First Batter Up!!!

So one of the biggest fears as a new library media specialist is the concern that no one in the school will want to work with you or, for that matter, see you more than anything but a search and retrieve service.

In fact I will never forget my first day at school as a media specialist.  It was a professional development day and all teachers were asked to report to their professional learning communities to complete a brainstorming session.  The small chatter and casual conversations reverbed through this large, wide open space and in an instant I was alone. And I realized I was alone and it was as if all air was tugged from my lungs.  Was this was I had signed on to?  To be the shadow in the school?  Always present but never noticed unless shade was needed. It took me a afternoon of solitude to realize that I would need to venture out to staff and pull from the crowd if I was to make a positive impact

So, when my first email arrived from an English teacher at the new school I would be working in I was ecstatic.  I hadn't even signed an official contract yet but already I was already being seeked out for collaborative opportunities and a request to meet before school went back into session.  This was my chance, reel one in and the rest will follow. I immediately pounced on the opportunity.  When did she want to meet, what did she need to to provide to make her life easier...what curriculum did she cover anyway??

Each new day offers new motivation and opportunity for this transformation of both personal and professional manner to evolve and grow from its seedling phase.

If You Build It...They Will Come

The first step to transforming my new space was going to be to get traffic flow through it.  In conversations with the principal it was shared that the space had really been used as a large meeting room.  Many of the LMS's supply budget went toward the purchasing of paper, markers, glue, and other presentation materials that students may need to work on projects in the media center. It was also shared that circulation was at minimum.  This is one of the many reasons the paraprofessional position was cut for the upcoming year. Administration questioned what her role was.  If no students were visiting the media center for the purpose of print and nonprint resources and no books were circulating, then was she filling her day with?

My first step was to transform the space into a place where students felt ownership and purposeful to visit.  Currently the magazines that were subscribed to were of no interest to the students and were not readily available for viewing.  After discussing with other high school LMSs, my periodical subscriptions went from 10 to 24.  I spent money on new displays that would allow them to be easily accessible in the media center and attractive for exploring eyes.  I subscribed to magazines that could be used for research but also for pleasure reading.  Magazines about all interests of life from music, to technology, to sports were ordered.

It is important to cater to all readers and students and create a space that teases and welcomes them in with the open arms of knowledge.

The Journey Begins

My mom always told me that when one door closes another one opens and that is just what has happened.  I was offered the job as the new LMS at this great little community in CT. I know that I have a huge change in front of my but am hungry for the challenge. Today's visit to the Media Center I would inhabit next year only added to the journey I am about to encompass. My goal for today was to drop by and take a few pictures that I could review and use to start making decisions on how I would mold the space but what I discovered was so much more than what posters I would order to brighten up the walls.

The principal already had a plan of her own in mind, which lucky included me in every decision aspect.  It turns out that the school has taken my promise of transformation quite seriously and is looking to transform the space into an area that will pave the way for success.

This now vastly empty space will soon flourish with work areas to accompany individual, small group, and class size meetings. There will be technology available and new furniture to boot!  We took a walk around the room and both shared our vision for what we wish the Media Center to look like.  I truly believe that this was the first meeting in moving this community from a Media Center to a Learning Commons environment.

Let the shopping begin!!!

It all began with the 3Cs

The 3 C's of life:
Choices, Chances & Changes~
You must make a Choice to take a Chance or your life will never Change.

This is a phrase that has represented my life the past few months.  I never thought that my position as LMS in my neighboring town's elementary school could ever be disrupted.  After all, I worked in the school district for 10 years, my children attended classes there, and I was in the perfect library.  But life had different plans for me.  My husband took a job across the state which lead to an unexpected move.  The original plan was to simply commute to my current position but I soon realized that driving 2.5 hours a day with my children for work would not be such a great plan.  

Then destiny struck!  A LMS position was posted for the high school in our new town.  My first instinct was no way, high school was not for me.  I soon revisited the 3 C's, choice, chance, and changes and I decided to let fate run it's course.  At my initial interview I was asked to visit the high school's Library Media Center and take note of what changes need to be made. Upon entering the space my first reaction was no way was I leaving the comfort of my brand new state of the art elementary library for this.  The shelves were limited with book choices and many of those books were so out of date that there was no way they were circulating.  The walls were empty, and there were open rooms that were not utilized.  The more I sat alone in this empty room, the more it's potential began to emerge behind my eyes.  I saw this space being used in a new and fresh manner active with students and staff who took ownership in the space and saw it as a place to learn and discover.  As my interview progressed I learned that there is not much technology taking place in the building.  Teachers were hesitant to use any technology and support was quite limited. Many projects currently being completed were done with pencil and paper.  Students were itching for new technology and web 2.0's blank canvas but were coping and surviving with what was currently being offered. In an instant a challenge was born.  I knew I could be the person who could transform something good into something great.  I wanted this...I needed this. It all began with the 3 Cs.