The daily life of a Middle School Library Media Assistant.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Assembly and Boxes Gone

What a great day! Garten came and picked up our 130 boxes of old surplused textbooks (some still from the 80's!) and took them all away! How splendid! The conference room got turned back into a conference room and everyone was thrilled! Had an amazing assembly at school today, with our choir, our orchestra and the band! A wonderful near hour of music all by some very talented students. It was good! Got all our books put away except for the ones in maintenance and the ones on the strip cart. Checked in and out books here and there.  Gave each of my aides a pick of the 'box' I found with lots of volunteer presents in there. Read cups, bookmarks, a tiny trove of things. They each got to pick one. I also printed up a library word search and word puzzle for them to do! They enjoyed it as well as our 5th graders who come in early to do advanced math here. Came in and got all our teacher resources barcoded for the new math and sent out an email that they were all ready. Worked on barcoding the last of the new student math books as well. Played my Pandora Celtic Christmas mix all day and I think the students enjoyed it. Shut down all the computers in the library and unplugged about everything else. Put the chairs up on the tables hoping maybe the custodians might vacumn the carpet! If they don't, I'll vacumn on the Monday we get back. Took out all the trash. A very nice wonderful day at work. Back on January 5th! Merry Christmas everyone!

Thursday, December 18, 2014

One More to Go

One more day until Winter Break! We've survived! I got all the books off the tops of shelves today. It looks pretty bare, but will help with cleaning when we get back. Put strips in books. Took nasty covers off books and painstakingly pulled off old bad film, but didn't laminate since I was the only one who had to. Had a cart of science books I thought my aides had updated copies on and put in numbers and found the cart really hit or miss, and that some were still checked out! Some to a teacher that had just used them, and even a couple to kids who had moved on to high school! That fine will now be gone. I wonder about the other books. Had my aides make more snowflakes and we hung them up from some thread I had there. When the fans turn on, they flutter and it makes me happy :)  My snowflake aides second period left the back workroom a mess, so I left it for them to clean up tomorrow. One day to go!

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Snowflake Weather

Snowflakes fall, well, the pieces my aides cut out today. I gave some of them a break and let them cut out snowflakes and we put them up on the doors. I might have them do more tomorrow! Then a student at the end of the day during the after school program asked for me to sign a sheet that he had read two chapters in his science book - I told him that I hadn't seen him, but let's go over it. So we went over to a table and walked through the two chapters together. It was so cool! Do you know how much kids would learn with one on one?? How hard for a teacher to get 35+ engaged. It was awesome!! Went to an IEP meeting for one of my aides and was able to give a glowing report on how well he's going and mom was grateful. If I remember something else, I'll be back! Just a normal day aside from that, though I did start taking books off the top of the shelves for over break and shelving.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Repairs

Today I worked a lot on spine repairs of all kinds and set them to dry. Checked out science books 2nd and 6th period. Got the book titles all written up and packed them up to head to LMSS from the Scholastic Warehouse sale yesterday. My amazing volunteer worked hard in the back with the LIT books. I went back once and asked if she was still there! She was totally working it! Almost got done today! It'll be nice when that is done. 

Monday, December 15, 2014

Scholastic Warehouse Sale!!

I was so excited today to get to go to the Scholastic Warehouse Sale! I had my PO# and a list of books! Had my aides today check out books to a class for first period. Then my second period aides worked on putting barcodes on the last of the new math books. My third period aides did copy updates with book numbers. Mrs. B's class came in for A lunch and 4th period, so I went in the back to put away the science books that the third period boys had updated. Then lunch! Got a call from Scholastic and we talked about the fair for about half an hour, my three bugbears: theft, the drawer not opening, the negative scans. Got a nice set of Scholastic dollars, so I will definitely buy the wooden bookholders I'm borrowing from another school. I've scheduled another book fair for spring conferences and the one for next fall conferences. She had a great idea, to not put out the little crap, but just a board with one of each item they ask me for which I will keep back in my office. I like it. I also need to talk to the parent club about the library and see if they might be willing to help as well. Took some of the books I worked on on Friday and got them all back 'in' and out of 'maintenance'. Then I had to check out books to fifth period science classes and it was time to go! Packed my bag and off to the convention center. It was pretty quiet and not as many books as I thought, but still I got some great deals. I had my iPad, so I was able to look up titles and got a few 2nd books in a series too! 73 books for $317! That's $4.50 a book! Sweet! Got some nice hardbacks, filled in some missing books. Got some new books that should be good for us. I was done by 3, so I brought the car around and picked up my two boxes and bag and headed back to school. Brought them in and put them on a cart. I'll have one of my good aides stamp them tomorrow. I felt good about my purchases. Didn't use all the PO, but felt I covered what I needed to and didn't want to purchase just because I had the money there. Ah, sweetness! Now back to a regular week, four more days until winter break!

Friday, December 12, 2014

Slick

Wow, are the back rooms looking good! Got carts cleaned off today. Found a couple of things to go to Garten next week so quick threw them in a box. Took the rest of the stuff on that cart and moved some thing around and got them all on a bottom shelf. I don't think anyone uses them, so they are now out of the way. Fixed up the science textbooks since there was some confusion. Took a funky computer desk thing and moved it out to the library and put it in the spot I had the desk with wings on the sides that I let Mr. M take to his classroom. I'm so happy with the way everything is coming together back there. Took a cart that was in the back and put all the math stuff in the math closet and emptied the cart. Another thing cleaned up! Got some aides working today on the last set of new math books, no hurry on them, so we will work on them. Did some repairs today. Fixed the torn pages I had messed up, hopefully they will be better by Monday. Did some knitting needle repairs and have those all set and glueing. All in all, a great day of accomplishments.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Hawk on the Fence

We had a windstorm start this afternoon and a big ole hawk landed on the garden fence just outside the library windows. He looked so flustered by all that wind! You know it's windy when a hawk tries to escape it! He watched the buses come in and the kids leave. A bunch of kids stopped and pointed at him, and he finally flew up onto the roof of the library to get away. That was very cool! Did a ton of laminating today for the DLC. Took me about an hour to run their stuff through, then I had some other stuff as well. I shelved today and cleaned up stuff here and there. Had a boy come in to work for me, and I told him what to do, and what I wanted my girl aide to do in different parts of the back room and ended up sending him back to his room! Got some books back to status 'in' from working on them. But had two books that didn't mend right with page tears. I'm usually good with those, but these I know I hurried and didn't really take time with, and it showed. Drats! Checked out math books to a first period class. Had my aides do some delivering today. Worked with our office manager to send a print request for sign in sheets for me. Had three classes in the computer lab today. Really watched my pass kids. During one lunch, one of the kids really was snotty and just out of hand. She came in later to check out a book and I had her come over to the desk and told her that I knew she loved books, and I had always thought of her as a pretty great kid, but recently I had to change my mind about her because of her actions and how sorry I was that I felt that way. She looked suitably sorry, and helped a couple of girls in finding a book for them. We'll see how it goes! Got in a video for a teacher and got in a book for a student, but it was the wrong book, so sent it back with a note. Power flickered a few times, but never went out, but you could really see the trees outside moving!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Preparing

Worked a bit on my list for the Scholastic Warehouse sale. Looked at all my Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and got my account reconciled with what I had in maintenance and on the shelf. We have lost a ton of them. I have my Warriors sheet to and worked on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series and the Wolves one by the same author. I started a clipboard with all my Scholastic stuff I want to take with me, and will probably take my iPad too so I can check my school titles while I'm there. I know a lot of what I have, but want to make sure I don't buy a book just because I've seen it on my shelf. I think I will really focus on the graphic novels, since we don't have very many and the kids love them. I was really working hard on that today! If I remember more of what I did, I'll get back to here!

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Not Much Lunch & the Greenhouse

The library was really busy today during my lunch, which meant that I didn't really get a lunch. It seems a couple of teachers decided to send groups down to the library and forgot that the library is only 'semi-open' during the period between our two lunches. I have an aide then, and she's great, but she's not an adult to corral and check up on the groups. So, I sent out an all staff email today just reminding people that it's my break and that a kid or two quietly working is all right, but just to remember it's my lunch! I remember Mrs. B saying she would close the library, have the sign on the door, turn off the lights and still people would come in and ask questions! Maybe I should feel honored that they think I can do it all! So hopefully tomorrow will be quieter. I felt today like we were used for a study hall and a library! Picked up my PO authorization today and printed up the books I just purchased at Baker and Taylor so I don't double buy. Thinking I will be checking out the graphic novel section, we need new ones and to get some lost ones in. Checked out books to four classes and checked their books in. Checked in and out all day. Laminated the covers on the books I repaired and got them back out there. Cleaned up the library because there is a parent meeting tonight in there. Had my wonderful volunteer work on moving all the lit books to one aisle in the back. She was doing a fabulous job! Mrs. V walked in to the back and was like 'holy cow! it looks so good back here!' made me smile. Finished up the Scholastic Book Fair paperwork today since our bookkeeper got all my totals ready and turned that all in. After work I stopped behind the library to check out the greenhouse. When it's windy, Mrs. V and I notice that the top door swings free, so I stopped to see if I could close one of the panels on the roof and the door. Well, the door top is broken that holds it closed, so I ended up taking a gardening glove that was in there and wedging the door shut. Was about the only thing I could find that would stop it! The roof panel is stuck open, and I couldn't get it closed, so I just left it. Away to home!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Shrink to Fit - No!

It's not very often, but occasionally I do have to print barcodes for textbooks. They've been damaged and just need a new one. So I was getting book covers ready to laminate today and just grimaced that I'd have to print new barcodes. I know there was just one little thing I needed to change to get them to print perfectly on a 3x10 sheet of labels and for the life of me I couldn't figure it out. Until today! I was printing up the codes and I looked all over the Insignia program preview for that box, and as I finally gave up and hit print, noticed on the print message box "shrink to fit" and the light taa-daa dawned! I just needed to move that to 'none' and voila! There they were, all pretty and perfect! So, today yes, I worked on my book covers that needed to be fixed from tears and some hard wear and tear so I can laminate them tomorrow. We had gotten some 'let's save money' laminating film back a few years ago that really was cheap and didn't work for the abuse our books get, so I peeled off old laminating that was coming apart, fixed the tears, colored in missing colors over the crack n' peel we use for reinforcing the bad spots and generally got them all ready to go. Checked in and out books today, really watched the kids who were sent on passes to the library. Sent in a notice to get a PO for book money at the Scholastic Warehouse sale next week just up the street at our convention center and our principal surprised me by doubling the amount I wanted out of the general fund. Wow! And he wants me to leave earlier to get a better selection! So I will leave next Monday after 5th period and just close the library for the day and go book shopping! That was exciting!! Went to our monthly classified meeting and got a very heart felt thank you from our principal on how many comments he had received about our amazing staff. It was very nice. He also told us about his personal philosophy for his job. One was that every student can learn. I turned it around and said every student can read, when they say they can't, they just haven't found the right book yet! I want every kid to walk into the library thinking they will find a just right book and find more! 

Friday, December 5, 2014

Delete

Today I spent more time deleting out the old textbooks that will leave in a week! Huzzah! Started going through all my books in maintenance putting them in piles for repair. Page tipping, cover relaminated, spine gluing (lots of these!), page repair, knitting needle work (hee, hee!), and a few other miscellaneous things. So I'll be ready to start tackling these on Monday. Would like to have them all done before we leave on break. Did the normal check in and check out. Made sure the kids in here had passes and were signed in. Muddled through though my voice was going. Hopefully back to being well by Monday. 

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Pleasant Sigh

Today I was able to relax. My office is nearly clean. Worked on the surplus equipment to see what needs to be taken care of and what's actually wrong with it. Cleaned out a filter. One projector needed new legs, but the projector we are getting rid of only has one leg! No use there. Deleted some of the textbooks that we are sending off. Went into the back of the cookie company room to where we have a bunch of old textbooks to see what space we still have back there, I think maybe enough for another set of books. Battled through my cold today, people could hear it in my voice. Checked in and out books and textbooks here and there all day. Really cracked down on the kids coming into the library. Making sure they had passes and what they were supposed to be doing. Today was a day that you just didn't come into the library to veg and escape class! Did have classes in the library computer lab all day today. Did not wear an ugly Christmas sweater for the contest today, but saw some a couple of good ones. I am looking forward to the weekend to kick this cold and relax somewhat!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Back Together

Scholastic came today and picked up all the Book Fair stuffs so I was able to get the library back in shape! Tables all ADA compliant, switched out the big table I had behind the main counter for one just a bit smaller. That made me happy! Got more books stored properly on shelves. Put roller paper under the bigger table in the back that made more room back there and emailed the office on how much I had back there. Had first period come in and change their math books. Three other classes came in today and checked in their old reading books, renewed some and checked out new ones. Had classes in the computer lab all day. Had my amazing substitute in for part of the day and she helped again a whole bunch! Gave her some more insight on what it takes to run a library and told her about the Hallman library opening. Does it ever stop in the library?? I don't think so! Fire drill this afternoon and since I had no aides and no kids in the library, it was easy for me! Another great day in the library!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Surplus

Had my amazing substitute in again today who wasn't needed elsewhere and she got all the rest of the surplus books packed up for me. wow! I am so excited! I was wondering if I would have time to get that all done and she got it all. Gave her the list of stuff in the old textbook room, she checked on weight, packed each box, taped them up and put them in the room I've been using to store until the week of the 15th. I was so happy! Started to check out three classes of math books today and the teacher came in after the first class and decided to change books - so her other two classes got the changed book and tomorrow morning the first class will exchange. Had another teacher bring in her class set of textbooks and get two more. So did the update copies on all her stuff (and the math books). Got all the Prentice Hall lit books out of the back room so all that's in there is the boxes for Garten. Didn't want to confuse them with having books on the table, but now we actually have room to store them in the library textbook rooms. Checked in and out lots of books today. Worked through most of the Scholastic Book Fair financial form. I just need to see what our bookkeeper says about the cash taken in. We had problems with the scanner wanting to scan negative amounts, so we'll see what comes up when she gets done. I sent her all the information I had from the scanner, so we'll find out if we match at all! Nice to see the room I have after all the books that are gone, in the spring, there will be more that will be on their way! Still have to find room for a few other things that have come in.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Back At It

Had a great day today, even though I was kind of hoping we'd get in some weather and they would cancel school. I was way too busy over the Thanksgiving holiday! Instantly came in and got the rest of the Scholastic monies up to the office for our bookkeeper. I had eight classes come in today and get new math books, and turn in the old. I was very fortunate to have a great substitute come and offer her services for almost all day since she wasn't needed in the classroom! I put her to work! Checking out books, putting labels on the new math books that came in, stripping books with our lovely volunteer Mrs. M. I packed up old books today to get ready for Garten to come in two weeks. I promised them 130 boxes and had the sub count. We have 79 boxes ready to go and I've added to that today. Had to remember that the boxes had to be strong enough for books, but weigh less than 50 pounds each. Pulled out the old discarded library books too! Nearly forgot about the boxes under the table in the back! They are now all set to go! Pulled down the rest of the book fair decor, though someone had taken down a good part of it. Found the stand missing the arrow part and put the arrow back on that I had stashed in my office for the book fair while I used the stand! Emails came and went. I lost some of our 5th graders somehow during the grading period end, so the office put them back on. Had to add a new teacher. Got a lot done, tables almost all back where they belong, except for where the book fair carts sit. Packed up a ton of books to go to LMSS and had the sub type up the list for those. My office is almost clean again! Put in a new bulb and filter for a projector so Mr. M could give it to the new teacher. What else?? I'll let you know if I think of something else!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Packed Up

Book fair is all packed up tonight. Went into LMSS early this morning for the free book give away. Middle Schools got 15 books each to take home, then I picked a few more from the back room and then on to Leslie. Got everything all up and ready to go for the fair and had a slow but steady stream of people all day. Ended up with about $600 in sales. Had some wonderful helpers and gave them projects and they really pitched in and did everything I asked. A big shout out to them! Spent the last part of the night packing up the old textbooks that will be picked up in two weeks. I already have over 73 boxes taped up and ready to go. I figure I'll have 100 - 130 boxes by the time Garten comes to pick them up. Yeah! I'll have some shelf space!! Nearly 12 hours of work today, I kind of know what my nurse daughter feels like after a shift, she typically works 12 at a time! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and finds much in their lives to be thankful for. I know I certainly do! Be back on Monday!

Monday, November 24, 2014

9.5

Got in this morning and worked on getting my advertising all in place for conferences tonight. I figured, the better I hit people, the more it might work! Signs, getting posters hung up near the gym where all the teachers would be. Putting up extra stuff to draw their attention. I put in a lot of miles in the hallways today! Did about $300 tonight in only 3 hours of conferences, so did well. Started to clean up all the stacks of stuff I had lying around. Changed out the rolls of laminating film for this huge poster project they were working on. Had to watch the video again, still so confusing!! But I did it quicker this time and didn't wrap film around rollers where it had no business being! So that was a win in my books! My marvelous hubby came in after his work all day and did calligraphy for people at the fair. I dressed up in my Rennaissance gear and would walk down to the gym to hand out the flyers and encourage parents and students to come see the fair. It was a long day, glad it was over! Longer day tomorrow!

Friday, November 21, 2014

Stormy Windy

Before I left for home this afternoon I paused for a moment and looked out the windows to see the trees just bent over by the wind. Rain against the windows and Ms. V and I just stared. For a moment anyways! Book Fair sales were great today, though so too was the pilfering. So sad :( Tried to kind of clean up spaces tonight because conferences start Monday and I just have stuff all over the place since I've been so busy with the fair. It drives me crazy! Checked in and out books all day, sold stuffs all day. A lovely moment. A friend had us all over last Saturday for a block party. We all had these glass blocks and put lights inside and decorated them. They turned out amazing. My mom didn't make one, but she loved one of the display ones. So Mrs. T came by today and brought that block in for me to give to my mom. That is so sweet! I am truly blessed by being loved by amazing people! Mr. M came in and asked if we wanted the Book Fair in the commons for conferences and I decided no, I'd rather just stay in the library, but they are having meetings in the library for the Professional Development part of the day, so I closed up the rolling carts, pushed them over. One of my aides helped me put the tables all over by where the carts were and put chairs up and she used our pick up vacuum thing to pick stuff off the floor. She is so good! I counted up monies tonight for the fair, and we'll have to see where we came out! I took in over $300 to put up in the office this afternoon so there wouldn't be so much down in the library over the weekend. My day never stopped, though there was a moment somewhere that all of sudden I was like "it's so quiet..." then it was gone!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Did Not Read Today

Insert picture here - when I get time!
Crazy long day of work. Since my amazing volunteer is coming in today to help out, I stopped on my way to work and picked her up a gift card from Great Harvest Bread. Just for $10, but it's a huge help to have her there while I go to a meeting. Had kids in all day at the fair, made a bunch of money so I made sure to make a deposit up in the office before I left. Had Mr. P from Permabound stop by and I was trying to down my sandwich as a whole class of kids came in and he left his card and remembered me from Sprague! So that was awesome! Had a meeting to be there at 3:30 this afternoon, so had to leave by 3 to make it over to Stephens which is way up in the northeast corner of Salem. Took notes so will type those up in the morning when I get in. Phew. Bed time.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Spider and Thief

Here is my knight guarding the library and book fair books!

The view from my office.
The view from the front of the library.


The cool little 'did you know' signs with a display of our nonfiction medieval books!
I was so excited about opening the fair today, and a little apprehensive too! I hadn't worked the scanner/register yet and so did that almost first thing this morning. Scholastic has some great cheat sheets about it and I really went over them. Still had a few issues here and there. Like one set of erasers likes to ring up negative, then everything else rings up negative. What?!? So we learned how to void things. I have to leave early for a meeting tomorrow, so my amazing volunteer Mrs. M who usually comes on Monday afternoons said 'sure!' so she came in and I walked her through how to work things. She'll be back tomorrow at about 3 so I can leave. She really is an incredible volunteer! You can see some of my pictures here I took on my phone this morning. So busy today! Had classes coming in to check in and out regular library books. Classes in the computer lab. As well as selling for the fair. It's like I turned around and the day was over! We had a student pick up a box that the kids put their lunch passes in and there was a spider in there! I finally got the box away from him and took the creature outside. Even though it's cold, he does not belong in the library! We also had a few things stolen from the book fair today. One boy came in and I noticed he was wearing a bracelet just like the ones we were selling. I asked him about it, and he said it was his, he had put it on this morning from home. Ah, I really didn't think so. So I mentioned how we get a little bit of money off of each item sold and I could buy the library books with that money, but first we would have to use the money to pay back the stolen items. So, if the bracelet was his fine, if not, I'd just go do something else and if he just put it back, that would be great. When they left, we found the bracelet on one of the top shelves. That's something at least. Did $130 worth of business today, since we had plenty, I took back the $60 I used from my account and now the book fair is entirely self supporting. Huzzah! Now that the kids know it's here, I expect much more buying tomorrow! Had a high school ask for our Basic Math books, since they were on the discard list and I packed those up today and transferred them over. A little more room on the shelf!


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Book Faire Here!

Got the call right away this morning that the truck delivering our book fair was here and they'd send it down and around to the back to deliver the carts. We got four rolling carts. One of my aides helped me move tables around to accommodate the fair. I left them pretty well locked up all day. Had a ton of kids in today. Classes in the computer lab, other classes coming to check out the next math book. Had the aides work on taking down all the regular books we had on display and putting up medieval themed books. I worked the rolling rack on that one. Hung up display flags from the little roof line. Put up some posters in the hall and on the doors. Took our two 'knights' and taped them to the Tattle gates, one on each side. Then after work I had to run to my bank and pull $60 worth of change out of my account so I'd have change starting tomorrow. Wrote a cute little announcement for our wonderful admin assistant to read in the morning. I need a nap! Still have boxes to unpack and display in the morning, lots of little gadgets and dohickey things to do too! Not to mention figuring out the terminal thingy!

Monday, November 17, 2014

Waiting for Book Fair

Spent today wondering if the book fair stuff would be rolling in, but nothing happened. Did some more book talks. Had another student come in to work off his fine for a bit. Got in my latest Junior Library Guild shipment, got them stamped and off to LMSS with a couple of other books I had waiting. Helped Ms. J with her speakers. Played the Scholastic Book Fair book preview video for Middle grades on the computer during lunches today. Checked in and out books. Met one of our new Language Arts teachers. Had teachers meeting in the library this afternoon and cleaned off tables for them - they were so dirty and I had been meaning to do it all day. Hopefully book fair stuff comes tomorrow. Also had conversations today with the other MS assistants and the fact that most of us have book fairs that start this week and a big meeting Thursday afternoon. How will we handle that?

Friday, November 14, 2014

Ten Ren Book Talks!

Today I wore my Renaissance outfit into work so I could do all these booktalks! Ten of them today and a couple of periods I had to do three! I occasionally thought "haven't I done this before??" realizing yes, I had, just a few minutes ago in another class! Helped students in the lab get signed in. Put barcodes and identifying labels on the new books we got in this week. Had one of my aides come in after school and he unpacked another set of the new language arts boxes. Sent out an email to the LMSS webpage for typing and got several thank you's from teachers for that. A great day, logged a lot of Leslie miles whilst cavorting in the halls between classes! 

Thursday, November 13, 2014

BookTalk

So excited today!! We did have a 2 hour delay because of the weather, but I got to go into Mrs. K's classes and do BookTalks for the Scholastic Book Fair that's coming next week. I had a blast! So much fun! The kids seemed to listen and be excited about it coming! I changed out Mrs. S's projector. The new one wasn't working very well with her set up, so I just took it and installed her old one and it all works now. Got new English boxes for teacher resources and need to get those opened up. Checked in and out books. Got my new box of Tattle strips so we can start stripping books again. Our amazing volunteer Mrs. G got all the rest of our CCSS books covered so those are now all on the shelves. A fabulous day and our power at home is now back on! Huzzah!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Last Unicorn

A perfect day. Lots of math books got checked out. More reading books for kids. Had two kids get their work done to pay off fines. Got in some teacher materials for our social study books. Don't really want to barcode them (even though they sent the barcodes!!) but I'm sure I will end up opening up the boxes and getting the barcodes on them. Not sure of where to put them but we'll find a space somewhere. Tonight I'm off to meet Peter S. Beagle the author of The Last Unicorn. They have remastered the original movie (cartoon style) that was done years ago and we'll get to see it on the big screen down at Salem Cinema. It is one of the iconic fantasy stories that I just love. As I was leaving, the copier got jammed in the bottom and I left it for Mr. J to work on. Went home to get ready, only to think I had left my phone at work. So I fixed my hubby dinner and then drove to the school to get my phone and unjammed the copier while I was there and let him know. 

Monday, November 10, 2014

Too Late

A crazy busy but not a lot of real excitement going on. Checked in and out a bunch of books. A sandwich kind of day with two days off before and off tomorrow for Veteran's Day. If I think of something that happened really exciting, I'll come back to this!

Friday, November 7, 2014

Sweeping Up

Today I started with sweeping up the computer lab. It was really a mess!! I got like a whole cake plate full of trash, not to mention paper and the strap off a backpack and Halloween candy wrappers. It was bad. Had classes in the library all day. Lots of kids checking in and out books. Had my aides finish putting numbers on a set of math books. Took one of our new projectors into a teacher's room and swapped out the 'loaner' she was using. Had two kids that were on inappropriate sites and tried to see if I could find their browser history. Couldn't find it, but they did confess to a lot of what an adult saw them doing. That was quite interesting. Really made sure the library lab was nice tonight when I left, put all the headphones away, and am only missing one! I'm sure it's somewhere at school, will put out a call for it Monday. Sent off three books to a teacher at another school. Did more Tattle Tale strips. Got in our last computer and opened it up and locked it in the closet with the other two. Had some subs in and they did some great work reading shelves. Laughed tonight as two of our teachers were in the workroom running the scantron. They were so silly and giggley as one of the tests got stuck and what they did to get it out!

Thursday, November 6, 2014

More Projector Swap

This though was for a teacher. I went straight up to her room this morning. We've gone through 3 bulbs here, and hers blew too. We are totally out of her kind of bulb! So I brought in one of our extra projectors, hooked it up and took her projector. It'll just sit in my office until a new bulb arrives. Found a great page with all the projector types for Hitachi and the bulb that goes with each projector. That was pretty cool! Got in our new projector to match our other three. Stripped some books. Did a ton of laminating after school, took about 45 minutes to get it all done. Checked out a class set of books for Mr. R. Had the aides all check over their sections today, the library really is a mess. Mr. M came in during my lunch and we found that if we jiggled a cord for the library computer lab, the screen actually projected white instead of yellow. Nice. We think we just need a new splitter and then it'll be tight. Hopefully! Checked in and out a ton of books. One of the kids that's in here for a P.E. release started to put books away without checking them in, oh no! Packaged up a book to send back, and the student it was for came in. I told her I was sending it back and did she still want it, and she said yes, so I got it out for her and checked it out to her. Had Mrs. J's classes all in here today, and the kids needed their user names. So I looked up a bunch of them all throughout the day. Helped a lot of kids get logged on. 

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Projector Swapping

I guess someone noticed while I was gone, that we got in three projectors to replace the surplussed ones and they were totally different than the one we had gotten in a week or so ago. I communicated with the techs and after going through the boxes, models, serial numbers they decided to have me pack up the oddball one and send it back so they will send another one like the three I got in while I was gone. So we will see! I also sent a list of surplussed equipment to our office manager so she could order new document cameras. I took off the two that had been revamped and we got back, and sent her the list of the four that are no longer usable. Had classes in the library all day. Science was in the lab, and language arts had three classes come in and check out books. Love it when I have my aides close by to help out! Got in a lot of mail. Sent out a few things. Got another kudo bar for helping a teacher with her projector. I may get quite the stash! So we checked in and out a ton of books today. Had a teacher bring in two sets of science books to check in for him as well. I had a boy come in today after school and ask to help, so I set him to putting in the number notes of the science books. Did a bit of stripping. Took down all the "Sbooky" books and put up new ones. Had the young boy pick out some non-fiction books on the rack there. Trolled through a ton of emails to answer. Had to take a young man's test from the AR (Accelerated Reader) and delete it. I think I figured it out! Tried to help Mr. M install an upside down lamp into a projector. My hubby even brought me a yummy sandwich for lunch since we didn't have anything to make when I left home this morning. He had to leave, but still, it was nice to see him! Glad to be back though my office when I left was in a huge mess!

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Monitor

Turned in my book order for hopefully the last time! Added some, tweaked others. Increased my limit. I just hope it gets sent in, soon! Had my aides do more numbering today. I worked with other students discussing stuff they could do to work off fines. Library was crazy today with people. The last period of the day I ended up just monitoring all these kids to get them to either do their math quiz or work on their health work pages. Got two sets of science books up to teachers (o.k. my aides did). Displayed more books. I set out instructions for my sub since I will be gone for the next three school days. I hope she does all right! I let all my aides and worker kids know, some of the teachers as well. See you all back on Wednesday.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

N

Today was a big checkout day for the 'N' science books. Four classes came in, then another teacher came in needing a class set for his classes. I had my aides put the numbers in notes for all the ones we were checking out today, then when the used ones came in, they checked them in and put number notes on those as well. That kept us pretty busy. Turned in an invoice for some lost books. Worked on my last revision of my Baker and Taylor order. Doing a lot of tweaking. Got all the CCSS books stripped today so they just need to be covered. Wrote out some more explicit directions for the sub who will be here Friday through Tuesday. Off to meet with our other Middle School Library Media Assistants.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Redo

Man, I just hate it when I get called on something I thought I did right and no, I did it wrong. So, my supervisor sent me an email that I needed to get 10 or 13 digit ISBN's on my order and yes, he was right. I copied what I thought were all good numbers, but it's very easy to see that about half the numbers were less than 10. Oh my! So that gives me a chance to revamp my order a bit, which is a good thing. Checked in and out today. Monitored a bit more closely the kids that came into the library on passes today. Did some laminating. Redid a book cover. A kid brought it in missing half a barcode, and I ended up peeling off all the old cracked and bubbled laminate on the cover, redoing the barcode and spine call number, relaminating it and I must say it turned out really nice. Cleaned up my trash in my email. I had stuff in there for several years and took some time to just clean it up. I had over 1200 in there! Now I just have a year's worth. Sometimes you just need to clean. Ordered some more strips, my box is looking low! Had the aides work on numbering the math books so we don't have to look inside the cover for the barcoded anymore. Someone keeps shrinking my screen on the main floor computer - I will find out who is doing it!! I need the bigger numbers oO my poor eyes!

Monday, October 27, 2014

Dictionaries

Today was all about dictionaries. Well, just a teacher needed a class set of 34, but I actually delivered them up to her. Gave me a chance to walk the building a bit and take a look out of some other windows! Checked in and out a lot of books today. Stripped a lot of books today. The ones the kids checked in as well as the CCSS books. Showed my volunteer how I cover books and she was "Oh, that's so much easier than how I did it!" Nothing really special going on otherwise. Just a busy regular day of lots of things going on. Normal stuff, all day long. Another good day. Had a great view of the Cascades and watched the clouds come in this afternoon.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Crying

Today I went to go use the bathroom and there was a girl sitting on the floor crying. I went back out and brought her some tissues. Then I had her go into the back workroom and sit there since one of the counselors was in the library with a group. A teacher noticed her as he was in copying, and went in to talk with her until the counselor was done and could take her upstairs. The rest of the day was pretty quiet. Stripped books. Worked with a teacher on her projector. The service department at Boxlight gave me a few things to try, but I don't see they do any good, so I will work with technology and get it out to be serviced. And luckily, we got in the first of our replacement projectors! So I may swap them out when I have to send the other one in. Had the aides put away books. Got back my three boxes of hand wipes that were purchased to clean off the keyboards, so I had my aides clean the computer lab keyboards today. Let the lunch kids play in the computer lab. They can only play cool math games, or work on a school project. They did pretty well. Took all of our Dear America books and put them all together on one of those wooden book shelves I was leant. I'm hoping since they are on display, they may get more kids to check them out. Got in a cool cookbook and was thumbing through it with my aides, and one was  like "Stop! You're making me hungry!" I also showed them the "Dewey Decimal Rap" and she was again "Stop! Make it stop!" My aides are so funny! Got the list of OBOB books that the schools are going to use and sent that out. Little things here and there, but a very full day.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

A Day

Today was a strange little day. Rained outside all day. I boxed up three boxes of books to send out. Got my JLG order and reboxed it to send to LMSS. Some nice new books! Very exciting! Did a bit of quick and dirty repairs, some stripping. Had my wonderful volunteer shelve all my books for me the aides didn't do! Checked in and out books and renewed the ones kids brought to me from the slips they got handed today for overdue books. Did some emails. Checked through a $5 book catalogue from JLG. Didn't really have enough for me to order. A student got a bill, I thought it was a mistake from another school, turns out no, it was from our school and I don't know if I have the gutsyness to tell mom that yes, they do owe for books. They claim they were all turned in, but I don't think we have them. Pity. Today though, not sure if it's worth going to bat for. Got rid of all the Robin Hood books to other schools. Fixed a printer today that a teacher kept trying to print to. Had to pull it all apart to finally find a jammed piece of paper under the toner cartridge. Looked up the manual online to figure it all out! Sent another email to Boxlight to see what their tech has to say about a bulb for another teacher. I may have to buy another box of strips...we are just flying through them! Had a sub come down today who used to be one of our teacher librarians. She pitched in to shelve books and we had a bit of a chat on how sad I am that kids are not getting that great service they could be getting from them. What the kids are missing and the loss of that piece is something they won't ever recover from. 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Overdue

Printed up all the overdue notices today, but just for the checkouts starting this school year. Hoping to get some books back in that have already been out for two months! Did more stripping today. Packed up books to send off to other schools. Had another student work off his fine. Rebooted a document camera from notes a tech sent me and it works great! The teacher was very happy. Had five classes in the lab today, and four classes come in and check out books. Had my aides work on the notes for the math books today. Rained on the windows all day today. Had a group come in and work on drawing and cutting out shields for the book fair. Talked OBOB with a teacher. Left work and put the overdue notices in the teachers' mailboxes on my way out the door.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Copier Down

Came in a bit early so I could leave for my hair appointment this afternoon and there was already a teacher in making copies who called me in to ask "Why is it saying this??" So, I looked and it said the toner waste container was full and to call for service, so I did! He called back and said he'd be in later today. Had my aides work on putting in the numbers for our math books. One of my worker kids to pay off his fine is down to a little less than half an hour to go! Good for him! Got into my CCSS cart, where the books I know that'll get used need to be covered, so I stripped books and covered them and got them out. Had a couple of subs come in and put books away. Emails in and out. Finally got my name changed to Leslie from Bush. When I would check out, the computer would say "Be aware! This is not your student!" So Mrs. H at LMSS changed that for me today. 

Monday, October 20, 2014

Switched

Had a teacher in the library lab this morning, and she had two computers that didn't work. I got one fixed, but the other needs to be connected to the computer port, but none of the feeds over there work. The ones that do work are already in use. So, I crawled around on the floor, unscrewing the switch plates, checking out the connectors, none of which worked, putting tape over them and X's to show I checked them out. Then I wrote a note to the techs about everything I did. So I hope they decide to show up now and get that one hooked up. Did some Boxlight contacting for a teacher. Checked out books today. Fielded questions from the office. Sent out books. Got books in. Had a student work and pay off his fine today Huzzah!! I just need to remember to write down the books so I can replace the ones that need replacing. But up a Halloweenish display of books, I had printed up "SBOOKY". I thought is was cute! Contacted STAR, another reading program to see why we don't have it anymore for another teacher. Got in a bulb for a projector and put it in and it seems to work just fine! Yeah! Just seemed to be a day of trying to keep the troops pacified and getting things done to make our teacher's lives better. Not a bad way to spend a day.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Darth

Had all my aides today working on their shelves since the library was so messy from yesterday. I worked on stripping books and then shelved a section at a time to see how the kids did. Got a lot of books put away, all the fiction and the graphic novels that were stripped are all on the shelf. Had two students today work on working off fines, and that was great. Lots of little things going on all the time, but only one class to come in and check out books and classes nearly all day in the computer lab. Got class sets of books checked out - the teacher gave me her class lists and my aides checked out a book to a student, then wrote the number on the end of the book beside that student's name. I've had a Darth Vader water bottle in the library most of the week, so I finally sent out an email this afternoon. Hopefully, he will find his way home Monday. 

Thursday, October 16, 2014

AR to AM

Got all my class lists for the AR reading site, so hunkered down today and got six very full classes of students entered one by one. It went pretty quickly. I had to 'promote' the old students, redo the school year. Then I un-enrolled the old classes and enrolled the new kids in classes. That took a bit of doing! In between five classes coming down today to check out reading group books! Checking out textbooks to teachers. Did some laminating as well! A very busy day and my oh my is the library A Mess! I'll have to take some time tomorrow to get it all straightened up again. But I am so happy to see kids coming in and checking out books! Best part of my day :)

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

A Year Ago Today...

A year ago today I started at Bush, so today I wrote to the three people who impacted me the most to help me get my feet under me to that drastic switch. I was treated very well, and with a lot of respect and I wanted them to know I remembered that. So then today I got hit with two girls letting me know I was a b***h! One in a note inside a book that her friend turned in. "Why don't you like the librarian? Because she's a b***h!" Talked to them both then talked with a few teachers to see if I should write a referral, and they both said, ah, yes. I took the referrals up and put them in Ms. B's box. On my way back, there was a girl jogging down the hall I asked her to stop at least 5 times (short hall) and she finally took two walking steps then ran up the stairs and into class. I tracked her down and as I had her walk back to where I saw she was jogging, she said loud enough for me to hear "stupid f*****g b***h" so I just marched her up to the office and she said it again on the way. I told her she had a choice, and she chose to continue to jog down the hall. When I asked her name for the referral slip she took her planner and sat on it so I couldn't see. Oh my. On the bright side I found out my leave was approved for the end of the month. Got my amazing beautiful wooden bookshelves from one of the other librarians. She brought them in this morning for displaying our books. They really are gorgeous. They won't fit under our windows though, they stick out over the edge of the top of those bookshelves, so I had to come up with a couple of different ideas. The stand alone shelves worked fine though! Checked in and out today. Got almost all the books I repaired back out on the floor today. Got class lists so tomorrow I can load them onto the AR program so the teachers can use that. So a good day, balanced with testing. 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Sore

Went to work out last night at a 'team' training thing and I think my muscles hate me today. Getting up and down out of my chair hurt!! But on with work! Got the approval to get our back up projectors, so that was good news! Stripped more books today and got nearly two cart fulls put away thanks to my aides and a sub that helped out. Laminated this afternoon, these huge posters from science that I had to fold in half then slit them open so they'd be full size and the fronts all laminated. That took awhile. Did some other more usual laminating too. Had a teacher talk with me about her AR (Accelerated Reading) list, so we will work on that tomorrow. 

Monday, October 13, 2014

Half Life

Great half day of work today (Half Inservice/Half Grading - I don't grade!). Worked mainly on book repairs. Gathered my three big piles and split them up into types of repairs. Taping, tipping, page glueing, spine glueing and extra tough spine glueing. Got all done but the last. Ran out of clamps to hold the books into position while the glue dries, so I will do them some other time. That was about it! Off to home and Konditeroi's!

Friday, October 10, 2014

Inservice Meeting

Met at Straub Middle School today and had a plethora of topics we talked about all morning. Back to Leslie about 1pm and worked on stripping books. I'll fill in more details later....

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Visits

Started today coming in to see a pick up backed up to the school doors and a tech guy was loading my boxes into his truck! He was so sweet and explained the way it works when stuff goes to surplus, then he even emailed me later and got two of the doc cameras to work and will send them back. Score! We talked for quite a bit. Then down to the library and in the midst of students and checking out lit circle books my supervisor made it in and he stayed for over an hour. It was so cute to see him interact with kids and get them involved in conversation. Had two more classes come in today and get books. Put more strips in. Had an earthquake drill since next week it's supposed to be raining during it. So we had it today in the nice blue sky weather. Had someone bring me an extra projector while the tech was here, so he took to our science teacher who's projector we worked on last week, she was thrilled! He even took the bad projector to see if they could get it working and if it does he'll send it back :) Talked with Scholastic about the book fair today and that was good. She spent about 40 minutes with me, got some stuff ordered. Got in two boxes of books that were down at LMSS and got them on a cart today. 

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Book Fair

Lots of checking in and out today. More strips in books. Spent quite a bit of time with Scholastic emails today and went off tonight to one of their book fair meetings. I left half an hour early, and the meeting was two hours, so I don't mind using my own time to get some good information. Some of these people go crazy! I like it! The theme this year is "Read-a-Lot" so a nice medieval twist. Hey, I could do book shields! What a great way to do book reports! Just thought of that! I guess we did get the right laminator film, so had our office order me three more rolls. Asked for some books. Had a teacher ask for a book "My Brother Got Married" and could not find it. The teacher said "on the left, in the back!" Oh, "My Mother Got Married" ;)  Helps to figure out the right title! Had several classes in to turn in books and check out new ones. Had a student pay for a book at Bush, so sent that on today and he got to check out - I love it when that happens! Found that technology won't replace our equipment unless it is broken, so I have to figure out what's broken. I'm not sure what their definition is of broken, so I told the principal how about I drop them off the roof?? Probably not, but hey, teachers need the right equipment to teach with all the tools in their box. Will work on that during the inservice days Friday and Monday.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Stripping

Went through the first of my 100 packs of strips today so yeah! Books getting done! Decided to take the carts of the books that come in and strip them before they go back out. Since they get checked out the most, made sense to do them first. Then we got in some laminating film, but I think it was the bad stuff. I emailed Mrs. H to see what they ordered. I also got in two boxes of books that will fill our CCSS curriculum slot. They are all paperback, so need to be stripped, and covered with contact paper. Lots to do! Then I had to work with Scholastic today and our book fair scheduled for November. They had us booked for an Elementary fair! We're a Middle School! So I got that all straightened out. Not a bad catch for a first time fair person! Got through 4 shelves of stripping books on the shelves. Walked through helping some of my aides put away the non-fiction. I know it can be confusing, so we grabbed a handful of books and I went out with them to show them how it's done. Had a great volunteer come in today, and I look forward to her great work and attitude. She is amazing! Good, because we have lots to do! Did more checking in and out, less emails today (thank goodness!), corralled some phone calls and at the end, did a real clean up of the library for tonight's parent meeting. Want to make sure they come in to a great space. 

Monday, October 6, 2014

Strips In!!

Was so excited to hear my Tattle Tale strips were in! More excited when the office got them checked in and they came downstairs! Wo0t!! I grabbed the first shelf of "A" fiction books and stripped them all (except the ones already stripped - and ran those through the resensitizer) and I was so happy!!  Checked out more books today, had a bit of conversation with a student (hey, come here. You know, this is kind of like a job. If no one was watching me, and I just did nothing, do you think I'd have a job? 'No.' Well, this is your chance to work on things, to figure out who you are and part of that is putting in the work. 'You can't tell me to do anything, that's for my teacher to do!' Well, I am a staff member and just wanted to run that information by you. What you do with that, is up to you.) Helped kids with saving papers onto flash drives today. One gal had a drive that was too big to get into the area of the USB port, so I used mine, and took it over to my computer, dragged it to my desktop, then put it onto her drive. Had another kid need to make a google doc, so my first period aide helped me get that done. Put calculators in the big file cabinet in the back, back textbook room. Had another aide pile old Lit books onto the table in the back. I actually did some shelving today just to see how my aides were doing. Not bad. Got a Kudos! bar from the teacher I had been helping with to get her projector working. She's decided she just needs a new one and probably rightly so! Did a few repairs on some Core Algebra books. Just grinded through emails. Came in a bit early today so I could volunteer and help out at the track meet this afternoon. Cross Country with four different schools. I took one of the corners and really enjoyed it (though it was hot!! luckily I had a tree!) and encouraged the kids on and up the right way. Another great day in the library and outside!

Friday, October 3, 2014

Wrestling the Wily Laminator

Finally, ran out of laminating today and had to change the machine. I've laminated lots, but have never actually changed out the rolls before, so today was the day. Oh my! Luckily I found the manual and a CD going through the steps, but man, I got so messed up! First I got the rolls on, and next thing I knew they were wrapping around the heater rolls instead of going out the back!! I freaked and reversed, but pulling the laminating out kept stopping the machined! Thank goodness it wasn't heated up all the way - I finally got the laminating all pulled out and tried again, getting it all the way through, but the rolls weren't lined up the way I wanted, so I took them off, got them better aligned, fed the sheets through and they weren't coming out the back, they were wrapping around the back roller bars!! Reverse!! And in between of course, I was helping students and staff, subs and phones, but I finally got it all set, threaded through, laminated the last of the DLC pile of stuffs and it looked beautiful. So glad I finally got the threading right, the instructions down for how to feed the rolls through the right way - that was a big relief!! Other than all the laminating I had to do, the day was pretty normal. Though I did snap at one of the students that likes to hang out in the library. I told her I had to finish up this project, and she kept interrupting me! I needed to concentrate and she finally went over to a little table and worked on homework. I did feel a bit bad but the girl loves to talk, pretty much all the time when she's in here from study hall. Dumped all the trash, found knitting needles for book repair just after I bought some! Off to the weekend!

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Lamp Done!!

Had a great day today. Finally got that lamp out of that projector!! Yeah! Used my old assembly line techniques and finally, it popped loose! Huzzah! Put in a new lamp, took it to the teacher. She was glad to see it come back and all her stuffs worked perfectly, except she still has the blue and yellow lines, but she was much happier with the set up she was used to! So I called technology and updated them, so hopefully they can figure out the lines issue. Cleaned out more stuffs, got the last of my manuals in folders. Packed up 20 each of the Realidades 2 book and workbooks for another school. Looked for a book to send to another school, but couldn't find it. Found two boxes of clasp envelopes, a box of file folders and a shredder manual and asked the office if they wanted them, they said "Yes!!" so I will send them up tomorrow. A drawer had about two + reams of colored paper, so our Instructional Coach took them for a teacher that needed them. Had an aide take up some boxes for delivery, and take the last of my file cabinets to replace one for a teacher. She had no rails to hang her files, and I only needed half a drawer, so it worked out nicely for both of us. Laminated some stuff before I left for my meeting. Attended my first Middle School Library Media Assistant Meeting today and learned a lot of great stuff. Very excited that we are getting a box of books!!! Mostly just to make sure each school has at least one copy of each of the books designated for Common Core, but I can't wait to get mine and put them out!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Projecting Frustration

The second of my filing cabinets left today, so that was good. The workroom is really looking so much better. Checked out lots more books today. Checked out nearly all of our Core math books. Had a student go through all the manuals and put them together in piles so I could give each one their own file. Even found the information on the resensitizer! Brought in the InFocus machine to a teacher and could not get it hooked up right. Her old projector had two in VGA ports, but this one only had one, so I tried a splitter and totally would work one way, but not all the way :(  I messed with that thing for an hour during lunch, then again after school and could not get it working the way we wanted it to. The doc camera worked, the DVD worked, but it wouldn't sync with the computer too. Arrgghh! I switched cords, played with settings, nothing. After the lunch time, I called technology and griped to one of the techs there that this teacher had been waiting for three weeks for someone to come and do something, and though people had been out, nothing had been done. He put her priority to number one, which was nice of him, but still couldn't tell us when someone would be out. Cleaned out my other four drawer file cabinet and will swap that with Ms. P up in the office. She needed four drawers that would all have hanging file folders. Since this cabinet I might keep, I don't really need files but on one drawer, so we will swap. Put carts away with stuff in the back. But I really need to shift more books! Mr. TG!! (Textbook Guy) get us the approval to get rid of these things! 

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Full Lunch

Wow we had a lot of kids during lunch today. Not only our regular lunch group, but a whole class in using the computers, plus part of a class coming in to check out books. We were so busy! Haven't had any takers for our Moon Over Manifest books from the secondaries, so had Mr. C send out a notice to all the elementaries that they were up for grabs, and they are all now spoken for! Yeah! Got one of the file cabinets out today and in the back room there was also binders and plastic sleeves that they all took. The kids that came in to get all that were cute. Got in the rest of Core Algebra books so put barcodes on them and the teacher will come to check out tomorrow. Sent an email with all our surplus equipment to technology so hopefully that will get picked up soon! Had some teachers in looking for clickers for math, and so I sent out an email to find clickers and our assistant principal came in with a bag of them! Yeah! One of our math teachers was very happy about that. He was going to come in after school to pick it up, so I left my door partially open because I had to leave at 2:30 to go to a meeting on AV equipment at LMSS. The teachers want me to know everything about all the stuff we use! Everything from 'where is xxx?' to, 'why isn't the copier printing for me?' 'Technology is not helping me, what can you do?' I wish I had all the answers, so this was a good class for me to take. I picked up a projector for a teacher who is having a terrible time with hers while there, so I will switch it out tomorrow and hopefully get technology to fix hers or replace it. On the way home I had to go by Craft Warehouse, so I picked up some paintbrushes for book repair and then WalMart for some knitting needles also for book repair! Will turn in those receipts tomorrow.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Back In

Had a great weekend up in Seattle with my granddaughters, but back in to work today. Lots of emails. Books coming in with holds on them for the students that requested. Helped a lot of kids today with finding books. Cleaned out one of the four drawer filing cabinets and put it up for grabs, and it was taken. Another teacher wanted one so I told her I was nearly done with the other, so she could have it when I was done. Sent a bunch of cyberbullying  stuff to one of the counselors. Just dumped a ton of stuff. When that cabinet goes, I'll move the little two drawer over to that spot. Another teacher today needed book pockets, so since I had two boxes of them, I let her take one of them. Boxed up 50 of the Algebra Connections books to Stephens since they are just sitting on a cart. I asked the teacher if I could and she said yes. Got another recommendation for a sub for me, so put printed out the sub list and highlighted the three people I'd be most likely to call. Tried to put our resensitizer on the file cabinet and it made the most horrendous noise! The vibrations from the machine were amazing! So, ah, no! Put it on my back counter. Found a bunch of bulbs from the projectors that we are surplusing, so I put them in my closet in my office, locking them up. Amazing what I'm still finding! A teacher came in looking for some clickers for his class, and I thought they were maybe one thing, but those were stopwatches. So he'll look in the science department, he heard they may have some. A good day, enjoyed my aides as they worked over their shelves. Spent some time on our 736-746 books. They were really a mess. Just something I wanted to do myself. My first period aide was surprised at how many books were in the wrong places! Good for him!

Friday, September 26, 2014

Volunteer Packing

One of our staff had a son who needs to do some volunteering, so I set him to work today packing and getting barcodes off the of some of our old textbooks I took off the top of the library shelving earlier this year. I had him unbox, scan the barcode, rebox with packing and tape up the boxes so they are all ready to go. Took him three hours, but he did a great job. Packed up some more document cameras today and an old overhead projector that only has the bottom anymore. Cleaned out old pictorial directories from 2001-5. I felt funny just putting them into our recycler so I ended up putting them in a secure container. All those pictures of kids, it just seemed the right thing to do. Checked in and out today, it was pretty quiet in there. Answered emails, talked with LMSS. Talked to our Follett Rep who is new as well as me. She sent me all her contact info, so that'll be good to have. Library looked pretty good tonight, having my aides do their sections seems to be working pretty well. Off to Seattle to help with granddaughters!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Calculators

Had my aide start to work on putting barcodes on the graphing calculators that came in this summer and I finished them up this afternoon. Cleaned out more stuff from drawers. Pens that no longer write, tons of paper. A stack ten inches high of spiral notebooks that were in a drawer. Cards, other paper. Still astounds me how much stuff is in all these drawers. I think I can clean out most of the four drawer cabinets and see if anyone wants them. I'll probably keep the little two drawer one, maybe, maybe not! A few of my aide completed their training today so I assigned them shelves that are their area, their pride and joy to keep pretty and in shape! I have a volunteer coming tomorrow and will have him get a list of all the titles in the back. Had one aide work on marking out the library stuff on the books I withdrew. Did some laminating. Need to bring in some sheer curtains for behind my inspirational quotes on the window. Just so they stand out better. Had one of my favorite techs stop by today and gave him a big hug, so good to see him. Showed him my hoard of cables and splitters and other things I have in the back. He was impressed! Was raining at one point so hard today I actually heard it on the roof and we could see it bouncing off the top of the buses that had just pulled in to pick up kids. That's loud! 

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Destroyed

Had my aides today work on their shelving test. Checked in and out various items, but it was pretty quiet. Worked through the weeding that was left and got about a third of the items 'destroyed' that were on one cart. Have another box of stuff to destroy tomorrow. I'll have the aides mark out the barcodes for me tomorrow. Had another student work off their fine today, so that makes two this week! Another student paid for his lost book. Had a box of books that were from a classroom to be given away so I put them out for the kids to look at and take if they would like. Another box had spanish titles in it, so I need to contact that teacher to see if she would like them. Getting more stuff cleaned up. Sent an email to our textbook guy to see if he could speed up with getting stuff cleared to ship out. I have a ton of stuff and we usually have a pick up before winter break, so it would be nice to have them all deleted, packed and ready to go before then. Boxed up some items to process at LMSS. Beautiful clouds rolled slowly by my windows today, and saw a bit of rain here and there. We all really need the rain, so that was good. 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Paid Off!

I am so proud of student T, he worked for me for minimum wage to pay off his fines. Took him five times in to work to pay it off, and I got to clear his account today. I was so proud of him! I had another student last period who came in to work off his fine. He did about 30 minutes at once and did a good job! Found a library shelving website that I had my last aide work on today. I'm going to have all of them do this just to see what they know about shelving. I don't think some of them know what in the world they are doing! Laminated one little book cover today. Sent off my just about final order to my supervising librarian to approve before we have to send it in. Crazy new system, we can't put together our own orders anymore, they have to. So we submit to them, they have to gather all our stuff together and submit, makes no sense to me :(  Love to see the books I have on display disappear out the door. I love to go around the library and fill the 'holes' where a book was with a new offering! Had the LEAP program in the library this afternoon for their study hall and they did really well. Boxed up ten Moon Over Manifest to send to Sprague, then sent out an email to the secondary schools to see if any of them wanted any since our teachers haven't taken them. Found out Bush has a new Library Media Assistant finally, so I sent him an email offering my help if he needs it. Had my two third period aides decide they didn't want to be aides anymore, so I talked with one of the counselors, and we moved one out, but kept one. They really are cute, but they get so distracted by each other's company! It's hard to keep them on task! (P, M! Stop playing with the chair!) But they have a great friendship and that makes it fun, but we'll get more work done with just one at a time! Clouds out the window today, one of the LEAP groups is going to clean up the little garden area and I could see them working out there. Seems like a really great program for the kids to study, get snacks, learn something new and have a safe place to be after school. I'm glad the library is a part of that!

Monday, September 22, 2014

Equipment

Today we had a lot of kids in and checked out the next set of math books all day. Lots of emails today. Signed up for the LMA meeting for October 10th, I think it'll be better than the one I signed up for. Then I went through all the equipment that was in the office and got it all withdrawn and boxed up and ready to be picked up. I had one old overhead projector that I need to find a box for, but everything else is waiting. I counted up all the bags we have laying around, eighteen total. All empty but for cords and manuals. All the equipment is out and about, so time to get rid of all this extra stuff. I sent emails to see what we wanted to do with all this stuff. My aides were all in today, so that was good. Ready to relax for the night.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Order, Order

Had some time today for ordering. Ordered in my new strips for the books. Spent some time working on my Fall book order. I guess we need to have it done by October 10th or our high school advisors will do it for us! So I took the one I started and went through all the notes kids had mentioned. We'll see how it goes! I think I'm pretty good at the moment. Had kids coming in checking out books for reading today. Missed half my aides. My two 6th graders came in and they are really a pair! So funny, but they distract each other so much!! I have to keep them on track! Kind of annoying really. Glad to hear the doors lock and then I was out of there! 

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Cleaning out

Did a lot more cleaning out today. Got rid of a bunch of old binders that were just stacked up on shelves in my office. Changed out my keyboard for a new one (it was old, sticky, and half the letters worn off!). Dumped a ton of old papers. Went through a box labeled Yearbooks and got all the Leslie books out and on a shelf in my office. Cleaned off the aide desk. Had a ton of kids come in today and turn in their checked out workbooks for spanish to buy the new pretty just out of the box workbooks. Scrubbed off half my office desk. Organizing, organizing, organizing. Helped some great kids today. One gal was looking for books in spanish, and so I showed her how to look up in a search for bilingual and she got all excited to see she could get Harry Potter the Chamber of Secrets in spanish. Got books transferred to us from other schools - Algebra Connections V. 2, and some Hatchet by Paulson. Learned we hadn't sent in the sensitizer order, so yeah! Won't have to send it back. But I still need strips! A great day, lots of housecleaning done. Things looking good in the back parts of the library. Feeling like I got a lot accomplished today!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Sensitizer FOUND!!!

Today I was in the back back textbook room putting away some calculators, and I thought to look in this file cabinet, and there, in the bottom drawer, was sitting our old sensitizer!! I couldn't believe it!! That no one else had found it!! I pulled it out and plugged it in, and it seems to be working! I just saved the district $1230!! I am so excited! Did my mandatory training today and passed and sent that on to our office manager. Got in new Spanish workbooks for both years. Got a cart of Algebra Connections V2 put away in a back room. One more cart to go. Cleaned off most of the 'problems' cart in the workroom. Checked out just a few books today. Most of the classes were shortened because we had our big assembly in first period today for the magazine and cookie sale. I was so proud of my one student, he only needs to work for me one more day to pay off his fine! Another student says she'll come in tomorrow to work off her fine, and I hope she does. I love it when they take responsibility and work it off when nothing else is an option. A great day, I love being here! So much to do still, but things are shaping up!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Keys

I went home tonight and realized I left my keys at work, so back in the car and back to the school. Had to have our assistant principal open my office and there they were in my personal cabinet. Glad they were there! I wouldn't have slept tonight without them. Checked out lots of science books today. More literary books checked out. Laminated today for teachers. Tried to help out a teacher with her projector/document camera. We figured out it wasn't the document camera, and I tried to pull the bulb from the projector and couldn't get a screw to release. Lots of emails; adding in people to our check out programs; getting a new account with Junior Library Guild for Leslie; a library media class discussion for our inservice day; sending to other schools to see if student xyz really did turn in/pay for such and such book. At least it wasn't smokey in the library! That was a relief!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Smoke Smuggered Sky

Today the sky was all filled with smoke from a wildfire east of Portland. Couldn't see the mountains or even the far off hills. After A lunch, the library was filled with the smell, and I could even smell it, which means it must be bad. Took in my German stuffs today since yesterday ended our annual Mt. Angel Oktoberfest, and put up a bunch of German related books. Wore my dirndl, brought in the Germany trip albums, the flag, and some books from the old Sprague German program. A few people commented, but that was all right. One of the staff came in and looked through the pictures, a few kids looked at the books. One kid even checked out a book I had on display. Worked with our third period aide today to make sure he was shelving right. Worked on the book order due by the end of the month a lot today, with our new spreadsheet. Tracking down all the information is quite the adventure! Had a brief classified meeting today, and turned in paperwork for a class during our inservice day. Now out into the smoke, yuck. Hopefully it will be gone tomorrow.

Friday, September 12, 2014

How Can it Not Be Good?

A great week! No jury duty! Did the fund raising dinner at the school last night and then Open House! 50% of my aides came to see me (ok, so I only had four..) Cleaned off two piles of books off the main workroom island. That made me very happy! Got all the Algebra Connections books transferred to me. Got in the quote from Junior Library Guild and found out that we have a Junior Library Guild fund at Leslie! Wowsa! Yes, use that one to pay for it!! WoooHooo! Put in barcodes that were missing, checked in lost copies, I even got to do some repairs today! Super great! Did some laminating since I forgot yesterday (opps!). Checked in and out books today. Got another aide, so I have five aides now. I still have the last two periods free, but that's all right. I enjoy the end of the day quiet. Dumped all the trash out of the library tonight. It helps out our custodial staff. Found coupons for our Books Are Fun. I had enough coupons from 2008 to get 14 books! Ha! I had to laugh when I saw how many there were! I don't think they will honor them all, but the stash cracked me up! Weekend ahead! A great week behind! Truly love my job!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

9-11

A quieter day today. Put together an order for new spanish workbooks. Had a girl pay for a lost book. Had classes in the lab today and worked on some that couldn't get internet access. I think I solved it for three of them. Checked out books to a class. Had one student come in to work off his fines during lunch today. Seems sometimes I just spin my wheels and yet, the day passes by. Got to talk to a quite a few students today about 9-11. What I was doing, the impact on our lives. They really enjoyed the display I made and several asked to check out the books, so I told them could tomorrow. Had to send 50 Algebra books back to Judson, so I helped the assistant there load them into her car, she was in a cast! Poor thing! Found a discard consideration spreadsheet on the U: drive, so added to that and let Mr. C know about it. Checked out books, worked with my aides. Had a big mess in the back room unpacking boxes of Algebra books. Crazy! Open House tonight, so I'll go, not sure if I should or not, but I do have students so I think I should stay at least in case one of them shows up with parents!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

$313.47

So today was our big lockdown practice. I think it went very well. I only had my two aides and one other student to take care of, and they all behaved extremely well. Blinds down, my doors automatically locked, lights off, back into our safe room. All in all, I think we did well. Checked out a lot of books today for literature reads, but I was really sad that these kids had a lot of books still out. It came to $313.47 worth of lost books. Some said they had them, others didn't. Got my access and passwords reset for getting into our attendance reports. That made me happy. I thought I would have jury duty tomorrow, so I had lots of stuff lined up for the subs, but when I got home and called, all the cases were settled, so I don't have to go in tomorrow! Yeah! It was not the best time of year to get called anyways! Happy to head into work tomorrow!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

No More Textbooks!

 What a beautiful way to start the day. Opened up my windows to this gorgeous view this morning.
 After a long hard day, no more textbooks on top of library shelves!! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
Now here is the library from when you walk in the main doors. What a great day. Got all the textbooks taken out. Some in boxes in that back room, others just on a cart for now, and yes, one big stack on the floor in the back. My last period aide got all the 900 and 800's books shifted all the way over so I only had to shift a few shelves to get the three crates of books onto the shelves as well. I was so happy!! Spent time making sure I had books out on display for all the shelves and put other books on our new book rack since most of them have been checked out. There is a parent night in the library tonight, so I couldn't leave until I had the library nearly perfect. Don't read the 796 shelves though, but as I looked, they are a mess! Checked out a ton of people today. Library books as well as textbooks(math!). But I'm feeling great about all the changes I've made and extremely happy! Queue the song... Cause I'm happy...!

Monday, September 8, 2014

More Check Outs

Lots more check outs today, but only got horribly backed up twice, I think! Had my aides shift more shelves, got a new aide today! That was nice! Packed up the Dangerous Days of Daniel X, they are off to be used at Stephens for a couple of weeks, then off to their new homes. Checked out spanish texts and workbooks and more math. Lots of library books and even stamped them with a due date, yeah! Got that going! Had to find which student has which book, so I worked on that until I had them for Ms. B. Then Mr. C called and we worked with a report that he had made and that will work perfectly for the next time I need it! Got in the Algebra Connections books for Ms. T and will see how she wants to handle that. Class sets, or shared books. Not sure yet, but at least we now have copies.    Straightened things up a bit at the end since there was to be a staff meeting in here this afternoon, so I got to listen in a bit. Things are moving along, and got all the spanish books off more library shelves, so very happy about that! Had kids in during lunch. Not for long since they eat first, but great to have them come in and look around and check out books. I'm sure we'll settle into a routine soon enough!

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Best Assistant of the Week

Huge busy check out day, and it took a long time! But luckily I had Ms. S in with her classes and with a 30 second intro, she checked out almost all her classes today for library books while I was doing the textbooks. I was so impressed! Sent off a kudo email to office peeps to thank her for being a library assistant for the day! Had my aides work on shifting shelves, and they're doing a great job. Sent in the invoice for the new sensitizer, so hopefully that will come soon! Busy getting books checked out and I absolutely love that our Language Art teachers all bring their classes in to check out books. It's amazing! Love to see the books heading out the door!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Checking Out

Lots of checking out today. Had in five classes to listen to my little library spiel and then set them loose to look for books. Checked out over 100 library books today and about 40 textbooks. Had a few kids very disappointed that I wouldn't check out to them because they still had books out from last year. A lot said 'yeah, I have that at home.' So I told them I'd hold the books for them and if they brought them back tomorrow, they could check out. Covered the last of the summer book order so I could put more new books on the rack, it was getting pretty empty and started my new book order list for the 19th. Got in some Algebra books so the teacher finally has her materials and a student book. More books to come! Had a bunch of study hall kids come in and told them they needed to sign in. Did more checking on the resensitizer wand, sent off some Spanish math books and 80 The Giver books as well. A couple of books that ended up here and needed to go back home, sent those off as well. Had some kids pop in during lunch, and I told them 'Not until Monday!' and sent them back. Glad to see their excitement. A busy good day.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Perfect Day

What a great day at work! All the kids were back today, I got to check out a few books! Fabulous news! Came in and loaded paper in the printer and copier machine. A teacher came in and asked if I had her books ready, and I had sent her an email right before I left yesterday that they were here and all ready to go! She was impressed! Put together the rest of the lab/library sign up sheets. I had a bunch of the lab sign up sheets, so I just turned them over and used the other side to print up the other. Before, they had two colors (nice!) but only printed on one side, so I thought this was more efficient and a better use of paper. Turned out good! I also looked up all the 6th grade lit resources boxes I had sent away yesterday and called LMSS and gave them the numbers to delete from my inventory. Then I contacted the lady who picked them up yesterday and she said to send the extra books in the mail, so I did that. I had kids in the library this morning! One gal who will normally be at South, then a boy who also has classes at South. So nice! Then I had an aide! Yeah! I had her look for missing books. And another aide at the end of the day! He looked for missing books as well. I also had him pull books and sort them for me and he did a great job. Had a  teacher come in and needed the health books. We looked in the front textbook room, then the back. Then the staff room shelves (most of the social studies are there) and then the cookie room shelves. We went back to the back room and she looked at shelves as I poked around, and something clicked in my head from putting away a 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens yesterday, and pulled away this rolling shelf type cart and there were the Health books. I was so relieved! Checked all that out to the teacher. Emailed Mrs. H and told her about the sensitizer and she said her old school, Houck, had a 'wand' that they would pass over the books to resensitize them, so I looked that up, and there it was and about $400 less than the one I was looking at! Huzzah! I sent the link to Mr. C to ask his opinion, but I think I'll pick that one. Called and got a quote for the other one and strips, so we'll continue that tomorrow. Took my books we had gotten in over the summer and stamped them and packed them up to send to LMSS for processing. Sent some instructions to a teacher that will hopefully will print a larger size for her chart she had. Found my M drive and SASI, so that makes me happy. The computer teacher next door needed some info, I ended up just calling upstairs o get it, but now I hope I can access SASI tomorrow after technology gets me a new password. Our principal came in at the end of the day and told me that he would approve the funds for the rest of my sensitizer! I told him I loved him. That will be a big expense and I truly appreciate him stepping up to make that happen and leave my budget for books. Wow! That was unexpected and I am grateful! We have the algebra books on their way and I met with Mrs. H tonight and we traded books. I had her Book of Kells I had borrowed back in March and worked on repairing. I had finally finished it so I gave that back and she brought me in the teacher resources for the algebra books so I can give that to the teacher tomorrow. What a perfect day!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Shove, shove

Today I worked on cleaning stuff up. It will take awhile, but as I was putting boxes away for the new English curriculum, a lady came in and took them for teachers in other buildings who needed them. Then, of course, I opened mail finally this afternoon and there were books in the mail that belong to the boxes! I've had them all about a week, argh! Deleted a ton of emails from last June and over the summer. Really needed to clean that up. Had a teacher come in looking for Go Ask Alice, and we didn't have a copy of that, so I suggested Crank, which we do have a copy of and she took it with her.  A better pick for this generation too I thought. Took a bunch of teacher resources from 2000 and put them in the cookie room (used to be a textbook room!). Cleaned a cart off of stuff that a teacher had cleaned out her classroom. Sorted through and kept some, the others went in the surplus box. Still no CPM math books!! Frustrating for teachers and me. Had another teacher looking for an 8th grade lit book and found some in the back. She was happy about that. Checked out books to teachers. The copier kept running out of paper, I put at least 4 reams of paper in it today. Didn't really see any kids today, but they were there. Tomorrow everyone comes back, so it'll be crazy!