days and what it would have been helpful to know. Here are a few ideas:

Just start from scratch

The previous Librarian had been at the school for the same amount of time as I had been alive. As a new professional, I was really hesitant of altering good practices and spent time thinking  it was best to wait a term before changing procedures. However, it just ended up being a longer time before things were running smoothly. People expect you to alter things quickly, especially in the fast paced school life and are so are surprised when you don't change things immediately. Prioritize, trust your instincts and change the things that matter to you and your school community. In my case, it meant altering reservations so students got their books quickly, bringing in clear procedures for overdue books (gentle reminders and regular notices), writing a Library policy and making sure that everyone could access the Library properly. These weren't huge, but they made a difference that people recognised. Don't get caught in a trap and miss out on any money or help from colleagues for projects because you hold back on things that matter.

Be fair

Most qualifications in Librarianship don't include behaviour management training. You also won't realise this till you are sat in the Library with a group of rowdy Year 10s waiting for their teacher to turn up. Maybe someone gave some guidelines to you, so take the time to make sure you familarise yourself with any school policy and procedures. You will have to handle situations on your own and it is best to work out where you stand and who you can ask for help. 

You will get lots of "But [insert previous Librarians name here] did it like this/let us do that..." which is fine and understandable. The students don't know where they stand with you and are uneasy. This doesn't mean you have to reflect what the previous Librarian did and definitely it is unprofessional to say "well, that was rubbish"!. The main thing to know about behaviour management is to be fair. If you are clear, give brief clarification/justification, then you are trusted and begin to build a rapport. If you want tips, ask not a teacher, but a good cover supervisor as they know all the tricks. Simple ones like using thank you instead of  please works brilliantly.

There will be panic attacks and awkward questions

No, this isn't from you but from the students and staff. Both are naturally inquisitive and want to know all about you. Think a bit beforehand about what you are comfortable telling them- do you mind them knowing you have a partner/pet or where you live? You might feel you are happy with some students knowing important details but not others. In my opinion, don't tell any of them! It appears that you then have favourites which links back to the previous tip abut being fair. One of the most important parts of the role is pastoral care, so be prepared with the magic tissue box which sorts out any tears, to listen to boyfriend trouble, parents rubbish ideas of parenting, friendship issues and a whole lot more. I couldn't have been more happy (not that I reacted to it) when a student casually dropped into the conversation about her girlfriend, when I knew that was the first time she was openly telling someone she was gay. You can give advice and sort out tears but remember the child protection guidelines and report anything you hear and don't promise to fix it or keep it confidential. It's heartbreaking sometimes not to comfort someone, but definitely no hugs!

Finally... you may have a clear idea and path which you have planned to follow. However, be prepared that the school environment is nothing like when you were at school and you will definitely experience things from the other side. It's fast moving and pacy and there is always another acronym to learn! It is also extremely rewarding and I am glad to have done it and I have learnt so much.

Enjoy!

Libraries Give Us Power: Quote: "The old things are just like the new.. they just refresh!"

Thank you, thank you SLA! You made me feel like I belong.

I have just returned from what was the most inspirational conference ever! I could not praise this event enough! It was aptly named "Libraries Give Us Power" and run by the School Librarians Association. The Librarian that I took over from advised me to keep the school membership for the beautifully edited magazine and for the online advice and resources. I am so glad I took her advice!

Over the two days, I attended seminars on online resources, clubs and activities, library design, budgets and information literacy. I could mingle around the exhibition stands talking to DEMCo libraries, Softlink, JCS alongside a mass of publishers and a tempting bookstore run by the Norfolk Children's Centre. I met Robert Muchamore of Cherub fame who has no fond memories of librarians and then listened avidly to Caroline Lawrence talk about her new Westerns series (bit of a change from Roman Mysteries!) over a three course dinner!

Out of all this, two things stood out. One was the keynote speaker, Ross Todd from Rutgers University and the Director of the Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (full title necessary). His passionate speech really inspired me with his discussion about the role of school libraries and the need for us to promote information literacy/ guided inquiry/ information skills. Similarly, I attended Geoff Dubber's seminar called Top Marks which focused on our responsibility to tie our information literacy lessons in with the national curriculum levels. I was lucky enough to talk to him afterwards and he was interested in what we were all doing in our schools.

I met some truly lovely people and what a range of roles and experiences everyone had to share! I chatted to someone about French magazines briefly over coffee and she found me at the end of the conference to give me titles and telephone numbers. I was able to chat over the free coffee and get a ridiculous amount of email address to share details and just keep in touch. There was one Librarian who came over to me at the end of a session and said that she had heard I was new and she was new too and would like to keep in touch! This was out of the 200 people who were there! Old friends caught up over wine, new friends perused the bookshop and I know I have definitely met someone who I would like to be my mentor.

So, I have returned home with 11 free books (including four proof copies), five bags full of posters and leaflets and a huge amount of ideas.

I think renewing the 88 pounds SLA subscription fee was worth it!

(Ok, so the cost of the conference was more than the subscription but it was about the same as a CILIP one day course and this included all meals and a one night stay in superb accommodation. If it wasn't for Chartership in the future...)