You’re landed your dream job and you are now a school librarian. But now what?
First off, don’t panic.
There are tons, almost too many, of resources available. Most likely you’ve completed a Master of Library Sciences and/or a school librarianship certification. (It varies from state to state what is needed to be a school librarian, but most require at least certification). This may leave you feeling very prepared or not prepared at all. I’ve found that a lot of my learning has come from on the job training. Yes, I learned things in my classes, but just like teaching (and I think a lot of other jobs), school can only prepare you for the real world.
Second of all, find your people.
You aren’t going to get along with everyone at your new job. I mean no one gets along with everyone. But start finding the people at your job that you can go to with questions or who will support your ideas. I’m very lucky in my job that I have a supportive principal. She’s very forward thinking and loves initiative. I’ve also got support from almost all of my grade levels, but I am in a unique position where although I’m not building a library from scratch, I am building a program. Our district made some changes just before the beginning of the year so I’ve been able to start building a new program
Third of all, find your resources.
No one is going to expect you to know everything. Find out who you go to with questions and keep a list if you can’t ask them as soon as you think of them. Join a Facebook group (or five) and find some more seasoned librarians who can help you plan or just give you ideas. There’s lessons and ideas in my TpT store that are there because I’ve found they work.
And finally, enjoy.
You’re bringing the joy of reading to children. Have fun with it. Every lesson is not always going to work, but when you see them having fun and enjoying visiting the library, you’ll know you’ve done your job. My biggest reward is the hugs I get and the students saying hi every time they see me. That tells me that I’m doing my job.
Welcome to the world of librarianship. We’re all pretty friendly and we love a good story. It’s the best place to be.
