Re: Wanted: Nitty Gritty of a Librarian's Day

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Librarians/Media Science Chatboard

Wanted: Nitty Gritty of a Librarian's Day

by Future Librarian???

Sep 28, 2013

I'm seriously considering becoming a librarian after 19 years in the classroom. I have an MS in Reading, but I would have to pick up 24 additional graduate hours in order to obtain my librarian certification in my state. Before I make this decision, I would like to learn as much as possible about the nitty gritty of the job. Any advice and information would be appreciated.

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Anonymous I had taught almost 20 years when I started my MLIS. I enjoyed my coursework and happily looked forward to a career as a Librarian but am finding it hard to get hired. You really have to weigh the cost of the degree and whether or not the economy in your district will likely sustain librarians.

On 9/29/13, Happy Librarian wrote: > I wa...See MoreI had taught almost 20 years when I started my MLIS. I enjoyed my coursework and happily looked forward to a career as a Librarian but am finding it hard to get hired. You really have to weigh the cost of the degree and whether or not the economy in your district will likely sustain librarians.

On 9/29/13, Happy Librarian wrote: > I wanted to be a teacher-librarian, always, but worked in > the classroom for many years (getting my required endorsement > along the way) before finally someone retired. I didn't get my > LMS right after graduating university and for me that ended up > being a good decision. I never liked the 'science' part of > 'Library Science'- creating MARC records, obsessing over Dewey > Decimals, etc. > Now as it turns out software does all the catalog-related > things (although once in a while I disagree and catalog a title > as something else), and with Common Core Standards and other > changes the Dewey organization is going away- at least at the > K-6 level, for myself and others in my professional group. > My caveat would be not that the grad credits won't adequately > prepare you, but what is the situation for libraries in your > district? The other posts were reminders about the realities of > budget cuts. In my district we serve in the specialist rotation > at K-6, along with Music, PE and Art. My job security is > serving as the teachers' contracted planning period and that > our school is HUGE- almost 625 students. So I have 6 classes > back-to-back every day. > I can still do story time with the kids, all grade levels, > but am also responsible for writing grants to get technology, > teaching technology, teaching teachers technology, and fixing > everyone's stuff all day long. Teachers will call me in the > middle of a lesson and want me to help them replace a > burned-out light bulb in their projector...aside from the > technology itself, teaching information literacy is also a big > part of the day. > So I would make sure you know what role your district wants > you to play regarding technology, and that you already have the > skills or that the grad credits include them (probably they will). > I would never go back to the classroom- I think mine is the > best job in the school! But check carefully about the longevity > of the position- at smaller schools, including in my district, > and as the other posts noted, you might end up having to fill > in for all kinds of other support classes (I know someone doing > math facts one period a day) that have nothing to do with the > library.... > > On 9/28/13, Future Librarian??? wrote: >> I'm seriously considering becoming a librarian after 19 >> years in the classroom. I have an MS in Reading, but I >> would have to pick up 24 additional graduate hours in order >> to obtain my librarian certification in my state. Before I >> make this decision, I would like to learn as much as >> possible about the nitty gritty of the job. Any advice and >> information would be appreciated.

Feb 7, 2014

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new in the lmc On 9/28/13, Future Librarian??? wrote: > I'm seriously considering becoming a librarian after 19 > years in the classroom. I have an MS in Reading, but I > would have to pick up 24 additional graduate hours in order > to obtain my librarian certification in my state. Before I > make this decision, I would like to learn as much as &g...See More

Sep 28, 2013

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Future Librarian??? I work in an elementary school, so I am aware of many things. Our district cut our aides a few years ago. We do have parent volunteers who help with shelving and checking in / checking out books. Our librarian retired last year, but we haven't hired anyone yet. We currently have a retired librarian subbing for us.

Sep 28, 2013

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Happy Librarian I wanted to be a teacher-librarian, always, but worked in the classroom for many years (getting my required endorsement along the way) before finally someone retired. I didn't get my LMS right after graduating university and for me that ended up being a good decision. I never liked the 'science' part of 'Library Science'- creating MARC records, obs...See MoreI wanted to be a teacher-librarian, always, but worked in the classroom for many years (getting my required endorsement along the way) before finally someone retired. I didn't get my LMS right after graduating university and for me that ended up being a good decision. I never liked the 'science' part of 'Library Science'- creating MARC records, obsessing over Dewey Decimals, etc. Now as it turns out software does all the catalog-related things (although once in a while I disagree and catalog a title as something else), and with Common Core Standards and other changes the Dewey organization is going away- at least at the K-6 level, for myself and others in my professional group. My caveat would be not that the grad credits won't adequately prepare you, but what is the situation for libraries in your district? The other posts were reminders about the realities of budget cuts. In my district we serve in the specialist rotation at K-6, along with Music, PE and Art. My job security is serving as the teachers' contracted planning period and that our school is HUGE- almost 625 students. So I have 6 classes back-to-back every day. I can still do story time with the kids, all grade levels, but am also responsible for writing grants to get technology, teaching technology, teaching teachers technology, and fixing everyone's stuff all day long. Teachers will call me in the middle of a lesson and want me to help them replace a burned-out light bulb in their projector...aside from the technology itself, teaching information literacy is also a big part of the day. So I would make sure you know what role your district wants you to play regarding technology, and that you already have the skills or that the grad credits include them (probably they will). I would never go back to the classroom- I think mine is the best job in the school! But check carefully about the longevity of the position- at smaller schools, including in my district, and as the other posts noted, you might end up having to fill in for all kinds of other support classes (I know someone doing math facts one period a day) that have nothing to do with the library....

On 9/28/13, Future Librarian??? wrote: > I'm seriously considering becoming a librarian after 19 > years in the classroom. I have an MS in Reading, but I > would have to pick up 24 additional graduate hours in order > to obtain my librarian certification in my state. Before I > make this decision, I would like to learn as much as > possible about the nitty gritty of the job. Any advice and > information would be appreciated.

Sep 29, 2013

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CeCe On 9/28/13, Future Librarian??? wrote: > I'm seriously considering becoming a librarian after 19 > years in the classroom. I have an MS in Reading, but I > would have to pick up 24 additional graduate hours in order > to obtain my librarian certification in my state. Before I > make this decision, I would like to learn as much as &g...See More

Oct 2, 2013

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