Maria D'Orsi is the Library Teacher at Medford High and Vocational Technical High School in Medford, MA
Some time ago, I was reading the blog of one of our MSLA members and she listed all the things she did in one day. It was a blow-by-blow listed on a vertical timeline. Seeing the many activities in a simple list was stunning, and revelatory, and inspiring. I have never forgotten it and when I answered the call for Forum articles this Spring, I thought about that blog and how I would love to see how others would make their lists. So, to that end, here’s my timeline to start us off, my Day in the Life (of a School Librarian).
Backing up a bit, that blog was incredible to read and the reality of it got me thinking about our jobs and how different they are. I don’t mean different as far as grade level, although that is certainly true, but in what we do in different buildings and districts, and what we do on different days. I was an elementary school librarian until a round of budget cuts in the dreadful fiscal years of 2008, 2009, and 2010, when my district transferred me to the high school. Within a few weeks I was begging my director to send me back. I was so unhappy, a fish out of water. I loved my picture books (I still do!) and teaching kindergartners to love the library, and I loved storytime, and I loved first graders looking for dinosaurs and Fancy Nancy (at the time), and second graders with their first research project (animals, of course). I just love those little ones.
Contrast that with my first few days in the high school library. I began with watching a three day orientation by the outgoing librarian. OMG– library rules, what are “databases”, how to find a book in the big-kids library, and– did I mention rules? everything prefaced with warnings! Lots of “stay with me now” before the next explanation. By the time I led my first orientation for new students a few weeks later I had cut it to one day, and I have been adapting ever since. FYI– my orientation is now one 57 minute period and the rest is taught in the context of a topic or project. I have grown to love high school but I am still an elementary teacher in my heart. So that’s a little context for my list.
I’ve chosen a random day to record, but, full disclosure: it was the Monday after April break when I didn’t have any classes scheduled. It was only the second week of 4th quarter, so new projects were just being introduced and many, many staff members were absent after vacations and other opportunities for spreading germs and getting sick and using up personal days… whew. You know how reentry from vacation goes! Here’s my day:
6:50am- Arrive at school to prepare for the 7am opening. Should have gotten here earlier. Start up computers, prep circ desk with all the things hidden from the “fun” camps during break. Brought out some day loan Chromebooks (CBs), logged in, and unlocked the door.
7:00am- Greet early arrivals. Open email. Teacher asking for copies. Send a morning announcement to the main office. As students arrive, check out CBs, check in a few books, one readers advisory, welcome a new student and create an account.
7:20am- Teacher picking up the copies wants to chat. I always make time for Matt. He tells me about an upcoming project, and he’ll send the lesson plan this week.
7:40am- First bell. A rush for CBs as students head to homeroom, and another bus arrives a bit late. (Side note, by today’s final bell, we will have loaned 30 CBs– this was just the first wave).
7:45am- Betsy arrives. I can go to my office.
8:00am- A teacher emails that her classroom CB is missing. Sent the serial number to our tech to track the last user. Of course it was KF. Sent info to his 1st period teacher.
8:10am- JL came for a CB. He has four still out. No go, JL. Go see your assistant principal (AP). This reminds me to email JLs father again! Tried to be nice but not easy with this parent. Called the AP to discuss. Gave JL many chances but he shows no interest in finding the missing CBs. The student’s bill is growing and he needs a CB. He can come after school.
8:45am- Work on sheet, “Seniors with overdue materials”. Graduation four weeks away. Has to be updated daily. Sending emails to students but there are too many to do in one day.
10:00am- Prep for 11am Zoom with Amy Bloom, Salem State practicum supervisor; practicum student, and myself, the supervising practitioner.
11:00am- Zoom with Bloom and student for 55 mins. First lunch ends.
Noon- My lunch— sausage lentil soup my mom sent for my husband, which I confiscated– with a side of 100 emails to read. Second lunch students were quiet today.
12:30pm- Meet with Vocational Graphic Design Instructor, Lou. Make final edits on a poster I created on Canva for a Poetry reading and book signing event in my library on May 18. One of our teachers is a published author! The book is Good Harbor by Max Heinegg.
1:15pm- Monitor nursing students taking their OSHA test in the library.
2:15pm- Read a short story (9 pages) for my short story book club and have a coffee.
2:45pm- Upload Junior Library Guild MARC records for the box that arrived today.
2:50pm- Check in diverse poetry books that arrived, unprocessed (wah!), from First Book to display during poetry reading. First time using them. Great prices!
3:15pm- My day was officially over almost an hour ago but I love working after school when I can finally focus. This was a good first day back after break. Physical Therapy at 4 pm– I’m outta here!
Would you like to submit A Day in the Life (of a School Librarian) from your school? Email me at mpdorsi@gmail.com. You can be totally anonymous, but it would be great to have some context to your experience to go with your daily log. And with this being the last Forum for this school year, I wish you many more successful (if busy) days of school and a wonderful, happy, and restful summer. Ciao!
Contrast that with my first few days in the high school library. I began with watching a three day orientation by the outgoing librarian. OMG– library rules, what are “databases”, how to find a book in the big-kids library, and– did I mention rules? everything prefaced with warnings! Lots of “stay with me now” before the next explanation. By the time I led my first orientation for new students a few weeks later I had cut it to one day, and I have been adapting ever since. FYI– my orientation is now one 57 minute period and the rest is taught in the context of a topic or project. I have grown to love high school but I am still an elementary teacher in my heart. So that’s a little context for my list.
I’ve chosen a random day to record, but, full disclosure: it was the Monday after April break when I didn’t have any classes scheduled. It was only the second week of 4th quarter, so new projects were just being introduced and many, many staff members were absent after vacations and other opportunities for spreading germs and getting sick and using up personal days… whew. You know how reentry from vacation goes! Here’s my day:
6:50am- Arrive at school to prepare for the 7am opening. Should have gotten here earlier. Start up computers, prep circ desk with all the things hidden from the “fun” camps during break. Brought out some day loan Chromebooks (CBs), logged in, and unlocked the door.
7:00am- Greet early arrivals. Open email. Teacher asking for copies. Send a morning announcement to the main office. As students arrive, check out CBs, check in a few books, one readers advisory, welcome a new student and create an account.
7:20am- Teacher picking up the copies wants to chat. I always make time for Matt. He tells me about an upcoming project, and he’ll send the lesson plan this week.
7:40am- First bell. A rush for CBs as students head to homeroom, and another bus arrives a bit late. (Side note, by today’s final bell, we will have loaned 30 CBs– this was just the first wave).
7:45am- Betsy arrives. I can go to my office.
8:00am- A teacher emails that her classroom CB is missing. Sent the serial number to our tech to track the last user. Of course it was KF. Sent info to his 1st period teacher.
8:10am- JL came for a CB. He has four still out. No go, JL. Go see your assistant principal (AP). This reminds me to email JLs father again! Tried to be nice but not easy with this parent. Called the AP to discuss. Gave JL many chances but he shows no interest in finding the missing CBs. The student’s bill is growing and he needs a CB. He can come after school.
8:45am- Work on sheet, “Seniors with overdue materials”. Graduation four weeks away. Has to be updated daily. Sending emails to students but there are too many to do in one day.
10:00am- Prep for 11am Zoom with Amy Bloom, Salem State practicum supervisor; practicum student, and myself, the supervising practitioner.
11:00am- Zoom with Bloom and student for 55 mins. First lunch ends.
Noon- My lunch— sausage lentil soup my mom sent for my husband, which I confiscated– with a side of 100 emails to read. Second lunch students were quiet today.
12:30pm- Meet with Vocational Graphic Design Instructor, Lou. Make final edits on a poster I created on Canva for a Poetry reading and book signing event in my library on May 18. One of our teachers is a published author! The book is Good Harbor by Max Heinegg.
1:15pm- Monitor nursing students taking their OSHA test in the library.
2:15pm- Read a short story (9 pages) for my short story book club and have a coffee.
2:45pm- Upload Junior Library Guild MARC records for the box that arrived today.
2:50pm- Check in diverse poetry books that arrived, unprocessed (wah!), from First Book to display during poetry reading. First time using them. Great prices!
3:15pm- My day was officially over almost an hour ago but I love working after school when I can finally focus. This was a good first day back after break. Physical Therapy at 4 pm– I’m outta here!
Would you like to submit A Day in the Life (of a School Librarian) from your school? Email me at mpdorsi@gmail.com. You can be totally anonymous, but it would be great to have some context to your experience to go with your daily log. And with this being the last Forum for this school year, I wish you many more successful (if busy) days of school and a wonderful, happy, and restful summer. Ciao!