Textbook mgmt concerns!

[Erica Dietz]

Hello everyone! I just started a new job as a library media specialist for a high school & spent my first day checking out the library & speaking to the library clerk who has been there for years. I was very surprised to learn that the previous librarians spent roughly 60% of their time managing & keeping track of school textbooks! Basically, the specialist is in charge of all textbooks for the school and all student accounts w/ one P/T clerk to assist (which I am very thankful for). Then I was told that another 20% of the librarian's time has historically gone to assisting students on the computer!

My question to all of you experienced teacher librarians is how common is this situation? After all my instruction in library school, I was geared for collaboration w/ teachers, instructional planning, promoting reading & collection development. I realize that change comes about slowly & I don't want to panic :), but I was curious for some of your opinions.

Thanks so much ...

Erica
southern California

[Elizabeth Roberts]

Hi Erica,

 

I know you posted this about 2 years ago, but I was just reading over old posts and was wondering how your first couple of years went. Do you find that this is how you spent your time, or did you find a better way to manage textbooks?  I'm not sure what catalog system you have, but we use Destiny and have the textbook mangaer which makes the whole process pretty easy, once all the textbooks are cataloged. This is my first year however, and I'm intersted to see if you found any tips or tricks to manage time so you could collaborate and work with kids etc.

 

Elizabeth