Set up your networks...
- Network with other teacher librarians - contact those in neighbouring schools (government/non-government, primary/secondary, it doesn't matter); join the local hub group.
- Join your local TL professional associations - join committees
- Keep in touch with your university tutors?
- Find a mentor? [see 1 & 2 above for ideas]
- Subscribe to listservs like oztlnet, aliainfolit.
Get to know your school
- Make friends with the support staff - from bursar to cleaner - you need them more than they need you!
- Don't spend all day, every day, in your library/resource centre. Spend recess &/or lunch in the staffroom - a break for you that can generate spin-offs in developing collaborative relationships with your colleagues
- After an initial period of observation & familiarisation, get involved with your school community - join committees, volunteer for projects. Your colleagues can then perceive you as a partner in teaching and learning activities.
- Get to know the teachers, get to know the curriculum, let the teachers and staff members know that their input is valuable and an important part of your planning of services and materials - and that you are there to support them and their instructional needs. [LM-NET: Bea Brittain, Va. USA]
- Try not to start throwing out books the first year since you need to learn the collection and curriculum. The next year however, weed with a vengeance. [LM-NET: James Mong , Huntington, US]
- Don't expect to know everything the first day. Don't promise things you can't deliver. There is nothing wrong with saying, "I'll have to check into that before I can answer." [LM-NET: Penny Swartz, Illinois]
- Never mention your predecessor, positively or negatively. You never know who got along with whom. Learn NAMES as fast as you are able, staff and kids. I know this all sounds superficial, but until the groundwork is in place the specifically "library media" advice wouldn't matter. Enjoy! [LM-NET: Kathy O'Neal, Ohio]
Professional reading / Professional development
Make time for your own reading - to keep up to date with developments in the TL field, to advise others [staff as well as students]; and to keep yourself sane!
- Magazines: Access, Reading Time, Magpies (including The Source online) and Curriculum Corporation Newsletter - Connections
- Must-buy TL bible: Learning for the Future (revised edition, 2001 - available from ASLA or your local branch of ASLA)
- Read anything you can get your hands on from the corporate sector, management, knowledge management, ICT and apply to your unique environment.
- Capra & Ryan's ILPO/ILPETS
- Victoria's SLAV put out a kit years ago on "Skilling Up"n for professional portfolios.
- Seek out and take up any offers of PD - from your governing authority or professional associations. In South Australia check the CEASA PD database and DETE's T&PD directory (also available online) and the TSOF (Technology School of the Future) site.
General advice
- Get [& keep!] a sense of humour
- Enjoy yourself. Don't panic about the mistakes. We are all on the learning curve
- If someone has an idea for a new project, service, etc., my automatic response is "let's take a look at it." That's even when my heart sinks--usually there's a workable kernel. I've found people value a "can-do" attitude, and I think it's reaped benefits for me professionally. [LM-NET: Kathy Fredrick, Ohio]
- Consider yourself as a partner with each teacher on the staff, not separate from them. Try saying, "Are you open to trying . . .?" [LM-NET: Kathy Graves, California]
- Keep a list of things that you could use in the library but don't have money for. When "extra" funds are available step in with your list. [LM-NET: James Mong , Huntington, US]
- Be flexible but not so much that you're a pushover. Be cheerful, friendly, stay clear of gossip or cliques, don't try to change the library all at once if it does need some changes, be helpful, remind yourself that you'll have ups and downs and that things always do get better if you're down and occasionally get worse if you're up. [LM-NET: Janet Rawdon, Ma. USA]
- Don't let the critics get to you. You can do 1000 things right and get criticized by the one you do wrong. You have to learn to smile, smile, smile and be very pleasant. Eventually, you will really be that way, I guess! [LM-NET: Dana McDougald, Ga. USA]
- Remember that the library belongs to everyone: if someone asks for a certain book or video, try to get it--if several need to use the library at the same time, try to be flexible and work it out. Say yes as much as you can stand, and make sure that when you have to say no you work out a feasible alternative if possible. Sharing a space is a little ticklish so try to be discreet when students in the teacher's class need to be reprimanded. [LM-NET: Lynn McCree, Texas]
- Relax and be yourself. [LM-NET: Martin Swist, Manila]
