Tuesday Slice: The new kid, or one of the possible reasons I became a librarian

 

I know, really know

what it's like to be 

the new kid in school

eight first days

in eight different places

If I was lucky

the school was filled with

military BRATs like me

so we were all new

or almost-new

knowing we would 

only be together 

for a short while

and totally fine with that

But sometimes

I was the only 

world traveler

explaining to my classmates

what continents are

wondering why we 

were being taught what

I already knew

learned from a system that

was always one step ahead

Eight times new

eight times looking 

for the familiar

in a place never seen before

almost always finding it

in the library.

Tuesday Slice: Decisions, decisions

 

When to get up

(should I hit the snooze, or not?)

When to stop reading

How long to exercise

When to stop scrolling

Should I shampoo today?

What soap to use

Does this look good?

What earrings to wear

Eat first, or feed the birds?

What to eat

Which lunch to take

What mask to wear

Which station to listen to

What parking space to take

Is there time to log in before duty?

Words to use with colleagues

Words to use with students

Which tasks take priority

What to keep and what to discard

How to arrange things

How to teach a skill

How to assess a skill

How to keep students engaged

Which behavior to address

Which behavior to ignore

Do we have time for one more activity

What books to purchase

What's the lesson order

What's the read-aloud order

Where should labels go

How to organize a kit

Should I send the email now, or later

Will this help my colleagues

Will this help my students

Should I book this author

Should I eat this treat

Do I have time for a bathroom break

How should I spend this budget money

Is there time to make these IDs

How do we tackle this big kit processing

Who should get these materials

Do I help kindergarten first, or first grade

Should I shut down the computer and go home

Do I need my umbrella

Should I listen to music or keep it quiet

Water the plants first, or start laundry

What to eat for dinner

Practice Japanese or Spanish

Read, or write, or nap, or.....

zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Tuesday Slice: New furniture, new (temporary) schedule

Yesterday morning, the library was filled with the rolling sound of pallet wheels, the crinkling and tearing of unwrapping, the stacking of chairs, whirring power screwdrivers, the thud of heavy furniture gently hitting the carpeted floor.

Three hours and many mini discussions about placement later, our updated library was tentatively in order.  

This is just phase two; phase three will involve moving wall and floor shelves, rearranging the flat panel and tables, and painting the walls of the main space--and hopefully a mural!

Our technology support teacher and I learned last Thursday that we will be covering the music teacher time slot until we have that position filled.  We do not have to teach music, thank goodness--the students would get tired of singing, my only instrument!  It does mean that for the first time in ten years, I will have students in the library on the first day of school for half the day, without their classroom teachers present.  So this space needs to be cleaned up, pronto!

Here's wishing a bright and successful school opening for all my fellow educators.

 

Tuesday Slice: Limbo dancing

 

One week

since the

announcement and

there's still

no word

on whether 

I'll be

pulled from

the circulation

desk, so

I inch

forward with

my library

tasks, the

books and

orders and

cataloging and

teacher materials

hoping that

each day 

is confirmation

that I

will get

to stay.

Tuesday Slice: Party pooper

 

Welcome back!  Be sure to get your goodie bag with this year's library shirt.

Let's welcome our new librarians...we still have two openings, so spread the word!

What are some celebrations?

Fill in the Google forms for online subscriptions by August 12th, please.

Here's the spreadsheet with this year's book purchase allocations.  (Excited buzzing.)  We need your ESSER funds list by September 1st.

Be sure to set up your budget spreadsheets to track spending.

Here's how to change your report views in the finance program to see this's year's budget.

Consider adding more genres to search terms; if you need more, let us know.

Ebook patron updates will happen automatically now--yay!  But don't forget to delete expired ebooks from the catalog.

Think about what circulation reports you want to run on a regular basis and let us know.

Did you know we have access to large print books?  Let's welcome our vendor and learn about their benefits.

Let's talk about goal setting for the year.  What are two specific, measurable or observable goals for the library you would like to achieve, and what steps are needed to get there?  Please fill in the form by September 16th.

Here's some basic information for using the IFP.

Visit our library vendors during lunch and get your card signed off for door prizes!

We are going to have some work time to tackle some of these to-dos, and then split up by level for programming discussion. Ice cream will be available this afternoon!

Let's talk about the elephant in the room...

You all know we have a significant teacher shortage right now.

Librarians are on the list of possible staff to pull into classrooms.

We really don't know the details. 

 

Tuesday Slice: Back at the keyboard

 

I haven't written for weeks, unless you count my gratitude journal.  A decades-old habit, I dutifully make my list almost every night, filling in the blanks when I skip a day or two.  Being grateful helps me sleep better, reminds me of the privilege of food, shelter, indoor plumbing, the blessings of health and family.

I haven't written for weeks, because what else can be said about weapons of war unleashed in places of learning and prayer?

I haven't written for weeks, because what else can be said about my rights, my daughter's rights, every woman's rights to our own bodies?  What else can be said about medical confidentiality?

I haven't written for weeks, because what else can be said about the seditious acts of January 6th?  The committee has laid it out clear as day...but will there be justice?

I haven't written for weeks, because what else can be said about climate change, as fires burn just miles up the road, endangering friends' homes?

I haven't written for weeks, because what else can be said about extremists infiltrating our school systems with false accusations that garner airtime and push educators out of classrooms?

I haven't written for weeks, because every idea that surfaced in my brain seemed trite by comparison to the news, the worrisome events that directly impact me, my family and my livelihood.  My school year starts in six days...may there be more good news than bad when I return.  

Spiritual Journey Thursday: Be still

I am providing the prompt this month:

"Be still."

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  Mark 4:39

My spirit has not been calm for weeks.  My waking thoughts are like gray clouds formed by the rage swirling in my chest, rising through my throat, furrowing my brow and darkening my crown chakra.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.  Psalms 4:4

I had also fallen out of my morning meditation practice, a victim of my summer sleep schedule.  Sensing the void, I turned to a book at bedtime--A Rhythm of Prayer, edited by Sarah Bessey.

    "God beyond the boxes we build to contain our lives, the hours we track and tally.  God outside of time, yet here:  Come to us, relieve our ragged breaths, slow our steps, relax the red lines that spike in our brains.  Tell us what is true.  Show us how time rolls like calm water, let us cup it quiet in our hands.

    "God, teach us to pause in this moment, to tuck ourselves into the curve of your slow arm, that we may know the miracle of now...May we see the goodness of our still hours and days, sunrises, sunsets, and the darkness where our rest is found." --Micha Boyett, "A Prayer Against Efficiency"

There, beyond my to-do lists and FOMO and fear catching my breath--a reminder to slow down, be still, rest. 

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.  Job 33:4

The Universe continued to conspire on my behalf, leading me to watch this sermon by Nadia Bolz-Weber:

(If you don't want to watch the video, you can read the sermon here.)

Pastrix Bolz-Weber reminding us to breathe, be still in God's presence.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.   Psalms 46:10

I wish my journey companions 

peace in the Breath of God.

Be still

unfurrow that brow

pry open your thoughts

set free your worries

letting them float 

to the One

who can bear it all.

Rest in Her arms.

Be still, and rest.

Amen.