Congratulations on your new job in your school library! Feeling overwhelmed is inevitable, but the tips and tricks in this blog will help you get the hang of working in the library. Take it step by step. Give yourself grace and time to become an expert. The most important thing is to remember to breathe! 

If you use INFOhio's library services, you have an ally and support person at your Information Technology Center (ITC); they offer training and support for your library management tools. Click here to find your ITC and use the email or phone number to contact your library support. Generally, at the beginning of the school year, there is a new user training focusing on the WorkFlows software. Do everything you can to attend training in person.  If you cannot leave the building, ask your ITC if they can provide a one-on-one Zoom training.  

INFOhio has created a School Library Basics Learning Pathway to help you understand working in a school library. This pathway includes an introduction to INFOhio, advocating for your library, collection development, and information literacy.  Moreover, if your school is using INFOhio’s library services there is an introduction to Fetch, your online catalog. When completed, this self-paced class is worth eleven contact hours which you can use if your school requires continuing education hours.   

If you are not a regular library user, another way to help you understand libraries is to go to a public library in your area. Notice how the library creates different sections based on the types of books within their children’s area. For example, non-fiction, biography, picture books, and middle-grade fiction will most likely be sections you will find. Does your library have separate areas for readers and graphic novels? Use the public access computer to search for books and find them on the shelves. Need help? Ask the librarian!!  Notice that there is a separate desk for checking out books, where the librarian uses a library management system to keep track of all of its items. 

• Manifesting Happy: How to Maintain Self-Care Amid Challenging Behaviors and Challenging Times
  
  
• Tech for Teacher Wellness: Strategies for a Healthy Life and Sustainable Career

Now, some everyday tips. Laser pointers are great for showing students where books are located when helping someone else. If you have a class of students, it can get pretty loud. Try using a wireless doorbell to get their attention. Also, students LOVE to help you!  Have a classroom full of kindergarteners needing to log on to Chromebooks? Ask your fourth and fifth-grade teachers to send some of their students to help. Facing inventory alone? Middle school and high school students are quite capable of scanning books.  

Classroom management tip: If you have regular classes coming into your library, create seating charts. You will likely see every student in your school, which will help you learn names faster and help with classroom management. Want other helpful classroom management assistance? We’ve got you covered:  

• Motivated to Learn: Decreasing Challenging Student Behaviors and Increasing Academic Engagement (Your Guide to Evidence-Based Practices for Effective Classroom Management)
  
  
• The Classroom Behavior Manual: How to Build Relationships with Students, Share Control, and Teach Positive Behaviors
  
  
• Creating Calm Classrooms: Teacher Behavior and Management Practices That Work

So there you have it! This will get you through the first few months of the best job in the world. If you have questions along the way, contact your ITC’s help desk.  

Just remember to breathe!