How to make a parent's day AND advocate for your library in one simple step

Sometimes a simple idea is best.  It's great to have a ton of ideas, but we're busy.  And overwhelmed.  And maybe stressed.  So if we could simplify, I'm betting no one would object.

Yesterday one of our wise librarians shared with me that as things get increasingly harried and fragmented, she copes with these multiple demands by streamlining.  She consciously steps back, identifies what is most important in her library, and then focuses on one or two things.  And because she is wonderful, these one or two things involve helping kids love reading and learning.  When she loses focus, she asks herself if the task at hand relates to her priorities.

Simplify.  Streamline.

In an earlier post I listed ten ideas to advocate for our libraries. In an effort to channel the advice of my smart friend, I'd like to feature one idea that several of our fabulous librarians have implemented.

Make one positive parent call a day. 

It takes only a couple of minutes.  Choose a student that you've had a special interaction with that day or one that may need a little affirmation.  The nervous flutter of calling a parent will dissipate once you find out how amazing it feels to make a parent's day.  And calling home isn't just for the little ones.  There's no age limit on feeling good.

The librarian I mentioned has recently started calling a parent each day with terrific results.  She left a voicemail for one parent at work telling the mom what a great kid her son is and how fun it is to work with him.  The mom called the librarian back and said, "I just wanted to hear you say those nice things about my son one more time.  Would you tell me again?"

"The Mind of a Researcher: Keith Curry Lance," is a great article from the April 2010 issue of Teacher Librarian about the critical role of a librarian. After 20 years of gathering data on the effectiveness of school libraries, Lance notes that the message still isn't being heard.  Why?  Lance feels that when we advocate for our own programs, it often sounds self-serving. 

And who does Lance believe are our best advocates?  Parents.

So today I challenge you to adopt the simple idea of making one positive parent phone call each day.  In this small act of kindness you will make the day of a parent and advocate for your library in one simple step.

And one small action can be powerful. 

If you call one parent a day x 180 days of school, that's 180 parents firmly in your corner.  We have 49 librarians in our district.  If each one would call one parent per day x 180 days, we would have 8,820 parents supporting our library program by the end of the year.

And if every school librarian called one parent every day...

Pass the word.

Cool tool for conference connections

Our great Texas Library Association conference is right around the corner.  Two of the best things about conference are reconnecting with old friends and making new acquaintances of librarians, publishers, and authors.

When you attend TLA or other conferences, be sure to take a stack of business cards to exchange with these folks. You may also want to download a fab app called WorldCard.

WorldCard automatically creates a new contact in your smart phone from a picture that you take of a business card.  Among other useful features is the ability to connect with your contacts on social media sites such as Twitter if that info is provided.

Now that's a cool tool for making conference connections!

Mind your Ps and Qs

A new little quilt shop has recently opened down the street from our neighborhood.  I'm fascinated by this because I didn't realize enough people still quilt to support a new business. 

The name of it is "Mind Your Ps and Qs," which I don't really get either.  If the Q stands for quilt, what's the P stand for?  Is this some quilting expression? 

This started me thinking about the odd expression of minding one's Ps and Qs.  Wikipedia offers several explanations for the saying, but the one that makes most sense to me dates back to the days of printing presses when a printer would need to take care not to mix up the letters p and q when typesetting.  He would literally need to mind his ps and qs.

Of course all roads lead to the library for me, so I quickly started thinking what Ps and Qs librarians might need to mind.

How about these?

Mind your Ps:
Libraries are about people.
Librarians must remain positive, even in tough times.
Patrons (of all ages) are our priority.

Mind your Qs:
Questions are always valued.
Quality trumps quantity.
Be quick to serve with a spirit of helpfulness.

Mind your Ps and Qs, librarians, so our libraries are part of the essential fabric of our schools!

Save the time of the user OR How to email efficiently

We all get tons of email, so I've compiled a few ideas to help us be more efficient.

1. Before you send an email to a group, be sure that it applies to the whole group. If it does not, only email the persons to whom it is applicable.

2. Rarely “reply all.” Instead, reply only to the original recipient or to the person to whom it is applicable.

3. At the risk of being redundant, rarely “reply all.” As Ranganathan says, “Save the time of the user!”

4. Make sure that your subject line matches the email’s content. One subject per email is best.

5. When replying to someone, be sure your reply matches their subject line. If you’re changing the subject, change the subject line.

6. If you have more than one point to make, enumerate for easier reading.

7. Use short paragraphs.

8. Read over your email before you hit send. How’s the tone? Do you have errors? Is your meaning clear?

9.  Bcc yourself if you need a copy.  Keep your inbox cleaned out so it can serve as a "to do" list.

10. If email takes over your day, close it while you're working on other projects and only open it at the beginning of the day, before lunch, and before you leave for the evening.

Tough times? Here we go!

The Superbowl is next week, and the commercials have already started.  One batch of ads features eager guys and gals gearing up for sporting or social events with the rally cry of, "Here we go!"

With all the tough education finance news we're hearing lately, it's time for librarians to gather around a rally cry and forge ahead.

It's not pretty out there.  In Texas, our friends in Austin ISD are facing cuts of 22 secondary librarians.  In Grand Prairie ISD, librarian and tech positions are being combined, leaving these persons to reapply for the "new" jobs which will number about one-third of previous jobs.  Funding for K-12 databases and other valuable library programs is in danger.

In response, listservs have been abuzz. Some librarians have felt the need to complain in this very public venue about a variety of unrelated topics.  We've heard about the hardwood floor in one superintendent's office, how coaches aren't being fired, and how much time our schools spend in state testing. 

None of this is doing our cause any good.  It's uninformed, unprofessional, and unproductive. Sure we're worried and upset, but let's focus our energies on positive action.

Ready?

1.  Send a brief email or make a call to your legislator.  Briefly summarize how librarians make a difference in student achievement.  Need data?  School Libraries Work  is excellent.

2.  Meet with your principal briefly every month.  Bring a one-page sheet to leave with your administrator that focuses on how your library program impacts student achievement (See a trend?)  This may include circulation stats, the number of classes in the library that month, how many times you've collaborated with teachers (formally or informally), and specific examples of research and instruction in the library that helps kids.  Share new ideas.  Enlist support.  Ask for their feedback.

After the meeting, email to thank the administrator for their support and include an electronic copy of your info that may also include pictures of programming and instruction, and links to your blog or other things you want to share. 

A note about meeting with your administrator.  Many librarians have said they skip this meeting because, a) their principal is really busy, b) it makes them uncomfortable, or c) they don't know what to say.  This meeting is critical.  Don't skip this important chance to let your principal know how you make a difference with kids.  Don't assume he/she knows what you do and the impact of your program.

3.  Get to know your teachers.  One of our librarians eats with a different grade level each week.  Another has started a teacher book club.  Ask the ones who really collaborate with you to tell their peers.  Ask the ones you never see what they need.  Provide specific ways you can help in case they can't think of anything!

4.  Involve parents.  Remember when you were a teacher and you called parents occasionally just to say something great about their child?  Do the same as a librarian.  "Hello, Mrs. Smith?  I'm Tim's librarian, and I just wanted you to know what a great reader he is." 

5.  Participate actively in professional library organizations. 

6.  Have a professional web presence.

7.  Volunteer to serve on campus and district-level committees.  Once you're there, be positive and look for opportunities to advocate for libraries.

8.  Serve on curriculum writing-committees for the district and work to ensure that the library/librarian are mentioned specifically in curriculum plans.  For example, the implementation phase could say something like, "Work with your librarian to..."

9.  Be about kids.  Everything you do should focus on helping kids. 

10.  Do more.  Know more.  Be more.

Tough times?  We're ready to face them.  Here we go!

Not quite burned out but crispy around the edges OR how to get back to the job you love

The other day someone said that January is turning into another October, and if you're in the school business I probably don't have to explain what that means.  It's nuts around here!  Take that crazy busy-ness, add in a dose of winter blahs, and you may be feeling a little stressed.

This put me in mind of the fabulous title of a book Sharon Draper has written for teachers, Not Quite Burned Out but Crispy Around the Edges.  Draper came to our community-wide book festival a few years back, and teachers and kids alike loved her.

I also read a great article from the January/February 2011 Library Media Connection a couple of days ago called "Avoiding School Librarian Burnout: Simple Steps to Ensure Your Personal Best."  Author Margaux DelGuidice does an awesome job of offering ideas, and I would encourage you to read what she has to say.

Ditto for "A Refreshing Conversation" by Thomas R. Hoerr in the March 2010 Educational Leadership (Thanks, Carol!)

So with thanks to Draper, DelGuidice, and Hoerr, below are a few tips on coping with burnout:

1.  What do you love about your job?  Choose a couple of things and focus your time and energies on them, especially while you're feeling stressed.

2.  Slow down.  I know.  Like this is going to happen.  But you can start small.  Instead of race walking to the bathroom, walk at a normal pace.  Breathe while walking.

3.  Eat lunch.  Honestly, will it make a giant difference if you eat your sandiwch while standing up? Even on the busiest of days you can take five minutes to sit down, rest your feet, and actually chew your lunch.

4.  Cut down on multi-tasking.  Admittedly this is about as futile as limiting sugar intake, but try multi-tasking only on the little things that don't really matter.  With the important things such as helping a student find a book he will enjoy, focus your full attention.  Both of you will benefit.

5.  Cultivate relationships.  The few seconds it takes to stop and chat with a friendly co-worker will not only lower your blood pressure but could be the basis of a new collaborative effort.

6.  Mix it up!  Do new things OR do old things in new ways.  I have a friend whose new year's resolution is to do 11 new things in 2011.  My dad occasionally writes with his left hand just to work out the other side of his brain.

7.  Put at least one thing on your Stop Doing List.  Really.  Just let it go.

8.  Don't mix work and your free time so much.  Is it a self-imposed deadline?  Go home and complete the task when you're feeling fresher.

9.  If you must take work home or stay late, give yourself a little reward for being so good.  You deserve it!

10.  Step back and remember why you love what you do.  You make a difference!

Are we speaking the same language?

My grandsons both received little remote control helicopters for Christmas. One of them worked really well for about ten minutes before it began to fly erratically.

When I began to troubleshoot the problem, I noticed this message printed on the plastic blades, "WARNING. If blade damage, don't be fly, otherwise it will create the human body or airframe damage."

Um, ok.

I laughed about this for a while, and then it reminded me of a person with whom I used to work.  I never quite figured out if it was me or if it was her, but honest to Pete, even though we both spoke English, I never quite understood what she was trying to say.

It wasn't a fluency problem or a literacy problem, but a communication problem.  I simply didn't get what she was saying, and I had no idea why.

Every time I got an email from her or listened to what she had to say in a meeting, I ended up just shaking my head and thinking, "Huh?"

But that was the end of that.  Even though it would have helped my cause in the long run, I never bothered to work through our lack of communication.

Looking back, I think the first step would have been fairly simple.  I should have said, "It's important to me to understand what you're saying.  Do you mean...?"

This would have not only validated what she was saying, but would have also provided clarification.  But in not doing this, I missed an opportunity to advocate for the library.  I didn't create a relationship that could have been potentially beneficial.

Are there teachers or administrators with whom you'd like to improve communication?  If you can take the first step toward that process, I think you'll find that it may benefit your library.  And what helps your library helps your kids.

For the kids, take the time to speak the same language.

Yeah, do it for the kids!

My grandsons and I were doing some last-minute Christmas shopping a couple of days ago. Traffic was crazy, and one driver, impatient with the person in front of him, honked loudly.

"Geez," I said, "give the guy a break. It's Christmas!"

"Yeah," chimed in Jake, my six-year-old. "Do it for the kids!"

And when you think of it, that pretty much sums up a great library philosophy. Thanks for the reminder, Jake.

How to write a proposal OR a lesson from the scouts

As crazy as it sounds, it's already time to start thinking about next school year.  Almost as soon as we get back from winter break, budget requests and summer professional development plans will be due.

As you begin to plan for next year, you may be asked to write a proposal.  Maybe you want to ask your administrator for something significant.  It could be permission to implement a big, new school-wide program.  Or maybe it's money for an online reference package or downloadable ebook system.  Possibly it's consideration for your library to be open a few additional hours each week.

If what you're asking for is small, a quick email or even a casual word in the hall may be enough for your administrator to give it a thumbs up.  But if your plan requires a good deal of money or would have an impact beyond your campus, you may be asked to formalize your request.

And that's where the scouts come in.  You need to be prepared.

If you missed the scouting experience or simply want a little push to get started, I'll offer a few proposal pointers.

General tips:

*Limit your proposal to one page if possible.
*Choose standard 10-12 pt. font in blank ink.
*Use simple, direct wording and a professional writing style.
*Spell correctly and use correct grammar.  Ask for savvy friends to edit your work.
*Pull out a compelling quote, idea, or intended result in a text box for emphasis.
* Follow the chain of command by submitting the proposal to your direct supervisor.
*Submit your proposal electronically so your administrator can easily forward it on if needed.
*Be prepared!  Think like an administrator and answer objections before they arise.

Specific structure:

First paragraph--introduction
*Succinctly state the purpose of your proposal. 
*Be brief and specific.
*Avoid jargon.
*Basically, what are you asking for?

Second paragraph--background
*Don't assume your administrator knows what you're talking about.
*Provide a fuller explanation of the program, the idea, the system, etc.
*Don't over explain.

Third paragraph--rationale
*Why is this needed?  (If it won't benefit the kids, why are you asking?)
*Explain how your idea will help kids.
*Provide data if possible or a quote from a great journal article.

Fourth paragraph--details
*What is your time frame for implementation?
*How much will it cost?
*How will you know if it works?
*Anticipate questions and answer them in this paragraph.

Fifth paragraph--closing
*Restate what you're asking for in simple terms.
*Tell why it's important (remember the kids!)
*Respectfully ask for consideration.

Now you're ready to submit your proposal.  Cross your fingers that it will be approved so your great idea can help the students you work with each day.

Or better yet, submit your proposal, and raise your hand in the scout's salute because you are prepared!

'Tis the season for a kinder, gentler library



Altered book tree courtesy Wakeland HS, FISD

'Tis the season for good will to all men (and students and staff).  So while you're full of eggnog and good cheer, I hope you'll take a few moments to perform a kindness audit for your library (briefly mentioned in a previous post--see tags).

Walk around your library and look at it with fresh eyes.  Pretend you're a kiddo or a teacher seeing it for the first time.  Better yet, ask a student or staff member to give you feedback.

Do you have a kinder, gentler library?

*When you step in the door, does someone smile and call you by name? 

*Does the library LOOK like a place you'd want to be?

*Are you bombarded by the negative or surrounded by the positive? 

Negatives:  NO food.  NO drinks.  The library is CLOSED today for a meeting.  You have an OVERDUE book. 

Positives:  Help us keep the library looking great--please finish food and drinks before entering.  We hope to see you again tomorrow--meeting in progress.  Your book is due when you've read it through.

*Is the library easy to use or intimidating?  (We get what an OPAC is, but do the kids?  We get Dewey, but honestly, they really don't have to--they just want a book! What do you mean I can't use Wikipedia?)

*Is the library a place where it's ok to make mistakes?  (Or does the self checkout system beep overly loud or whistle at you if you do it wrong?  I like the ones that a mistake gets a recording of the librarian's voice nicely saying, "Oops.  Please ask for help.")

*Are all legitimate requests listened to and fulfilled if possible?

*Are students inadvertently patronized (Calling them baby, honey, sweetheart; talking in a different tone of voice to kids than adults) OR is everyone treated with respect?

*Are ALL kids welcome in the library?  (Not just the ones who are easy to welcome?)

The list could go on, so I hope you'll weigh in with your own suggestions for a kindness audit.  Other ideas?

In the meantime, refill your wassail cup and toast to a happy holiday and a kinder, gentler library where good will to all is evident each day.

Cheers!