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  Mike Jurkiewicz June 16, 2009 at 9:27am

  I'm about to start my second year in a high school library, and I feel like I still have so much to learn. The advice I received from my mentor and other professional contacts (database, book company, catalog reps) is that it takes about three years to get a good handle on your job duties. These are a few of the things I learned in my first year.
  
  Stay involved at your school, collaborate with teachers and department heads as much as possible and get to know your library collection. I found a core of students who made the library their second home so I focused on reaching out to other groups and individuals encouraging them to visit and use the library. I also found that some teachers worked closely with me in searching out materials and others wouldn't and may never set foot in the library. Keep an open door policy and keep looking for new ways to "hook" them.
  
  Read constantly and share (and promote) what you've read. Kids are always looking for good reads and whether they show it or not, they respect your opinion.
  
  Finally, if you have an aide or para working with you, don't nesitate to dole out responsibilities when you're struggling to keep your head above water. Your para has a unique set of skills that will allow you to focus on other duties (such as advocating for your library). You must be proactive when working with your administrators.
  
  Best of luck in your new position and let me know how things are going.