Elementary School Librarianship Peggy Burton School Librarian Williams Elementary School, Mattoon dsmma@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 IRC since 2004 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 Burton Williams Elementary School 1709 S. 9th Street Mattoon, IL 61938 217-238-2800 dsmma@frontiernet.net 217-855-2398