Can school librarians do a good job without extra help?

Yes

1 of 1

by Carol Natoli

• 

Write now Print Invite a writer™ Add to Favorites RSS Feed Contact this writer

Can school librarians do a good job without extra help?

This is a difficult question to answer as a black or white question. Can they do a good job; well, the answer could be no because they cannot do the job of 3 people, or the answer could be a yes, but in addition, not a great job!

While I chose to write on the yes side, let me emphasize that the librarian who is doing a great job, is doing it because they do not have 1500 kids in the school, or because she or he has a flexible schedule and is used as a resource, which is the intention of the job in itself, and what librarian was mean to be a resource.

A librarian can do a good job, but not a great one, because he or she is one person, and no one can excel in something when there is not enough time to do. A librarian of a large school should not have to spend time repairing books, putting new labels on them, dusting the shelves, washing the book jackets, straightening out the shelves or putting the books away. In fact, schools with aides, work great, because the aides or assistants can sharpen the pencils, turn on the computers in the morning, be in the library while the librarian goes to lunch, and often the aide can scan the books in.

The 21st Century is here, and we must all adjust from having full-day kindergarten, which is long overdue in many districts, to having libraries open to all that want to use it; even without rigid classes, it would be in the best interest of all, if all libraries also had aides to man the fort when the librarian is out to lunch, and with the ability to keep up with the shelving of books, once they are returned to the rack and scanned in. We can be super efficient, only when the parameters minimize the obstacles that so many schools have put in place, in a society that should not be out of date!

Without helpers or volunteers, it if very difficult, but it works out so much better if there is one good paid adult that students coming in for 10 minutes at a time interrupt the librarian, thinking that they are helping. One good well-versed and well-trained paid assistant is the best money spent and districts should do all in their power to have one for their head librarian or media specialist.

So in answer to the question, can librarians do a good job without extra help?, as I walk the line and still wonder how to answer that accurately, I suppose to answer varies depending on to the audience. She or he can do a good job, but a more relaxed and clear-headed person who is not running in circles trying to catch up or avoid being overwhelmed can do a great job, so bring in the aide!

Learn more about this author, Carol Natoli.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.