It's Important

I had one of those bedtime conversations last night with my eight year old that left me wondering who is actually raising who.  It went something like this:

Me: Ellie, I am sorry I was a little grumpy today. It had nothing to do with your sister and you, it was just all me.

Ellie: It’s ok mommy. But what was wrong?

Me: Well, I think I was just sad that summer was ending and I have to go back to work tomorrow. Since you don’t go back for another two weeks, I feel like I am missing your last two weeks of summer. So I don’t want to go back to work.

Ellie: But I thought you loved your job?

Me: I do love my job. But I love you and your sister more.

Ellie was quiet for a few minutes.

Ellie: Mommy? What is the best thing about your job?

It was my turn to be quiet for a few minutes.

Me: The best part of my job is that I make a difference.  I make sure that students and teachers have good books to read during the school year.  I get to help kids and teachers.  And I get to do it for an entire district, which means I help a lot of kids that don’t have access to books.

Ellie: Why don’t they have books?

Me: Well, sweetie, some families can’t afford to buy books.  And some mommies and daddies can’t take their kids to the library.  They have to work, or they don’t have cars, or they don’t feel comfortable going to libraries. There can be a lot of reasons.  

Ellie: That’s sad mommy.

Me: It is.  But that’s what makes my job so special. I get to help make the libraries really awesome for the kids. They get great books and kids learn that libraries have a lot for them. It is pretty important that kids feel good about libraries.

Ellie was once again quiet for a few minutes.

Ellie: Mommy, I know you are sad, but you have to go back to work tomorrow. It’s important.

And just like that, as tears were running down my face, my 8 year old reminded me why I come to work every day.

I came to work today. It is important.

It's a Lonely Line

Supplying today’s teachers with the tools they want and need is an ongoing race to keep one step ahead of them.  As teachers create more engaging lessons utilizing technology, they want and need more technology.  This is a good problem for a Library Media Specialist to have.  It means our resources, our technology, our expertise is always being pushed. Always expanding, changing, and evolving.

This week I realized we needed some extra pieces of fairly basic equipment that supports video creation.  As I was traveling between buildings on Wednesday, I stopped at a local mega technology store to purchase the items that were needed the next day.  

I couldn’t help but notice the disproportionate amount of males vs. females shopping in the store. The women that I did see shopping did not appear to be shopping as a part of their job.  This is an assumption on my part, but it was fairly clear that women with children in tow were not there shopping for work. Not to mention the only female employees where the cashiers up front; they were not the sales people working with the merchandise.

As I left the store a smile crept across my face.  I thought about the young ladies in the STEM program at Princeton High School.  I thought about the young ladies in the Digital Music class.  I thought about the young ladies in the Digital Art class, Digital Navigation, IB Film, … the list goes on and on.  

And just as important the teachers that have seamlessly integrated technology rich lessons into their core curriculums.  The Social Studies teacher using Google Classroom.  The Science teacher using iPads for students to create their own

content.  

As educators we need to continue to provide technology rich environments for all of our students.  And open the idea of technology careers to our young females.  Princeton looks different than it did 10 years ago.  And it will look different in another 10 years.  I hope that is reflected in technology fields.  I hope in 10 years I will run into a former student in line at the technology store, during the day as a part of her job.

Book Club

Let's Read!

Princeton High School GRID is reading this summer.  Join us online to discuss some good "Summer Reads."

Below are the books we will read and some suggested time frames for finishing the books.  Please don't feel like you can't comment on the books prior to the "read" time or once we have moved onto another novel.  But be sure to read each others comments and add to or comment on what they say during the Read Times.

Links to each discussion thread are on the right side of this page.  Happy Reading.

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman
May 29 - June 19

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
June 19 - July 10

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
July 10 - July 31

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
July 31 - August 21

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
Floating read

Contact Mrs. Price in the GRID before June 2nd for books, or check them out from your local Public Library.

She Kept Reading

This is a simple story. 

A substitute teacher was struggling with a student having a bad day.  

She asked the Media Center Paraprofessional to help.  

The Paraprofessional brought the student into the library. 

He stood against the wall angry and sulking. 

The Paraprofessional started to read a book.

The student listened while fidgeting against the wall. 

She kept reading. 

After a few minutes the angry student sat beside her.

She kept reading.

Soon the student started to interact with the book.

She kept reading.

Soon he was counting the snowflakes in the book.

She kept reading.

Soon he was asking questions and interacting with the Paraprofessional.

She kept reading.

They finished one book.

She kept reading.

They finished the second book. 

The student went back to class with a smile on his face.

 

Worst Blogger

I believe it is official, I am the worst Blogger in the Blogosphere.

Three posts and many unfinished drafts in the year since I started That Library Lady. That is sad. That is not even one post a quarter. I have already set a goal to average five work related tweets a week, I now have my second goal for this school year...blog more than last year. And look at that, with this blog I am 25% toward my goal. Education is all about the data you know!

Sometimes I struggle with thinking that I don't have that much to say that others will find interesting. But I need to keep in mind that Princeton, libraries, students, education, coworkers, etc... Is a treasure trove of things to write about.

For example the amazingly beautiful, spacious, light-filled, technology rich, and book filled Media Center that I am in the process of opening at Princeton Community Middle School.

These photos don't even begin to do just to the Media Center, but realize both classes where in the space at the same time and there was still room for two more classes. I will post more about it in future posts, with better pictures.

One thing we need to clear up now, however, is the name of my amazing facility. The Media Center is named Odin's Center for Discovery, Exploration and Networking. Shortened to Odin's DEN. The DEN.

While writing this blog I have thought of many, many topics for future blogs: bookmobile, Norse Mythology, people working in the ceiling, designing and finish the new space in the High School (Odin's Center for Global Research, Innovation, & Design i.e. Odin's GRID).

I guess once the fear is gone and I focus on the right things... The ideas and words will flow.

Judgement & Perspective

We have all sat in meetings with someone texting away on their phones.  Or someone ridiculously addicted to checking their email on their phones while you are having a conversation with them.  We wrinkle our noses at them.  Roll our eyes.  Mutter under our breathes about their rudeness.  It happens.  Some people do need to learn about manners and their mobile devices.

However, a few weeks ago I learned a valuable lesson. One I should have known.  One I should have been more aware of.  One that I was too embarrassed to admit to at the time.

While working in an elementary building a few weeks ago, I was in and out of classrooms.  I was dropping off some information for teachers to send home that day with students, so I needed to be sure that a half day class received the information before they left.  So, I knocked and then walked into the classroom.  I quickly scanned the room and found the teacher.  She was sitting on a little stool, near several children playing on the rug with some developmentally appropriate toys.  The teacher was hunched over, thumbs feverishly typing away into her mobile phone, with an occasional glance at the kids.

I rolled my eyes.  I thought "nice" in scathing sarcasm in my head.  I judged her. I knew immediately that she was a bad teacher that was sitting and texting away while ignoring her students. I have seen people before texting in what I consider inappropriate times, and obviously she was doing it while innocent little children where not getting the education that they deserved.

I smiled and approached the teacher and discussed with her that I needed the flyers to go home with the students that day.  She was very nice while we chatted. But then she looked a little embarrassed.  She said that she felt like she had been busted once again on her phone.

AHA , I was right!  She was texting and ignoring children. And it wasn't the first time!

She continued to say that whenever she takes observation notes on children's play it seemed that someone would walk in the door.

Wait. What was that again?

Yes, the teacher was using an app on her phone that allowed her to enter observations on the children directly into their Student Management Software. She wasn't able to get an iPad from her boss, but she was able to download the app onto her personal phone and use it to make her job efficient.  She went on to say people always thought she was playing on the phone, or that she was just nervous that people would think that.

I waved off her concerns as ridiculous; as I was hoping that my own cheeks weren't turning bright pink. I thought the very thing that she was worried about.  Me: a Library Media Specialist, an early adopter of technologies, a promoter of technology, a tech trainer, a person fairly up to date in 21st Century Skills.  I misjudged.  I jumped to conclusions. I focused on the negative, and not the possibilities.

I witnessed an excellent use of technology in the classroom.  I witnessed a teacher using her own personal property to create a better educational environment in her classroom. I wonder if she had been using an iPad or a laptop if I would have jumped to the same conclusions?  Am I biased against the power of the mobile phone in educational settings?  Am I a cell phone snob?

I know that teachers often and with great success use twitter in the classrooms for content conversations, occasional video projects, blog posts, etc... but obviously I have not expanded my schema of what is truly possible with the little smart phone that we all have and the majority of students have. I wish I had the wisdom to wrap this scenario up with something profound and trans formative.  I don't.

But how about you?  What will you think the next time you see someone on their phone?

My Undoing

Today I sat in the bookshelves of Stewart Elementary and read a book while tears streamed down my face.


Let me start at the beginning...

There is more to library work than meets the eye.  Most of it is enjoyable and rewarding, but some of it is truly difficult for bibliophiles.  And the hardest task is ... Weeding.  Weeding is literally discarding books. Weeding is a necessary part of collection maintenance that keeps collections current and makes room for the new.  I have yet to weed a collection and not have students ask if we have gotten "all new books" in the library.  There is a simple truth about library shelves: dirty, old, warped, ripped, faded spines overshadow the new books.  And sadly the reverse is not true. The eye is drawn to the damage, not the shine.  Thus, students often say that there are no "good books" in a library because the library staff probably hasn't done the necessary work to "weed" the collection.  But when space is limited, and new books are coming in, the books that are not circulating need to be removed. Just like in your garden at home, you have to pull the weeds so the pretty flowers can be more attractive.

To better support the reading program in the Princeton elementary buildings, the Media Paraprofessionals and I are labeling the books in the collections with their corresponding Lexile score. This is a huge task.  Huge.  And to make the task more manageable (I learned the hard way) it is best to have the collections in good shape.  Which means, weeded.  Why label a book that is falling a part?  Why label a book that students can't relate to?  So, here at Stewart Elementary we are working on weeding the collection.  The last two days I have been in the Easy shelves pulling books and making the hard decision if it stays or if it goes. 

I pulled one book that looked dated and didn't have a title on the spine.  Typically an indication to me that the book is old and probably needs to leave the collection. When I pulled the book I happened to have it turned on it's back and I flipped through the pages back to front.  The sketches were black and white with an occasional highlight of pink and the text was the dated. I had a sense of recognition, but I brushed it aside since I have that feeling a lot since I work with books all day.  I immediately knew that I would remove this book from the collection. But when I finally turned to the front cover of the book I saw something unexpected. A wave of awe washed over me.  

It was the book.  The one book from childhood that I remember.  Really remember loving  It was the book that I looked for 5 years ago when my daughter was born but couldn't find in the public library system, Amazon, eBay or any book vendors.  

It was The Book. 

Marshmallow, story and Pictures by Clare Turlay Newberry published in 1942.  (Yes, 1942)  A simple story that we all know: one pampered animal at home, another brought into the house, rivalry, then friendship. A classic story structure for children's literature.  

But this book was The Book of my childhood.  I  didn't own it, we borrowed it from the public library. But I remember my parents reading me this book over, and over, and over again.  I'm certain I checked it out from the library a dozen times if not more.  I loved the soft fluffy look of the cover.  I loved cuddling with my parents under my pink canopy bed to listen to the story about Marshmallow. I loved when Marshmallow finally won over Oliver, the cat, by kissing Oliver on the nose.  I loved the book so much that my grandpa bought me a real bunny.  And of course I named the bunny Marshmallow.  When that bunny died, my parents bought me another white bunny and his name was Marshmallow 2. 

Today when I read the book I was a little sad at realizing that the book is actually poorly written and the illustrations are simple, at best. But of course, 35 years ago, that didn't matter to me I still loved the book.  

Today, our kids and students have a wonderful selection of well written and amazingly illustrated books to choose from.  Oddly enough finding Marshmallow rejuvenated my mission to offer students the best books possible in their school library.  Students today would not connect to Marshmallow, but by removing Marshmallow I made room for a new book that today's students will connect with.  Possibly making room for someone to find their own Marshmallow. 

First Bird

A bird in the hand is worth two in the library?  No.  That's not right.  The early bird gets the library book? No, that's not right either. Birds of a feather, read together... Where am I going with this?

Well, glad you asked.  I have been wanting to start a blog about library 'stuff' (and by that I mean PHSChemGuy talked me into it), and I thought today, while chasing a bird around the library, today would be a good day to start that Blog.  Why not.  My job description says nothing about wild animal hunting, and yet, that is what we do here in the library.  We field whatever is thrown at us (you thought I was going to make a connection between wild animals and adolescents didn't you? Too obvious).  And most days we handle what is thrown at us with grace and humor. 

But some days we feel like that bird.  A little overwhelmed at the noise and confusion.  A little trapped by things out of our control.  A little frustrated at running into the glass windows.  A little afraid for our students.  But most days we have laughter and learning. 

Thank you sparrow for entering our library today.  Even though it was a short time, your little visit got us laughing and working as a team.  Mama Z (Media Paraprofessional Extraordinaire that you will undoubtedly hear more about later) followed the birdie with a box and begged it not to hurt itself. Mr. McMullen (whom I must come up with a snazzier name for for my Blog) just sat and worked and yet informed us that it was a sparrow in our hunt for a bird call on a student's phone. One student held open the outside door.  One student downloaded a bird whistle to coax the bird to the open door (see above).  One student hid under the desk.  Several students paid no attention and continued to work.  And finally one student wielded a net from the Science department and helped me usher the bird to its freedom. 

Is that what we do here in the library? Usher little birdies to their freedom?  Possibly. Is this post a rambling venture into the Blogosphere trying to make profound connections?  Probably.  But it has been an interesting day, and with 1,400 young adults under one roof, I'm certain it will be more interesting as the day proceeds; not to mention the weeks, months and hopefully years ahead of me and this blog.

Next task, learn Glogster.