Thanks for your post, it is very helpful. Wow – organising all of those events is amazing and becoming ICT coordinator in your first year. The students would have loved it.
I have just started a TL role and have inherited a very old and outdated collection. There is little to offer students on the library webpage or in regards to library services and lessons. Not being fully qualified myself, it has been hard to know how to start. I am going to read Tehani Croft’s article. I have been contributing to the newsletter each fortnight. I showcase what we have been learning and doing in the library. I also email primary staff or KLA department staff informing them of library programs and new offerings (particularly on the website) that can assist them with their teaching and student learning. I’ve started planning using an excel spreadsheet, popping every issue (and there are many) on there so that it doesn’t get forgotten.
The other area I have to focus on is creating a collection that serves the student and learning community. There are obvious needs that aren’t being met. I have also realised that managing staff who are used to a certain way of doing things presents challenges as well. I am drawing on my experience in the corporate sector quite a bit. I think that learning TL as a leader subject will give me tools to better manage this. I am also drawing on my marketing degree and work experience to be an advocate for TLs and to promote the activities of the library at school. The students love it and my ICT skills. It is definitely something I’d love to do in the library post covid – have coding club, ICT workshops (using apps, wordprocessing, web searching) as many students have expressed that they need help and lack confidence in these areas.
Author: Clare Bell Date: Monday, 28 September 2020 5:42:36 PM AEST Subject: Only 5..sorry I have 10.
Having been this ‘deer in headlights’ only 15 months ago and expected to know ‘every library’ on starting in a new school this question is actually harder to answer then it seams. For me I found pinpointing what to change and more importantly what to change first and when to change it. I inheritated a library that hadn’t have a qualified TL in well over 10 years. I myslfe not a qualified TL…YET. But very much on the path to becoming one was and still us in the thick of this reality. I followed the Tehani Crofts advice. As much as I wanted to get in and change everything, all at once. I did the following in this order. This is a section from my Final Portfolio.
Be present – Beginning after maternity leave with a newborn was a challenge but being at school 4 days a week quickly enabled me to get to know the school community.
Work the Desk – I quickly learnt nearly all students by name, what some of their favourite genres were and going to guide them on their next literature adventure.
Connect – I attended meetings, ate lunch in the staff room and baked scones for the support staff. This developed relationships connected me to teams and opened the dialogue for the school library.
Participate – I became the technology co-ordinator within the first 6 months, a steep learning curve but a way to get to know everyone, be appreciated and participate across all areas of the school, very quickly.
Get to know the tech- In my role of ICT co-ordinator, I quickly learned how to navigate all tech situations.
Contribute- This is the area that I need to develop the most. I want to have a fortnightly contribution to the newsletter as Croft suggests.
Organise events – I ran a full book week fiesta 5 weeks after my first day at the school. Two author visits, a book parade, fair and full decorated library. Everyone was very impressed, as this was a first for the school. I was brave and it paid off.
Advocate – this is another area I have to work on. I think after studying ETL 504 I will feel more equipped to do this.
Collection Development (and policy)- again another area I will be working on this coming year. I have a better feel for the needs of the local community and now feel equipped to develop a collection policy specifically for my school.
Croft, T. (2019). Starting a new library position: Suggestions and recommendations to kickstart a new role. Access (10300155), 33(1), 4–11.