[CALIBK12] Subs in the library

Thu Apr 23 10:06:45 PDT 2009

My experience would parallel Amy's.

I do not allow classes with subs in the library unless the class has already been to the library to start the assignment and I have had an arrangement with the teacher. I find that subs will read the paper or get on a computer to check their e-mail or whatever. The students pick up on the clues and suddenly will not understand the assignment or have already done all their research at home. This makes it harder for other students to stay on task, and contaminates students in other classes if there is more than one class in the library at one time. 

I tell students that the library is a place for reading, study, and research and that if they are not doing one of those three things, they must conduct themselves in a manner that allows others to do so. A survey I conducted also showed that most students want the library to be a quiet place where they can do their homework and study. This is a daunting task during cold and wet days when students want a sheltered place to stay. I do feel protective of the students who use the library as it was intended and not as a social hall.

The survey found that the students had no problem with me enforcing rules as long as I was fair and consistent and respectful.

Judie Ehret Straesser
Teacher Librarian
Elsie Allen High School
599 Bellevue Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
707-528-5749
________________________________________
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Catania, Amy [ACatania at wccusd.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:02 AM
To: Donna Purcell; Cathy Rettberg; calibk12
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Subs in the library

We have 73 teachers at our school.  If I let them just drop in whenever, it would be a nightmare, especially with the computers.  Our teachers do schedule times, and I generally ask for and receive the handouts that will be used so that I can pull some example books or come up with some links or do presentations.  In other words, knowing ahead of time what a teacher is doing allows me to help the teacher.  I definitely dislike when subs are in the library because they assume that I am going to watch the class.  Most of the time, they just sit back and read or do some other personal work.  I’ve had subs in the library text-messaging the whole time!  One has to wonder to whom for that full hour.  Sometimes the students know what they are supposed to do, but often they do not or they feel this is just time to fool around.  I do not have the sub’s lesson plans, so I do not always know what students are supposed to do.  I have actually had to tell a sub to circulate and watch the students.  So, personally, I prefer not to have subs with a class in the library if I can help it.

As for quiet, here is something interesting that I found out at the beginning of the school year.  Students wanted relative (a dull murmur) quiet during lunch.  We have a lot of study groups that meet, homework being done, and papers being written.  This panned out with the results of a survey.  What students like most from the library were computers and quiet!  Some students even requested a quieter atmosphere.  I was shocked to say the least.  So many YA librarians talk about how students want to chat and use the library for purely social interaction.  My strange students wanted a quieter atmosphere, so I accommodated them – go figure.

________________________________
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Donna Purcell
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 7:35 AM
To: Cathy Rettberg; calibk12
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Subs in the library

I have to agree about the less quiet/control/rules for before school, at lunch, and after school, but I also have issues with teachers scheduling their classes for the library when they know they are going to be out.  I think that some teachers just don’t want to do lesson plans, so they schedule their classes to come to the library with no instructions for the sub at all.  It’s like having a free period all day.  It’s very frustrating for me.

Donna Purcell
Library Media Technician
Jefferson Middle School
Oceanside, CA  92054
(760) 757-6060 x233
________________________________
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Cathy Rettberg
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 6:15 PM
To: calibk12
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Subs in the library

After reading this post I decided to broadcast my reply that had gone to Jennifer:

"Actually mine (sub rules) is simple: anyone can come to the library anytime. 5 minutes notice is nice, and I whine a bit when they don't warn me beforehand, but if they ask I rarely say no. I'd rather be crowded and overworked than turn down a teacher who wants to use the library."

To continue: If I already knew about a lesson and the sub is bringing in the class, I get to continue the good work that is already underway. If this is the first time I'm hearing about a lesson, then at least I get to contribute where I wouldn't have otherwise.

My library is less about quiet/control/rules than it is about learning, which with teens, often happens in groups, with discussion and yes, sometimes with noise. I'm happy to say they love to come to the library though - it's not unusual to have 100 kids before/after during breaks and I welcome every one of them.

Cathy
-----------
Cathy Rettberg
Head Librarian, Menlo School
Atherton, CA
crettberg at menloschool.org<mailto:crettberg at menloschool.org>

On Nov 17, 2008, at 9:19 PM, Millam, Joy wrote:

I re-read your post and wanted to also say that you will want to be careful not to alienate your teaching staff.  It is so important for them to see us as education partners and not as an enemy or difficult to deal with... I can certainly understand that you've had issues in the past, but I would heartily encourage you to work with those teachers to extract the desired behavior from the students and sub staff.  Proper preparation by the teacher before the absence should work. Also, I wouldn't punish all teachers for the sins of a few.  The more you work with the staff the better. If you give them a path to success you will be giving them all a chance to be successful.

If you take a hard line with everyone you may be closing the door to future collaboration opportunities which hurts everyone.

Just my two cents.

Joy Millam
District Library Coordinator / Teacher Librarian
YALSA's Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Committee Chairperson
Valencia High School
Placentia, CA
714-996-4970 x3250
jmillam at pylusd.org<mailto:jmillam at pylusd.org>

http://bookdiva1.blogspot.com/
http://booktalksandmore.pbwiki.com

http://www.vhstigers.org/library/mrs_millam.jsp?rn=3833

"Libraries are not made; they grow." - Augustine Birrell

-----Original Message-----
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu<mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu> on behalf of Jennifer James
Sent: Mon 11/17/2008 8:27 PM
To: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu<mailto:calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu>
Subject: [CALIBK12] Subs in the library

I am in a high school library that serves about 1,900 students.  When a teacher informed me today that his classes would be coming in to the library with a substitute later this week, I politely explained to him that I don't allow classes in the library with a sub.  Past experiences with subs in the library have been less than pleasant, so I prefer to avoid the situation completely.  Subs tend to sit and read the newspaper or a magazine, and the students turn wild.  With 40 students in every class, and a 3,000 square-foot facility, I simply can not supervise and teach at the same time.  What is your policy or philosophy regarding classes in the library under the supervision of a substitute teacher?

Thank you,

Jennifer James
Beyer High LMT
Modesto, CA
james.je at monet.k12.ca.us<mailto:james.je at monet.k12.ca.us>
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