While self checkout takes time to get rolling, it's well worth the effort. Self checkout frees librarians from the clerical task of checkout in favor of professional tasks such as reader's advisory and collaboration.
2. Have teachers sign up for the librarian, not the library. HUH?
The old way is to schedule the library. With self checkout, teachers may bring their whole class or send a small group of students to return books and get new ones at any time WITHOUT the help of the librarian. This frees the librarian to help another class with research, read a story, do booktalks, or a million other things. So...the teacher only needs to sign up when he/she needs the LIBRARIAN. Major paradigm shift.
3. See how other schools manage their schedules, especially if the campus is large. Do they have creative ideas for keeping the library out of rotation?
4. Build relationships with...everyone--your administrators, teachers, parents, and of course, students. People are more likely to back your cause if you care about them as well.
5. Be an advocate for your library. Tirelessly. Positively.
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