Elementary School Librarianship Peggy Burton School Librarian Williams Elementary School, Mattoon...

Elementary School Librarianship

Peggy BurtonSchool LibrarianWilliams Elementary School, Mattoondsmma@frontiernet.net

Background•BA from Millikin University, English Education•MLS from University of Illinois, K-12•Experience

▫4 years Catholic K-8, librarian and computer teacher

▫4 years in public K-12, district librarian▫7 years in public 6-8, librarian▫3 years in public Pre-K-5, 2 schools in 2

towns▫7 years in public K-5, 1 of 2 el schools

Currently

•Williams Elementary School, Mattoon▫K-5▫750 students▫55 certified staff▫12 Para-professionals

Memberships

▫ISLMA since 1994 Just finished term as chair of Monarch

Steering Committee Appointed Function Rep for the 3 Reader’s

Choice Awards▫IRC since 2004

A Typical Day at School• Arrive at school around 7:30 am• 7:30-8:00

▫ Open library▫ Check and answer email▫ Help teachers who begin to arrive

• 8:00-8:30▫ Supervise 3 5th grade student library aides as they get the

library physically ready▫ Adult library aide arrives and begins checking in and out

books▫ Supervise 20 students during Early Morning Reading

Club▫ Continue to help teachers and staff▫ Prepare materials for the day’s lessons▫ Supervise volunteers

• 8:45 – 11:15▫Classes come to library on a fixed schedule for

30 minute periods, 5 in the morning▫Teach lesson for 15-20 minutes▫Students checkout books for remainder of time

• 12:00-12:45▫Para has lunch▫Manage library for student and staff use▫Prepare for afternoon classes▫Prepare book/supply orders▫Repair books▫Create displays▫Talk to other El Librarian

•  12:15-1:00▫Lunch – most times

• 1:00 – 3:00▫Classes come to library on a fixed schedule for

30 minute periods, 4 in the afternoon▫Teach lesson for 15-20 minutes▫Students checkout books for remainder of time

•  3:10 – 4:30▫Students dismissed at 3:10▫Teachers prep until 3:50▫Help teachers who come in after school▫Write lesson plans▫Catalog book/materials▫Collaborate with district librarians▫Attend committee/faculty meetings when

scheduled▫Attend Grade Level meetings when possible

Procedures

•Began with what was already in place•Work very closely with the other El. SLMS•Work with curriculum•Consult administration•Consult with certified staff•Consult with other librarians via

ISLMAnet •On-going process

Policies• Began with what was

already in place• Work very closely with the

other El. SLMS• Work with curriculum• Consult administration• Consult with certified staff• Consult with other

librarians via ISLMAnet • On-going process

• Behavior: PBIS school▫ Display and enforce rules▫ Rely on classroom

teachers and recess supervisors for help

• Circulation▫ My discretion▫ Follow same practice as

sited previously

Budget

▫Principal assigns budget amounts to me each year

▫Keep a spread sheet of all expenditures and copies of all PO’s

▫Must submit my purchase requests to principal for approval and that is forwarded to Asst. Super. for approval

▫Once approved, complete order▫Check it in and let secretary know that the

invoice can be paid when order is received▫All PO’s are due by March 15th

▫History of not over spending, not being frivolous, and making sound decisions. This helps to smooth the request process.

Collaboration▫Extremely difficult on a fixed schedule – 42

classes per week▫Attend Grade Level meetings as often as

possible▫Communicate via email a great deal!▫Try to find places where I can fit into what

they are teaching▫Talk to teachers who seem interested and

work with them▫Enrichment/RTI is great place for collaboration▫Programming▫Reading Incentive programs

Leadership

•We see and know everyone in the school!•We are so flexible!•We have 2 degrees before even stepping

into the job!•We should be the “go-to person” in the

building for information on standards, RTI, CCSS, technology, trends, research, students and staff!

Leadership

•Committee work▫Reading/LA▫RTI▫Technology▫Steering▫CCSS implementation▫PARCC implementation

Leadership•Take leadership roles on the committees,

for planning, seeking information, doing PR

•Make yourself indispensible ▫To the day-to-day running of the school▫For the School Improvement Plan▫To the long-range planning of the school

Leadership• Professional Community

▫ Illinois School Library Media Association, ISLMA www.islma.org

▫American Library Association, ALA www.ala.org

▫American Association of School Librarians, AASL www.ala.org/aasl

▫ Illinois Reading Council, IRC www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org

▫ Illinois Computing Educators, ICE www.iceberg.org

Wrap-up•Elementary librarianship is much the same as

middle school or high school▫Budgets, committees, teaching, policies,

schedules, classroom teachers, reading/literature, technology, information skills

•Elementary librarianship is very different from middle school or high school▫Younger students, fixed schedule, little time in

the working day, very protective parents, substitutes

•No matter what the age, being a school librarian is the Best job in the world! Let everyone know it!

Peggy BurtonWilliams Elementary School1709 S. 9th StreetMattoon, IL 61938217-238-2800dsmma@frontiernet.net 217-855-2398