A Good Start
Today I held the Teacher Media Center Orientation for the faculty of Sol C. Johnson High School. I presented the new policies handbook as it has been revised. I handed out their new library passes as well. I had the media center set up with display tables with themes to display various topics. One table was for Banned Book week with brochures of the challenged books for the past year, bookmarks, and a display of banned books. Another table was set up with the new Play-Away audio books hooked up to a set of computer speakers to show how they could be used in the classroom. We also highlighted the new multi-media computer workstation. This was available each block for teachers to participate during their planning period. I kept the session brief (around 25 minutes) and had snacks available. The day seemed successful.
Total time: 8 hours
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
September 11, 2009
Challenges and rewards
Today was a mixed bag. I started by attempting to enter the data file of all this year's students into our OPAC system. The year begins by clearing out the students from last year. The patrons that remain are the ones that still have books or fines from last year. Then the staff and teachers are manually entered into the system. Finally, the data file is loaded with all the new students. Unfortunately, I never was able to get the OPAC system to recognize the data file. I will just have to re-tackle this on Monday. Until then I continue to check books in and out the old-fashioned way; with pen and paper.
This afternoon we interviewed candidates for the position of Media Clerk. I did not have a media clerk last year and so have not ever worked with one. I really had to research and think this through to put together the most important questions to ask in the interviews. It was comforting that I had a committee of veterans to help. At the end of the day, we had made a selection and she had accepted. I will be working hard to make sure I use my staff development skills to train the new clerk and create a team that brings our media program to the next level.
Today I collaborated with the Spanish teachers who want to use the lesson we created together last year. I will tweak it and add some new resources to freshen it up for the new year.
Our first book club meets on Monday after school and so far the participation is very encouraging. Our first book is "Jumper" by Steven Gould. I have already given out eight books and we were not expecting to give any out until the meeting on Monday.
Our enrollment is down this year but the excitement of the students visiting the media center points to a great year. I am really looking forward to it!
Total Hours: 8 hours
Today was a mixed bag. I started by attempting to enter the data file of all this year's students into our OPAC system. The year begins by clearing out the students from last year. The patrons that remain are the ones that still have books or fines from last year. Then the staff and teachers are manually entered into the system. Finally, the data file is loaded with all the new students. Unfortunately, I never was able to get the OPAC system to recognize the data file. I will just have to re-tackle this on Monday. Until then I continue to check books in and out the old-fashioned way; with pen and paper.
This afternoon we interviewed candidates for the position of Media Clerk. I did not have a media clerk last year and so have not ever worked with one. I really had to research and think this through to put together the most important questions to ask in the interviews. It was comforting that I had a committee of veterans to help. At the end of the day, we had made a selection and she had accepted. I will be working hard to make sure I use my staff development skills to train the new clerk and create a team that brings our media program to the next level.
Today I collaborated with the Spanish teachers who want to use the lesson we created together last year. I will tweak it and add some new resources to freshen it up for the new year.
Our first book club meets on Monday after school and so far the participation is very encouraging. Our first book is "Jumper" by Steven Gould. I have already given out eight books and we were not expecting to give any out until the meeting on Monday.
Our enrollment is down this year but the excitement of the students visiting the media center points to a great year. I am really looking forward to it!
Total Hours: 8 hours
Saturday, September 5, 2009
September 4, 2009
Busy...busy...
Today started with a rush. I was called to make simultaneous multi-media setups for presentations at opposite ends of the school. The Instruction Tech had scheduled a set-up in the teacher's workroom to cover the grade database program with all the new teachers. In addition, the principal needed a last minute set-up in the auditorium. All in the first 15 minutes!
Today I finished entering the staff and teachers into the OPAC system. I spoke to the Data Clerk but will not be able to get the student files to imput until after the 10th. I will have to start a manual check-out system next week. I don't want to keep students from getting what they need.
I put the finishing touches on the updated Media Center Policy Handbook and turned it over to the principal for review. I have scheduled professional development for Wednesday to present the Media Center Orientation to all staff. They will come to the Media Center during their free block. I plan to have snacks, a copyright wall poster, and the new handbook to give out. In addition, I want to preview the new listening area with Play-Away players that I have added this year. I also want to have the many professional books that I have added to the collection.
I finished labeling and shelving the new Play-Aways in preparation for the orientation on Wednesday. In addition, I weeded about 40 books from the system that I culled from the short-story collection. With the extensive weeding done last year I am definitely taking the "as necessary approach". I need to start the newspaper subscription next week. The Newspapers In Education program that provided newspapers to the school and media centers last year has run out of funding so we will just have to purchase.
I accepted two sets of reference books at the end of last school year. After examining the books, I decided to add them to the collection. Our reference section definitely needs titles and these have material that we do not currently have. I prepared the purchase order and entered it into the accounting mainframe.
Total Hours: 9 hours
Today started with a rush. I was called to make simultaneous multi-media setups for presentations at opposite ends of the school. The Instruction Tech had scheduled a set-up in the teacher's workroom to cover the grade database program with all the new teachers. In addition, the principal needed a last minute set-up in the auditorium. All in the first 15 minutes!
Today I finished entering the staff and teachers into the OPAC system. I spoke to the Data Clerk but will not be able to get the student files to imput until after the 10th. I will have to start a manual check-out system next week. I don't want to keep students from getting what they need.
I put the finishing touches on the updated Media Center Policy Handbook and turned it over to the principal for review. I have scheduled professional development for Wednesday to present the Media Center Orientation to all staff. They will come to the Media Center during their free block. I plan to have snacks, a copyright wall poster, and the new handbook to give out. In addition, I want to preview the new listening area with Play-Away players that I have added this year. I also want to have the many professional books that I have added to the collection.
I finished labeling and shelving the new Play-Aways in preparation for the orientation on Wednesday. In addition, I weeded about 40 books from the system that I culled from the short-story collection. With the extensive weeding done last year I am definitely taking the "as necessary approach". I need to start the newspaper subscription next week. The Newspapers In Education program that provided newspapers to the school and media centers last year has run out of funding so we will just have to purchase.
I accepted two sets of reference books at the end of last school year. After examining the books, I decided to add them to the collection. Our reference section definitely needs titles and these have material that we do not currently have. I prepared the purchase order and entered it into the accounting mainframe.
Total Hours: 9 hours
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
September 1, 2009
First Day of School
Today was the first day that students returned to school at Johnson High School in Savannah, GA. I spent much of the day removing patrons from the OPAC system and entering the teachers and staff for the year. I cannot enter the students until the records have become available through the data clerk and that will be a while. In the meantime, I am putting a few books on hold and we will start checkout next week. I worked with a few students to return their books from last year and pay fines for lost books.
I had two teachers bring in boxes of donated books that I put in the consideration area to be considered for addition to the collection. Books that are not added to the collection may be donated to a specific program or even added to the special lending library in the teacher's workroom.
I met with one of the English teachers to discuss the scheduling of the first book club meeting. I will work tomorrow on a bulletin board to promote the September book: "Jumper" by Steven Gould. September will feature the first book club meeting, the first media club meeting and Banned Book Week. In addition, we will have all the ninth grade classes in for orientation. All in all, it will be a busy month.
Total Hours: 6 hours
Today was the first day that students returned to school at Johnson High School in Savannah, GA. I spent much of the day removing patrons from the OPAC system and entering the teachers and staff for the year. I cannot enter the students until the records have become available through the data clerk and that will be a while. In the meantime, I am putting a few books on hold and we will start checkout next week. I worked with a few students to return their books from last year and pay fines for lost books.
I had two teachers bring in boxes of donated books that I put in the consideration area to be considered for addition to the collection. Books that are not added to the collection may be donated to a specific program or even added to the special lending library in the teacher's workroom.
I met with one of the English teachers to discuss the scheduling of the first book club meeting. I will work tomorrow on a bulletin board to promote the September book: "Jumper" by Steven Gould. September will feature the first book club meeting, the first media club meeting and Banned Book Week. In addition, we will have all the ninth grade classes in for orientation. All in all, it will be a busy month.
Total Hours: 6 hours
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