Congratulations! You’ve recently graduated from library school and have just started your first year as a school librarian—arguably the most challenging but rewarding job you’ll ever have. As a school librarian, you must be able to work with anyone in the school, from students to veteran teachers. No other instructional member of the faculty works with as many people as you do. You will be your school’s literature aficionado, technology expert, and lead information manager. Starting a new position as a library media specialist can feel almost as intimidating as, well, being a third grader starting out in a new school (trust me, I was a first-timer this time last year). The library you inherit may be in great shape—or desperately in need of weeding and rebuilding. Likewise, your school may be used to an active library program that’s focused on student achievement—or not. Where to start? Of course you will first want to educate yourself about the library budget, which will fund all (or at least most) of your purchases. The budget is a key planning document, so obtain a written copy and familiarize yourself with any purchasing procedures. While there is no one formula for a successful first year, here are seven strategies you’ll want to keep in mind.

Put people first

Depending on your district’s level of commitment to the library program, you may or may not have a dedicated library staff. The breadth of your staff could range from a full-time clerk (or more) to a few hours a week from a volunteer. Whatever your situation, it’s important to establish good working relations. Within the first couple of days, set up a meeting with everyone you’ll be working closely with and share your goals and expectations for the coming year. Ask for suggestions and help in establishing procedures. This will open lines of communication and establish you as part of the team. The earlier you build these relationships, the stronger your team will perform. You can dramatically shorten your learning curve by tapping into your staff’s knowledge of the library program and collection, the makeup of the faculty and student body, and the availability of resources building-wide.

Explore your space

Take time to learn your collection, from the reference works to any online content you may have access to. Grasp the OPAC well enough to be able to teach it to others. Look through file cabinets and desk drawers to assess your supplies. You won’t be able to do all of this at once, so devote some of each day to this task. Part of exploring your facility also involves taking a technology tour. Uncover which computer platform is supported by your school. The implications for running either PCs or Macs can impact the way in which you hook up devices, run software, and teach computing skills. Take inventory of the technology in the media center. Learn how to use any available multimedia equipment, like LCD projectors and Smartboards. Your technology tour should give you a baseline of the multimedia equipment owned by the school—whether it’s housed in the media center or elsewhere. If you find that you have technology that isn’t working or you are lacking essential equipment or supplies that are a part of everyday instruction, make a list. Then prioritize it and bring your needs to the principal’s attention. Often there are building funds that can satisfy the most urgent requests. If you have a less pressing need for supplies or technology, consider purchasing them through your dedicated library budget.

Get your principal on board

One of the most important tasks is to develop an ongoing working relationship with your principal. Make the initial effort by actively promoting what’s happening in the library. Submit a quarterly report, or, if you’re ambitious enough, a monthly report that details collaborative efforts, circulation statistics, and resources acquired. Offer to be your principal’s personal librarian by acquiring any needed professional development materials. Many administrators aren’t aware of how directly involved the librarian is in teaching students, working with staff, and innovating with technology.

Collaborate and cooperate

As a new school librarian, learning to collaboratively plan and cooperatively work with other teachers may seem like a daunting task, but it’s essential. To find the first few teachers that you can collaborate with, choose an approach that best fits your personality. If you prefer being formal, ask for 10 minutes at a faculty meeting and share possible collaboration strategies and advertise available resources. Along the same lines, you may also want to attend formal planning sessions, like curriculum meetings. If a less formal approach suits you better, exchange ideas with teachers over lunch or strike up a conversation while walking in the hallways. Whatever the case, don’t wait around for teachers to initiate a partnership. Be receptive and diligent in order to create and maintain schoolwide connections.

Become a technology mentor

Being the premier information expert in your school means that you’ll need to take a leadership role in teaching others to be tech-savvy users. Become proficient in using electronic resources and managing digital information. A beginning strategy is to reach out to other librarians in your district (if they exist) or your regional information center, and discuss which databases your district subscribes to and how to access them. Run sample searches to learn their ins and outs. Determine which library databases best meet state and local benchmarks for learning. Once you have the basics down, the next step is to explore creative ways to make electronic content more accessible to students and teachers. A group e-mail message or a memo placed in teachers’ mailboxes can be as effective as using a passenger pigeon. Create something valuable, like a Web site that links to your recommended research tools. Offer to train small groups of teachers to use electronic information, before or after school. Above all, be proactive.

Take advantage of the World Wide Web

Remember, the world is literally a click away. Make use of free resources that take the grunt work out of monumental, time-consuming tasks, such as collection analysis and ordering materials. After completing a few simple steps and exporting your MARC records, services like Follett’s TitleWise can deliver detailed reports that will help you key in on areas of the collection that need improvement. The Web is also a great place to generate ideas for lesson and unit planning. Make use of fantastic lesson plan repositories like MarcoPolo and Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators. But exercise caution when using recycled lessons—the curriculum is ever changing and your instruction must always be customized to cater to the needs of your students. Even though you’re a recent college graduate and up to-date on the latest and greatest, use the Web to stay informed about new educational and library issues. Sites like Edutopia, techLEARNING, School Library Journal, and others offer plenty of sage advice and research-based articles that will keep you on the cutting edge.

Practice selective abandonment

As you map out your first-ever blueprint for an effective library program, you must have a clear vision of what you hope to accomplish. Spend your time and energy on what counts—the students. Would you rather be fixing the subject headings in your catalog or working with kids and helping them learn? Eliminate any activities that detract from your vision. It’s time to roll up your shirtsleeves and get to work. Just like your students, you will be learning throughout the year, based on your successes and failures. Be flexible, approach everything with an open mind, and have fun.

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Author Information

Justin Ashworth survived his first year as a media specialist at McNamara Elementary School in Baldwinsville, NY, and is gearing up for a new year.