Finally getting to work

Today, I had made arrangements for my mother to babysit my two smallest kids so I could go to the middle school to begin actual work with the librarian, Ms. Reece. I arrived at 10:00am and could stay until 2:00pm. I was hoping to get lots of work done, but when I got there, Ms. Reece excitedly informed me that I had picked a good day to come because there would be food. There was a kind of staff potluck to take place in the library. So part of the time was spent setting up for that and also eating the goodies, but I was also able to get in some valuable work. The most important part was setting everything up so that Ms. Reece knew about the parameters of my assignment and getting instruction on a few basics from her so I can eventually just come in and work, unassisted by her so she can go about her normal duties.

I weeded the 796's--sports, recreation books--and removed about 30 books that were either old and past their usefulness, badly damaged or worn, or both old and badly worn. In the process, I was able to survey a few students on their interests and discovered that they were interested in finding books on hunting from this section but there were absolutely none. Also, I found out that students who were interested in finding drawing books in a nearby section would like to find books on drawing fantasy creatures like goblins and satyrs. Ms. Reece has said that the drawing section and the sports section get a lot of interest from the kids.

I also learned how to check books in and out and to look up a child's number on the circulation software. Ms. Reece and I also walked through the process she usually uses when she is ready to purchase books to replace those she has weeded. So we found a few books that would be appropriate on fishing to replace books that I had suggested to be discarded. Ms. Reece is very appreciative of the help. I wasn't able to get all the books that I had removed through the entire process of discarding--removing barcodes, labeling and deleting from the circulation program--but I put my stack of books in Ms. Reece's office on a spare shelf and will work on it next week when I return. I am planning on working every Friday, helping to weed and generally doing what I can to learn about running the library and completing the requirements of my class project as well. I think it is working out well so far. I am ready to get a lot of weeding done.

I found a biography of Marie Curie that was published in 1937. Wow. I'll make sure that I am only discarding materials that Ms. Reece agrees should go, but I can see how a librarian finds it hard to let good books be discarded.