I finally have my barcodes! They are here! And they are so pretty! I can finally automate!
Speaking of... I think I bit off more than I can chew with this project. I know it is entirely doable but it would go so, so much faster if I had help. I really need help. Only, there isn't really anyone to help me. Now I really DO need an automation plan...
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Waiting
I have learned that waiting is inevitable. I have always had something slowing me down whether it was for permission (it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission) or for companies (the stuff will get here when it gets here, and if it doesn't, follow up immediately) or myself (stuck in the dredges of "I don't know what to do next").
My biggest fights are with my school and myself. I wanted to do the right thing and ask for permission because I didn't want to make anyone mad, or do something I wasn't supposed to, or step on anyone's toes. Nothing got done doing this. That was all of fall and part of winter. Then I learned that the school valued initiative and just getting it done. Then I stopped asking for permission unless I had no other choice. (Now I dread asking because I know it will take so long for a response. I have to make sure everything is set up to go before I ask or else it will easily unravel.) So now I come up with as many work-arounds as I can. Like doing purchase orders instead of waiting for someone to find the time to get out the credit card and check out the cart that has been sitting online for so long. I didn't really know what those were until just recently. I am still working on using my time wisely. For instance, even though I have had my labels forever, I am just starting trying to make call numbers. I started where it is easy and am going to work my way to where it is hard. Thankfully, so much of my collection has call numbers on it, it will make it a whole lot easier for me. But there are still so many decisions to make. I just don't know how to do them all. And I have so many ideas I want to implement that I can't even keep up with myself. I still have to figure out collection development for this year. I have about a thousand left in my budget. That will get me 30 books. The school is advocating permanence. I know the stupid things will get stolen so why pay extra for them? Anything that is popular is more likely to a) get used a lot b) get stolen. So should I spend the extra money on permabound? And if so, what titles should I get? And what about lower reading ability levels? What do I do about them? Who to buy for? The kids who actually read vs. the kids who should read but don't. Should I get more graphic novels to reel them in? I think so but the school wants "culturally appropriate" (=black urban) MCAS (what does that mean?!!) books. I have too many competing interests for a measly $800.
Meanwhile, my barcodes haven't arrived yet and my pay is still sporadic.
Also, I need to come up with some points to argue for keeping me at SLA next year: I want a raise but I think there was a wage freeze. I want access to money I can spend at will without waiting for the assistant head of school to do it. I'll ask permission/seek authorization/email what and when I spend :) Need to work on that email...
It never ends. Its the end of the school year and the library isn't automated. I feel like a failure. A failure who is doing too much. (Did I mention I am trying to coordinate a Six Flags Trip too?)
Sigh. I need a vacation.
My biggest fights are with my school and myself. I wanted to do the right thing and ask for permission because I didn't want to make anyone mad, or do something I wasn't supposed to, or step on anyone's toes. Nothing got done doing this. That was all of fall and part of winter. Then I learned that the school valued initiative and just getting it done. Then I stopped asking for permission unless I had no other choice. (Now I dread asking because I know it will take so long for a response. I have to make sure everything is set up to go before I ask or else it will easily unravel.) So now I come up with as many work-arounds as I can. Like doing purchase orders instead of waiting for someone to find the time to get out the credit card and check out the cart that has been sitting online for so long. I didn't really know what those were until just recently. I am still working on using my time wisely. For instance, even though I have had my labels forever, I am just starting trying to make call numbers. I started where it is easy and am going to work my way to where it is hard. Thankfully, so much of my collection has call numbers on it, it will make it a whole lot easier for me. But there are still so many decisions to make. I just don't know how to do them all. And I have so many ideas I want to implement that I can't even keep up with myself. I still have to figure out collection development for this year. I have about a thousand left in my budget. That will get me 30 books. The school is advocating permanence. I know the stupid things will get stolen so why pay extra for them? Anything that is popular is more likely to a) get used a lot b) get stolen. So should I spend the extra money on permabound? And if so, what titles should I get? And what about lower reading ability levels? What do I do about them? Who to buy for? The kids who actually read vs. the kids who should read but don't. Should I get more graphic novels to reel them in? I think so but the school wants "culturally appropriate" (=black urban) MCAS (what does that mean?!!) books. I have too many competing interests for a measly $800.
Meanwhile, my barcodes haven't arrived yet and my pay is still sporadic.
Also, I need to come up with some points to argue for keeping me at SLA next year: I want a raise but I think there was a wage freeze. I want access to money I can spend at will without waiting for the assistant head of school to do it. I'll ask permission/seek authorization/email what and when I spend :) Need to work on that email...
It never ends. Its the end of the school year and the library isn't automated. I feel like a failure. A failure who is doing too much. (Did I mention I am trying to coordinate a Six Flags Trip too?)
Sigh. I need a vacation.
Monday, May 18, 2009
ugh oh
I just told Mrs. Stovell that I hope to have the library automated in a month. I am thinking it will take much longer. Plus I don't know where to start... I need to (in no particular order)
- make a form for students to fill out for a library card
- figure out whether i should start before I get barcodes and just do retrospective cataloging
- decide when i need all my books back
- decide what other books i want to buy
- finish up the book brick program- ask Ms. Marshall about her trip to Six Flags
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Amazing
It is amazing how long it takes to get things done. I have ordered barcodes last week and they haven't arrived yet. However, I just got in a TON of books. So many, I don't know what to do with them. Besides write some thank yous.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday
Today the network was unfathomably slow. Too slow to do anything like check my email. On the bright side, I have $219 to spend at Barnes & Noble for my library! And I ordered a barcode reader and barcodes so as soon as they come I can start automating and cataloging. Not that I had any official permission to order it other than from our administrative assistant. I still haven't met with my assistant head of school. I haven't heard fro OPALS recently either. I don't really know what to make of that. All in all, a good day. I got some more books shelved and I will be chaperoning a movie night next Thursday night. I feel like I can get entirely caught up in trying to market my library while simultaneously trying to automate it and get it going. I am torn. And stressed about which I should do because I really can't do both. But I feel like they are expecting me to do things. But on top of what I was hired to do I have done:
- Two lollipop fundraisers
- Two Scholastic Book Fairs
- A Barnes & Noble Bookfair that raised $219 for books
- Run the book bricks program
- Organized and chaperoned two small field trips
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