After a year-and-a-half of applying, seven interviews for seven different libraries in two districts, and hearing the words "it was between you and one other" a few of those times...I was offered a job in an elementary school library in the same district in which I work.  This accomplishment would not be possible without the fantastic tutelage of my SHSU library science professors, the overwhelming support of my administrators these past three years, and the encouragement--and tolerance--of my family, friends, and colleagues.  

I was offered the job less than a week ago, so I am still trying to wrap my mind around the idea of leaving the classroom and my students.  That is the tough part of being a support teacher; we often see the same students year in and year out, unlike our general education colleagues who get a "fresh start" each school year.  We become family in our support rooms, and those I've had the pleasure--and heartache--of teaching these past three years make it hard to say goodbye.  I also work with an amazing staff of teachers and administrators, who recognize the needs of children from all angles and strive to lift them up as high as we can take them.  To leave them for mostly unknown territory makes my knees quake a bit.  But their support will carry me through, I know; I have learned so much from their examples of professionalism, camaraderie, and compassion that I can only be successful, wherever I am planted.

To the readers of this blog, thank you.  Thank you for being there, thank you for considering me for jobs, thank you for helping me get this new position.  I'm not sure if I'll continue posting on this site, with the active web presence the library already has and will need to be maintained.  As soon as I am established there, I'll post the links in this blog, in case you want to follow my continuing escapades in education...only this time, as a librarian.

Another morning spent in the stacks of Anderson Mill Elementary School!  This time, I was on my feet almost the entire morning.  There were loads of books to check in and shelve, students to help, an online resource lesson to teach, and another read-aloud.  With computer practice and checkout going on at the same time, it was great to have the assistant there to help monitor the students.  I was really impressed with the class who heard the read-aloud; they were making connections and asking very insightful questions for second graders listening to a creative nonfiction book.  During the quieter moments of shelving books, the assistant (a degreed librarian herself) and I enjoyed booktalking about our latest reads and to-read lists.

I spent a lot of time in this library last spring, fulfilling the required 130 hours of internship for my MLS degree.  The librarians here and at the Westwood High School library were generous in sharing their time and talents.  Two vastly different settings, collections, and patron populations gave me insight into the full spectrum of the school librarianship experience.  I have professional experience at the secondary level due to my eleven years as ARD facilitator at our district's DAEP and my teaching experience has primarily been at the elementary level, so I've spanned the PreK-12 grades with my "paying gigs" as well.  I have found that good service in the educational setting doesn't differ from one grade level to the next.  Connecting with staff and students is the top priority across the board; otherwise, why bother to come to work?  I love helping students and teachers find the resources they want and need.  This is the same whether I'm teaching, at a desk job, or behind the circulation desk.  Connections make my work relevant, increase my personal learning network and broaden the scope of resources I can provide for others.  Connections, drawing on the expertise of colleagues and students, and sharing all that knowledge is what 21st Century Learning is really all about.  And that makes me smile!

This picture was taken during my library internship last spring, and it shows one of my favorite parts of librarianship--sharing books with young scholars.  It is in the same library that I get to substitute, as I did this past Thursday morning.  

I truly enjoy my days in the library.  The routine of booting up the computers and checkout programs is soothing to me.  Greeting student "librarians" as they turn in their class' books, chatting with them about their recent reading, helping teachers find books for their classroom...even inspecting returned books for damage and checking them in just seems productive in ways I don't always experience in the classroom.  Shelving books allows me to catch up on the collection and discover new material; this time, I found out that the librarian and assistant had changed the  arrangements and started putting paperback nonfiction on the shelves with hardbacks, instead of a separate paperback section where they had once been housed.  

It was a very "quiet" day to work.  Only two classes were scheduled to come in that morning, and I had to attend an ARD (Admissions, Review, and Dismissal special education meeting) as part of my "paying job" during the kindergarten time slot,  so the assistant got the pleasure of reading to them.  I did get to read to a second grade class, an Armadillo book selection titled Looking at Lincoln by Maira Kalman, and the students were great at connecting what they already knew about the president to what they heard in the book.  After they left, I started working on checking in a pile of books brought in by the fourth grade, but had to leave shortly after the librarian came back to attend to my afternoon teaching schedule.  

My internship taught me that there is much more to librarianship than circulation tasks and storytime.  But until I get my own library position, I'm happy to continue practicing the basics whenever I get the chance.  What a great Valentine's Day gift, to work in a setting I love! 

My I-DO modules may be done, but I am still learning from my professional development workshops (see my "Continuing Education" page), from my colleagues, and most of all, from my students.  This past week, we had a collective "wow" moment when an author of a book I blogged about actually responded to my post!  The author of The Three Ninja Pigs, Corey Schwartz, not only offered to send bookmarks to my students, but is willing to respond to their letters, so we spent the latter part of the week forming questions, writing rough drafts, and starting on the final copies of the letters to be photographed and sent to Ms. Schwartz.

As for "library learning", I will be fortunate once again to substitute for my librarian this week.  My principal and librarian are solid supporters of continuing my library practice, and it was my principal's suggestion that I sub for the librarian during some planned meetings she needs to attend.  I have subbed twice already this school year, and it always feels like returning home.  I look forward to blogging about my experiences in the coming weeks.