Need help/advice

Hi,

I have a lot of students using the library, I feel like I've created an open, caring and warm environment so they feel very welcome. Love this!

I actually have more problems with the adults at school... I'm curious to know how other people handle teachers who don't communicate with you at all, but want to sign up for the library that day. I have quite a few who will come through at 7:45 and when they see that no other teacher has signed up they want to bring in their classes. They think I can whip out a "quick lesson" for their kids by 8:30!

How do you encourage teachers to interact with their classes and not grade papers or surf the internet while they are in the library ? I feel like I have clearly communicated my expectations to the teachers but they continue to ignore me!! Any advice?

Hello, I sympathize so much with this query. I feel that my responsibility is to meet the needs of all our users and to that end, spend a great deal of energy on providing an endlessly helpful service. The result is, of course, that one is often taken for granted and teachers really seem to think that one can do anything and often have an astonishing lack of understanding of how much work is involved in preparing for a class. I have produced written guidelines for preparing research lessons which include a fill-in form with details of their requirements. We have a booking sheet clearly displayed and I speak to the staff often at meetings about informing us timeously about projects in the library. All these things help but there are always those who think they don't need us and that their pupils will find all they need "on Google".... sigh! I do not think we can overcome this without becoming the dragons we try so hard not to be. I think we just have to keep plugging the systems we establish and talk nicely...... "It will be no problem if you bring your class today but we don't really have time to put together resources/ plan a really useful lesson. Here is a copy of our guidelines - it would be helpful if you could fill this in next time and I will be able to put something mere useful together"!!

Replies

cara delia May 12, 2011 at 1:10pm

Sounds like you should put that expectation on your sign in sheet, maybe as a reminder. (Next year, so as not to offend any one person)
Suzanne Staub May 1, 2011 at 9:01pm

Hello, I sympathize so much with this query. I feel that my responsibility is to meet the needs of all our users and to that end, spend a great deal of energy on providing an endlessly helpful service. The result is, of course, that one is often taken for granted and teachers really seem to think that one can do anything and often have an astonishing lack of understanding of how much work is involved in preparing for a class. I have produced written guidelines for preparing research lessons which include a fill-in form with details of their requirements. We have a booking sheet clearly displayed and I speak to the staff often at meetings about informing us timeously about projects in the library. All these things help but there are always those who think they don't need us and that their pupils will find all they need "on Google".... sigh! I do not think we can overcome this without becoming the dragons we try so hard not to be. I think we just have to keep plugging the systems we establish and talk nicely...... "It will be no problem if you bring your class today but we don't really have time to put together resources/ plan a really useful lesson. Here is a copy of our guidelines - it would be helpful if you could fill this in next time and I will be able to put something mere useful together"!!
- A. Kleefeld > Suzanne Staub July 25, 2011 at 9:39am
  
  Suzanne,
  
  I am a new middle school librarian, and I am very interested in creating a set of guidelines for teachers and their classes. Would you be comfortable with sharing your guidelines and/or sign up process in detail? It would help me tremendously to see a system that works.
  
  Thanks!
  
  Amber
  
  Thanks for asking this question, Kristen!

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