Lifesavers for Libraries

Last May I attended a wonderful presentation by Deborah Ford, AKA Auny Betty, called Increasing the Effectiveness of your School Library Program: Creative, Inviting, Budget-Friendly Ideas. The day flew by. Deborah was entertaining as well as informative and she gave us tons of ideas to use. Here are a few of my favorites:

First Impressions

Is Your Library Usable?
Look at your library with new eyes. What can you rearrange to accomodate more activities or make it easier for patrons to use? Tip: Unless it is bolted down, it can be moved.
Think about:

• computer screens
  
• data ports
  
• Electrical outlets
  
• line of sight
  
• shelving height
  
• accesible walking layout
  

Space saving ideas:

• use a moveable white board as space dividers
  
• use a curtain on a rolling rack to divide areas
  
• purchase a clipboard for students to use as writing surfaces.
  
• purchase square tables over rectangular or round to allow for more flexibility
  

Websites:
Oakland, Michigan http://www.oaklad,k12.mi.us/pdf/01inforcenterhelpguide.pdf
University of Prince Edward Island http://www.upei.ca/schoollibrarianship/html/buildingyourprogram.html
Better Homes and Gardens' Arrange-a-Room http://www.bhg.com

Is your library user friendly?

Post rules and teach procedures

• no more than 5
• state in a positive voice
• use school-wide rules if applicable
• Introduce them during orientation; reinforcement them; reteach as needed.
• teach and practice procedures for entering and exiting library, for getting help, etc.

Are you having fun? "To love what you do and feel that it matters, how could anything be more fun? Katharine Graham

• Frequent flyers: good library users receive special privilege like eating in the library or checking out more books.
• sponsor a family reading night.
• display books you want to promote next to the circulation counter (candy in the checkout lane)
• Banned book week: create a display of banned books.
• Are you smarter than a ...? research game.
• Create a PG13 rack for mature themes.
• Give a book fair gift card to those who read all 10 Golden Sower nominees.
• Quick Pick table: display books that a frequently checked out.
• Scott Selects:  students' vote for favorites

Is your Library Organized?
If you don't know where it is, you might as well not have it.
If your patrons can easily locate materials, they will return again and again. An unorganized library frustrates both the staff and the patrons.

Close your eyes. Look at your space with fresh eyes. List 5 words that describe the organization of your media center. List one area that could use improvement.

5 Ways to get organized

1. Make a list.
• Keep your To Do Lists in ONE notebook.
• Keep a wish list of books you would buy is you had the money. Open your online selection source, such as Titlewave everyday, and add to it as you get requests or discover needs.
• Keep a list of chores for unexpected volunteers.
• Make a new to do list at the beginning of every week to stay focused.
  
• Star items on your to do lists that someone else can do. Delegate!
• Highlight items that are top priority. Give yourself a reward when they are completed.
• Cross off items as they are completed.
  
2. Create files.
• To Do; In Progress; Projects; To Read; Principal
  
• Substitute: passwords, lists of people to go to, school and library rules and procedures.
• Class: One for each class you teach. Keep notes or handouts.
• Use folders on your computer.
• One folder for each library program or activity. Take pictures to help remember what you did.
  
3. Create forms.
• create a folder on your computer of all forms
  
• keep a folder of hard copies of all forms
• draw a highighter line on the last hard copy. It won't show up when you make copies, but you'll know it's the last copy.
• Use a blue pen to sign an original.
• Always make a copy of anything you sign and send.
  
4. Throw it away.
• Mail: sort as soon as you pick it up. Keep, toss, recycle right then.
• Keep a basket to put all items that need to go to the office once a day.
• Recycle most catalogs. Keep only the ones you'll use and the most current issue.
• File catalogs alphabetically by company name in a file drawer.
• File catalogs in file boxes or magazine boxes arranged by topic (av, supplies, books)
5. Prioritize.
   
• Write lesson plans on the computer. Save in folders by grade level, month and/or topic.
• Email: set aside a time each day to read email.
• Read the subject lines. Delete those that don't pertain to you without reading them.
• Delete without reading any email the comes from an unknown source.
• Report any inappropriate use to an authority.
• Create folders within your emails to organize and delete from the inbox.
• empty your trash to save hard drive space.
  

Collection Development

• check district policies
• run usage report 
• use collection report to discover sections with oldest copyright dates. Start there.
• CREW method: copyright date, last checkout, condition
• Use some pulled due to condition as examples when teaching about book care
• box up or use black plastic bags