Library Idea December 9, 2002


Finally! My district has agreed to hire a sub for me when I am absent so that my assistant won't go crazy. Here are some of the materials I leave behind for subs in the BEHS Library:

Substituting in the BEHS Library
General Information

  1. The library assistant is Suzanne Cannon. In my absence, she runs the place. Defer to her for any questions. She manages the library aides, the check-out desk, the phones, and the cataloging. She will help you get situated, but won’t be training you on any specific tasks today and you won’t need to give her any jobs or anything. Just have a good day together! Suzanne arrives at 7:30 a.m. to open the library and get the check-out station ready for the day. She takes a 15 minute break at 10 a.m. and a lunch break at 11:30ish.  She leaves at 2 p.m. You will need to lock the library and turn out all lights at 3 p.m. when you go.
  1. I take second lunch, 12:00-12:30.
  1. My office is located in the far corner of the library. You are welcome to use the phone and computer there. The phone number is 757-4074 ext. 3128.  Have the Suzanne log you in to the computer as me and show you how to access the Internet if needed if you don’t have your own BEHS log in
  1. I have attached a map with the basic outline of where things are located in here.
  1. I have attached instructions for accessing and using the library computer card catalogue, OPAC.
  1. I have attached a phone list for contacting other staff members.
  1. The basic jobs you will do as the substitute librarian today are listed below.  I may have attached another list of jobs for you to do if there were any I needed done prior to my absence.  If any of the jobs require that you type anything, please save those items in my “I” drive if you are logged in as me and let me know in the sub notes what the items are saved as. If you are logged in as yourself, please save the items to the enclosed floppy disk.

General Library Expectations for Students

  1. All students who come to the library are expected to A) be with a whole class that is accompanied by a teacher OR B) arrive with a library pass from their teacher.  Please approach all students who enter the library in small groups and as individuals and ask to see their pass. You don’t have to rough anyone up or anything—they are all aware of the rules.  If they don’t have a pass, send them back to their class to get one.
  1. Teachers should call if they plan to send more than 5 students to the library. If they don’t, give them a friendly call and ask what the students should be doing so that you can monitor them to make sure they aren’t goofing around. Feel free to ask kids to return to class if they aren’t working productively. Be sure to call the teacher to let them know you are sending the kids back.
  1. I am not a “shushing” librarian.  Kids and adults can use normal voices in here, but if they get rowdy, ask them to be quieter.

 

  1. I don’t allow food or drink in the library.

 

  1. Monitor kids’ computer use. We have a filter, but it doesn’t catch everything, such as games. Games are O.k. at lunch and after school, but not during class.

 

  1. Kids can print school-related material in reasonable amounts for free.  If they’re printing off a ten-page love letter to Josh or instructions for their favorite game, that’s a no-no.

 

  1. Kids should not use the library phone. 

 

  1. The photocopier over by the couches is for student use. It costs 10 cents a page. Students may need help.  Ask Suzanne if you’re not sure.

 

  1. You do NOT have to monitor the foyer outside the library’s front doors, but if you are at the front desk and notice anything going on out there, step out to make sure things are under control.  Call Marie Owen in attendance (3515) and ask her to send Janell Silves, the security person, over here to handle the situation.

 

  1. Computer problems are frequent but not crippling. See what you can solve on your own, and then ask Suzanne for help.  The most frequent problem is logging on.  Students should log on as follows:

 

2005-cbelben                (their grad year, dash, their first initial and last name)

3423                            (their student ID number)

hsstu                             (this is the same for everyone)

BASIC LIBRARIAN JOBS FOR LIBRARY SUBSTITUTES

  1. Consult the schedule book to the right of my computer and find today’s schedule. Teachers always accompany their classes to the library and stay the entire time unless they step out momentarily.  Teachers have always discussed their plans with me, and will be running their own classes. In my absence, I will have cancelled any plans I had made to teach their classes, unless I didn’t know I would be absent, in which case, you can call to tell them I’m gone and see what they want to do.
  1. When entire classes are in the library, you should circulate amongst the students and ask them if they need help.  I do this the entire period a class is in here, although I obviously don’t nag kids constantly.  You may need to help students find books.  See the instructions for using the computer card catalogue, OPAC, for help.
  1. As much as possible, you should be out in the library area, circulating and checking in with students, especially individuals or small groups who have come in to check out books. Ask them what you can help them with, and recommend or help them find books as possible and appropriate. Sitting at the large desk in the middle of the library is a good way to make yourself visible and keep an eye on students.
  1. If there are no other jobs to complete on the attached page, and there are no classes in the library or they are busy working and do not need help, please help us keep the library in order by shelf-reading.  This is an easy task, but an important one.  Basic steps:

 

    1. Starting at the beginning of non-fiction, begin straightening the books on the shelves and scanning the shelves carefully. You are checking to make sure books are in the correct numerical order according to their Dewey Decimal number.  Within any given number, they should also be alphabetical by author. Example:

                                                               i.      001.2 ABE; 001.2 LAM; 001.2 STE

                                                             ii.      616.8 NOT; 616.83 HIT; 616.9 SUT

  1. Other jobs:
    1. Check my mailbox in the main office
    2. go through old catalogues (ask Suzanne) and pull out anything old (before this year) and recycle
    3. ask Suzanne for ideas.  Things we often need help with:  re-shelving books, changing the bulletin board, taking messages to the office, typing lists or tags for books

 

  1. If you do not know what to do and have completed any tasks I’ve left behind, I encourage you to sit at the center desk and read.  I like to model reading as much as possible, but rarely have the chance! Enjoy!