Book Selection and Collaborating with teachers

[Cheryl Seymour]

Being a first year Teacher-Librarian has been enjoyable, but not without difficulties. I was wondering if anyone has any strategies or advice about book selection for the Library Collection. Does anyone work with the teachers in their school to assist in the book selection process for material that may help with research projects for the following school year? Or should librarians not involve teachers in the book selection process? Should I ask teachers for input on selecting books they would use for research projects or is it better not to involve them at all?
The reason I ask is because I look at book selection as a collaborative effort. Perhaps, I am viewing it the wrong way. The bottom line is that I am dealing with a principal who may have misinterpreted my intentions in involving teachers in the selection process as not knowing how to select books for the library, which is not the case. What advice does anyone have regarding this situation and the book selection process? It would help to have some feedback on what I can do if this situation arises again.

Cheryl

[Nicole Waskie]

Hi Cheryl,

When I get close to "ordering time" I always send a little survey around to teachers. Basically, I ask if they have any suggestions for books they would like to see in the library (specific titles) or if there are any subject areas that they feel need more books in order to better support the classroom curriculum. It helps me keep updated on what is going on in the classroom, and it gives the teachers a sense of ownership of the library--which leads to increased traffic and circulation. I also do this with students--with the qualifier that I won't order every suggestion they give me, but that I will take their suggestions into account (I'm in a K-3 library, and the little ones are just tickled that I'm asking what they would like to read). This is my second year doing this, and I have had such a positive response, both from staff and students--luckily my principal seems to appreciate it, too. The way I see it, Teacher-Librarians are partners with teachers in the educational process, so to not take their suggestions into account would be to ignore the relationship of the library as the "hub" of the school.

[Susan H]

I also send a survey around to teachers, and I make it VERY clear that I am ALWAYS looking and listening to their suggestions. It helps to write down their suggestion then and there (and file it later) so they can see you are taking note, and then when you actually get the book, make sure that you tell that teacher that you noted their suggestion and the material is available in the library. I also am one that loves to SEE the books, and I have several jobbers who bring me books to see and I order from them. One of them, Donna, is especially great and she works with me every parent teacher conference day to bring the books in, set them up, we set up snacks and the teachers wander in when they do not have conferences and they give me input on the new books. It works great! You might want to try that.

[Tiffany Whitehead]

I have some teachers that utilize the library more than others - those are the teachers I tend to go to for when I'm looking for suggestions since they know what I have in the collection. Also, whenever there is something they are looking for specifically, I make a note for when ordering time comes around.