High School libraries

[Carolyn Ellis]

Just two weeks ago I was hired as the librarian of South Philadelphia High School. I am to, to say the least, extremely excited. My last position at a Philadelphia middle school was cut for a music teacher, causing me to spend the first half of summer break searching for a new position.
I just returned from vacation and now must begin to think about this new transition. The thing is the school's library has not been updated in quite a while. The principal wants me to update it and make it student friendly.
Finding this discussion group is a blessing. I hope that you will all accept my questions about running a high school library and help me solve any problems that may arrise as I prepare for the new year durning the next couple of weeks.
I will have to get in there and take a long look around and see what is really there and what is the most important part to begin with. Any suggestions on what to look for first would be a real help. I look forward to any comments.

[Kimberly Brosan]

Hi Carolyn, congratulations on your new position. I'm currently a middle school librarian but have worked in high school libraries for most of my career. I'll be glad to help out when/where I can. :)

I'd probably start by looking at the tech tools that are available and how current/out of date the reference and fiction sections are.

[Carolyn Ellis]

Kimberly,
Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to school on Tuesday and was planning on just taking a look around checking what condition it is in. I will now begin with the reference area and the condition of the fiction section.
I am so glad this website is here and hope to be able to use it to get me through this transition.

[Graig Henshaw]

Hi Carolyn, good luck in your new position. I currently work in three elementary libraries in York, PA, but I student taught and did my library practicum in a high school. Like Kimberly said, I would take a look at the reference and fiction to start. Especially the reference. I know a lot of high schools use the library for reports on authors and careers. Technology is also important and just utilizing what is available. Hopefully you will have a chance to collaborate with teachers on some of the projects either as a direct resource or through co-teaching.

The one thing that happens in a lot of high school libraries is that students try to abuse by going there to get out of having to sit in study hall. If they have an actual research project to do, that is fine, but if they are coming to the library to do homework that they do not need library resources for then they are basically just trying to avoid sitting in the boring, quiet study hall room. That is something that you will have to think about when running a high school library.

I will add more things as I think of them. Good luck in your new position and I hope it goes really well. Since you were already a librarian, you already know what a blessing the collection analysis tools available through Bound to Stay Bound and Follett's Titlewave are.

[Ann Martha]

Hi Carolyn,

The middle schools have dropped librarians and then 6 or 7 years later reopen the libraries. MP has been returned to the middle school that closed the library and cut her several years ago.

The situation you face at SPHS is what I faced at Fels -- we followed the same librarian who shall remain nameless in this discussion as he has retired from SDP to take a position in a private school in NJ! I had no $$$ so I cleaned up and weeded and prayed for the LBF grant. I got the grant which probably extended my job at Fels until I received the good word -- the School Reform Commission mandated a certified librarian in every high school with an enrollment of 1000 students. Fels has 1700 students and is very overcrowded.

[bj neary]

Hi, I am just joining this discussion and it is the end of your lst year- how did it go and how can I help for next year. We have a population of 2300 students grades 10-12 and I do booktalks for the reading classes that include reluctant readers. We have many students who devour the urban fiction books, if you need any recommendations, please let me know!

[Ann Martha]

Hi bj

My kids love urban fiction. I wish I coud buy more, but the only money I have is from the few fines I am able to collect. The kids won't pay. I set up IOU books and bill for the money at the end of the year. The kids make fun of the fine system. They run up tabs of $400 or more for such fees as temporary student ID's and uniform shirt rentals when they come to school wearing inappropriate attire.

The kids are unconcerned with the sanctions: no privileges, no prom, no trips, no final report card, no transcript for another high school, and most escape the consequences that are nearly impossible to apply.

When they move and fail to return books, I send bills, but I wish I had the services of a professional collections agency!

Has anyone tried to sell hot chocolate on winter mornings to get book money?