A few books I want to purchase

I was looking at the Friends of the Library USA website and found a few books that I need to buy. I'll give a review after I have finished them. I'm adding FOLUSA to the list of organizations that I need to join: ALA, CSLA, and others I'll add later.

The finished application is faxed

"People help you when you ask and sometimes even when you don't" Everything fell into place getting the application for DEMCO together. I started working on the proposal even though I wasn't sure how I was even going to deliver it. But talking to co-workers, I found that a guy has a sister in the DC area who would be willing to deliver it. But then it occurred to me that the person who delivered it would have to be able to get into the convention. So I emailed a librarian friend who has friends who are going to the convention and they were happy to take it to the DEMCO booth. Everyone pray, cross your fingers, or smile at superstition for us that we will win this contest. I see this as the beginning of the long process of fund raising for the library. If anyone knows of grant opportunities for private school libraries please let me know!

Furniture "Face Lift"

The administration agrees that new tables and chairs are a priority for the library; however cost is a consideration. So our principal asked me to write a proposal for my vision of what changes should be made. Looking at library supplies and furniture company DEMCO I came across a great opportunity to receive funds for remodeling in the form of the "$10,000 Room Makeover Contest." Unfortunately the deadline is June 25th and the entry form must be hand delivered to their booth at the ALA conference in Washington DC. I know I can finish the proposal by then, but I'm not sure if we have the funds or I have the time to go to DC. We'll see.

Short Term Goals. . . so far

I touched base with the administration this morning and gave a brief outline of my short-term goals for the library. The reception was very positive and there was some interest in a display of Saint Mary's History. I have a lot of energy and excitement right now for this project and for beginning my career as librarian. I'm sure there will be disappointment and tedium as there is in any job/career but this feels right.

Short Term Library Goals (Goals that can be achieved immediately or within the year)

I. Physical Space of the Library
A. clean and organize
B. take old artwork down and put student art work up
C. new furniture
D. panther mural (see attached)
E. If possible move the books out of the “caves” and onto shelves in the main space
II. The Web Page
A. Create a blog for the library and show its transformation over time:
http://pantherlibraryproject.blogspot.com/
III. The Collection
A. Get rid of the paper issues of National Geographic
B. Move the reference books into the stacks
C. Get rid of the vinyl records and trade for CD’s (consult with others who might be interested)
D. Buy an irecord ($200) http://www.irecord.com to convert 782 video analogue to digital MP4 files.
IV. Collaboration with teachers
A. Give a presentation to teachers at the beginning of the year on techniques for searching on Google and Web 2.0. I need to overcome resistance to ipods, movies, cds, websites, etc.
B. Create a web calendar for teachers to sign up for time in the library online or on the network.
C. Have each teacher write down a keyword or two that they would like research on
D. Create a four year plan to incorporate information literacy into the curriculum map. Begin with Freshman English and History.
E. Have students create movie posters of their independent reading. (English Classes) http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/poster.php. They have to list and site quotes from the book to show where they got the physical descriptions that they will use to set up the digital photo (Art Classes) that they will take and upload to the site.
V. Activities for students
A. Media discussions on Visual Art, Books, Music, Poetry, Movies open to students and faculty.
B. Have a computer or network space dedicated to storing podcasts and digital videos that students can download and contribute to (only materials in the public domain)
C. Play “Media Idol” once a month. Two students and I read, listen, or watch a piece of media then debate and judge it in front of an audience who will finally vote (on the website?) to decide if it passes the final round. The piece of media that wins could be included in the collection, or the next summer reading etc. To get copies for the judges, students could write letters to publishers explaining what they are doing.


So I have a fair start on some of these. I want to finish the physical space changes in the next three weeks before I go on vacation. We'll see how it goes. . .

Getting Started

This is behind the front desk after cleaning out and organizing.
It felt more like an archaeological dig than cleaning.
I found materials going back two generations of librarians.
The last picture is the recycling and trash left over. This took about 11 hours total.