In my opinion, the library is much less stressful than
teaching. No taking home of work, endless grading, detailed
lesson plans (mine for the library are much more general
than they were for the classroom), test scores to constantly
worry about, parents, principals breathing down your neck
(usually), or weekly deadlines. I find it very pleasant,
although there are cons as well: teachers and other people
being shocked that you actually need a master's degree to do
this job (in most places); the attitudes of teachers and
administrators toward you change (they think you don't do
anything); teachers not comprehending that you are a teacher
and the library is your classroom; and the one I hate the
most: teachers not letting or wanting kids to check out
certain books. It is honestly shocking to see teachers from
a different vantage point.

In some districts, you may be responsible for more than one
library and you may have responsibility for textbooks and
other district-issued resources.

Other responsiblities: weeding old titles, disbursement of
books that might have been donated but are not appropriate
for your library, care and upkeep of various equipment,
repair of books, recess/lunch/bus duty, writing policy,
creating book experiences and/or book clubs, maintaining
lists of books for ordering, conferring and collaborating
with teachers, educating teachers, staying atop of latest
research, constantly striving to keep your library neat,
organized, welcoming and uncluttered, researching resources
for teachers and administrators, managing assistants and
student and parent volunteers, endless shelving of books,
dealing with the occasional book complaint, keeping up with
a budget and expenditures. Sometimes you have to lug and
haul heavy boxes.

Overall, I wouldn't go back to teaching, most days are great
but like any job you'll have to deal with some you know what.

On 12/05/08, teacher wrote:
> I am a special eduaction teacher and am starting to get
> burned out from all of the stress. I have considered
> getting my certification to become a school media
> librarian. It appears that many of you are incredibly
> stressed out over your jobs. Is this correct?
> Also, I see that many school media librarians on this site
> have expressed their concern about teachers not knowing
> about all they do. Can you tell me more about what the
> resposibilities are of a school media librarian?
> Thanks in advance

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