Public Libraries

You might ask, "What is it like for a teacher/school librarian to transition from the classroom to working in a public library? "

Working in a public library is fascinating!  Everyday is different and patrons keep it interesting.  In the course of a day, I have checked out very personal books without making direct eye contact, performed "Reader's Advisory, listened to kids tantruming, asked/guided teens to leave promptly at 9 pm,  checked books, music, and movies in and out, collected fines, counted money, cleaned a coin machine for printer fees, listened to loud neighborhood gossip, been told that the men's bathroom has no toilet paper, watched mentally challenged adults do crafts, sold transit tickets for the disabled, given out library cards, gone to the bank with the deposit and helped volunteers find things to do. I have seen meetings of sewers, knitters, drama clubs, bipolar support, mental health professionals, and even the locval tea party group, who shall remain nameless, as they annoy me and haven't reserved a meeting room since they pulled the "gun" stunt.

One day recently, I check out books on suicide, divorce, sexual prowess for men, miscarriage, biographies of Adolf Hitler and child abuse.  Another good reason to have self-checkout computers.  I really don't want to know all of this information about you.  TMI~~TMI~~~TMI!!!!!

In terms of differences in careers, not teaching is less stressful.  Certain library workers are quite anal and OCD.  Teachers deal with many more people during the course of a school day and must be very quick on their feet and decisive about unacceptable behavior and immediate consequences.  Teachers also are assigned to committees and have to deal with report cards, parent conferences, testing, and admin, plus bus duty, lunch duty and anything else that can be dumped on them.

My favorite part of being a school librarian was collection development; spending county money on books and materials that I felt would be most beneficial to the school. I also enjoyed storytime with the youngest students mixed with songs, puppets and an occasional parade or craft activity.  One school system had a good budget and I was also in charge of ordering AV equipment and cleaning it!  I miss the sweet students and seeing all different ages.

As I ramble, I will share that I also ordered  numerous educational videos; a somewhat controversial topic.   Educational videos can be so beneficial if not overused or misused.   When I reminisce about the black and white filmstrips and reel to reel movies of my elementary school days, I really marvel at Bill Nye The Science Guy offerings now available to the younger generations.  Educational videos can offer another type of learning opportuniity that taking notes from books or Power Pointless don't offer.

One of the reasons I don't believe in K-12 teacher tenure is that some teachers do get too set in their ways and can't/won't grow and change with the times.  Many teachers do wear the golden handcuffs.  It is not fair to the students!

When you read about the Dallas Cowboy coach getting canned for not winning enough games, it just makes sense to let people go who are not up to snuff. 

Even though I do believe in teacher's unions, I have misgivings about them in the same way I have misgivings about the UAW in Detroit.  I disapproved of Ronald Reagan's firing of the Air Traffic Controllers in 1982.  He put passenger safety at risk to prove a point.

We have homeless patrons, patrons who have been incarcerated and patrons who are demanding and grumpy.  The library is a gathering place for everyone.  Little children come to storytime with their parents and grandparents.  Artists diplay their work.  Symphony music greets you at the doorway.  It has been conjectured that this music is to deter the skateboard crowd.

We have demanding people who want to check out without their library card, without ID and have no interest in learning about computers. Classes are offered for free in excel, e-mail, and Word.

Your tax dollars at work.  I know you are getting your money's worth!  Come on in!