1. Elementary School Librarianship
Peggy Burton
School Librarian
Williams Elementary School, Mattoon

2. 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

3. Currently Williams Elementary School, Mattoon K-5 750 students
55 certified staff
12 Para-professionals

4. 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

5. A Typical Day at School Arrive at school around 7:30 am 7:30-8:00
Open library
Check and answer
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

6. 8:45 – 11:15
Classes come to library on a fixed schedule for 30 minute periods, 5 in the morning
Teach lesson for 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

7. 1:00 – 3:00
Classes come to library on a fixed schedule for 30 minute periods, 4 in the afternoon
Teach lesson for 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. Collaboration
Extremely difficult on a fixed schedule – 42 classes per week
Attend Grade Level meetings as often as possible
Communicate via 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

12. 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!

13. Leadership Committee work Reading/LA RTI Technology Steering
CCSS implementation
PARCC implementation

14. 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

15. Leadership Professional Community
Illinois School Library Media Association, ISLMA
American Library Association, ALA
American Association of School Librarians, AASL
Illinois Reading Council, IRC
Illinois Computing Educators, ICE

16. 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!

17. Peggy Burton Williams Elementary School 1709 S. 9th Street
Mattoon, IL