Having been all those, plus an academic library circulation manager at a
college, I would say - it depends. Do you enjoy working with youngsters,
can you keep your cool when challenged by 13 yr olds, can you handle the
mood swings of teenage girls and boys? Are you good at discipline - older
ones need this, but you have to be consistent and able to handle challenges.
Do you work better with adults.
How assertive can you be? Are you the type who is quiet and calming - or
can you laugh at outrageous jokes and still keep order? All these
personality things will affect your ability to do your job.
Then you can decide what job challenges you are comfortable with: Do you
like to read aloud and can you be creative; do you like more structure to
your day or can you go with the flow; are you willing to put in extra time
or do you prefer set hours to your day?
Personally, I loved ( and now miss) being with the young ones- reading story
getting all worked up over the story and illustrations, being creative in
getting them started with reading and libraries. I also enjoyed the middle:
watching them get the hang of doing research, and enjoying their
enthusiasms. Teenagers are another story and I am glad I have settled here
at an all-boys school as mood swings in boys isn't as "dramatic" as in
girls. But I still have the challenge of extremely bright students who love
to see if they can get the upper hand or will try to circumvent rules and
procedures if they can. They also can be a discipline challenge so I am
glad the Administration here is extremely supportive. In the college, I
had set hours, set duties and it was completely different. There, it was
more keeping everything in order and directing. These student knew what they
wanted, they just needed to be told where in the building it was - or some
suggestions on where to start.
I am glad I was able to be at all these levels, and now as I am getting near
retirement, glad I am where I am. I don't think I have the energy for a
full-time job with the youngest groups, but I hope to do some volunteering
with them when I do retire.
Hope this answers your question...Thank goodness we are not all alike and
that there is room for so many different personalities and abilities in our
profession.
Toni Koontz
Librarian
St.Charles Preparatory School
Columbus,Ohio
akoontz@cdeducation.org
Carpe Diem
----- Original Message -----
From: "Thompson, Renee" <RThompson@BROWNEACADEMY.ORG>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 9:41 AM
Subject: TARGET: Which is better?
>
>
> Which is better: being an Elementary, Middle, or High School librarian?
> Why?
>
>
>
> TIA!
>
> Renee
>
>
>
> J. Renee Thompson
>
> School Librarian
>
> Browne Academy
>
> "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who
> can't read them." - Mark Twain
>
>
>
>
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