Original Post:
Dear LM-Netters,
I've been searching the archives for descriptions of duties for student
library aides, and I've found many great suggestions, but mostly they apply
to elementary school student aides. I work in a high school and we're
having trouble recruiting study hall students to help in the library. We'd
like to find a way to make the job more attractive, but cannot offer class
credit. And while many of the duties for elementary school do apply to high
school aides, I wondered if anyone was having particular succes with their
high school student helpers that they could share. I'm new to LM_Net and
almost finished with my degree to become a librarian. This particular
request is part of my internship experience. Thanks for any help you can
provide!
Responses:
Our high school library assistants do receive one elective credit. They
also have one hour with no homework. If they get a fine on an overdue
library book, they don't pay it. I bring in donuts, cookies, small
chocolates, and mints for them. They do get study time between shelving and
checking out books. They have the privilege of helping other students and
learning the library which is important if they are going to college.
**
I am a K-12 librarian so I deal with all grades. However, my student aides
are all high school kids even though they help with the elementary classes.
I do my own rewards for their help. I'm very aware they get no pay or
credit. I do tell them they can put aide down as volunteer service, though.
It certainly is. No one makes them do it. I also nominate them for
student of the month. That gets them a free pass to our "R&R" program which
is an afternoon away from the classroom. It stands for Reward and
Recognition. It is NOT a grades program, but rather an improved effort
program. Very high grades get you in, but, often, my aides are not high
achievers. I also give them a baggie of candy on Halloween, Valentine's
Day, and Easter. At the end of the semester I "feed" them. I bring in pop
and snacks which they may have in the library. I always bring enough pop
for them to have some for lunch also. They don't have to take the pass or
sign out when they go to the restroom or their locker. I don't know how
many of these would work for you, but I think you get the idea. They are a
big help, and I try to say thank you in a small way.
***
I'm new to my district, but apparently in previous years we budgeted for
student helpers -- they got paid minimum wage, and each student ended up
making approximately $30.00 a month. This year, no money for that, soo....
we ended up using National Honor Society students as volunteers. They are
required to perform a certain amount of volunteer service, so working in the
library once a week takes care of that.
As far as what we have them do, it's mostly shelving books (boring!),
straightening up the lounge area, processing magazines, and whatever random
jobs I can think of.
***
Our high school actually grades the student aides on their reshelving and
straightening quality within a set number of shelves in the Dewey or in
Fiction or Biography or Reference or Story Collection. Honestly, it depends
on how many student assistants we have per semester and per the six hour
class period day. But we also have some old shelf cards with which we test
the incoming assistant on the Dewey, having given each student assistant
time to review the cards and an instruction sheet on the Dewey system. We
then assign the shelves by semester to the students who are most adept. The
alphabetical shelves as in Fiction, Biography, and Story Collection are the
ones assigned to the less capable students.
We also grade on the work ethic of the students, as in that they come into
the library and sign in, put their own books and back pack in a designated
area and then immediate check their shelving assignments and return books to
the shelves that are theirs. Then they are to help us with any physical
errands and routine chores that are needed, including delivery of items
within the campus, etc. If they are needed to help with incoming classes,
we expect their help without idle visitation. Should we have nothing else
for them to do while they are in for their class period, we allow them to
study. They can also appeal for extra study time if they have that need.
Overall, at the high school level, we have had great student assistants and
little to no problems. Of course, we work closely with our school
counselors in selecting these candidates.
***
I recruit heavily all year to get the best and brightest kids as my aides.
I have thirteen, and I could never make it happen without them! This year
my biggest goal was to get one to help me update my awful webpage, and we've
gotten started just this week. Each period's aide(s) has a list of regular
jobs, and I add to that as things come up. For example, today one hour is
helping me beautify the Hispanic Heritage Month, another period is pulling a
few books for a class in for research, another is helping me create a
Jeopardy PowerPoint for a freshman orientation, etc.
***
Our first year here, we had just a couple of kids asked. The second semester
of the previous school year, we had six students helping out (almost one a
period - we are on seven period). This year, we have four. The students
ask because they perceive the library as a "cool" or inviting place to be.
Also, honestly, I'm sure some just want to get out of study hall.
Anyway, we tell any student interested that they will be working in the
library. IF there is time after they do their duties, they can work on
homework. We also have policies about behavior so if a student has real
behavior issues, we do not accept him/her.
As for duties, we have students:
get mail
process magazines
assist in processing books
shelf read
shelve books
update the school calendar (on the webpage - I am the manager of the
front page of the school website)
make signs
change posters
straighten videos
check our links for "broken" links
Sometimes we have special projects like check for books that need
weeding and/or fixing. We also use our student helpers as part of our
LAG (Library Advisory Group) committee and as sounding boards for
ordering new materials.
***
We have just started to have library aides in our library in the past 2
years and it has been very successful. The Students Aides can get .25
elective credits for a semester. They are not graded, it is just a
pass/fail grade. Our TA's do the majority of the shelving and work on book
displays for us. We have also had them work on extended projects in an area
in the library they are interested in. Last year I had a TA who was a huge
fantasy fan. She worked on checking our fantasy fiction series books for
missing books in a series. She also needed to alert us to new books in a
series which were being published. I subscribed her to a fantasy Listserv
and she loved it! This year she is back again and brought a friend with a
sci fi love of reading.
***
In this school, we give credit for it as an office aide and only seniors can
be one. However, we have one high functioning Autistic student who is also
doing this. At my previous school, no credit was given.
Duties are completely manning the circulation and shelving of books,
laminating things, running errands, taking things to teachers, checking
mail, etc. They get a badge to wear, and we tell them that it's their pass
to be in the hallways when we send them on an errand.
Perks they enjoy are no library fines on books, free copies for homework
purposes from our copiers that charge .10, etc.
***
I have a high school aide every period, and I couldn't do without them. I
don't have a paraprofessional. It is just me and the high school aides.
The only perks I can think of that my aides enjoy are unlimited printing
priviledges and no library fines. Both are presented to them as just part
of the job--not as incentives. One thing I do to try to keep the job
reasonable and not a chore is each aide shelves only one cart row of books
per class. No one has to slog through a whole cart of returned books. One
shelf carefully shelved per aide keeps our two carts reasonably available.
They get to "manage" the checkout counter, which is a power position for
some kids. I make a big deal about my aides are the most responsible, most
trustworthy students in the school because of their dealing with so many
resources and information. Not everyone can be trusted to be responsible
with so much. Since you're new, give it time. Just get one kid and make
the job a benefit to him or her and you, and others will follow. You could
also point out that there is plenty of study time in the library between
responsibilities.
***
In my high school media center we have Teacher's Assistants (which is a
class) and student volunteers (who are earning hours for scholarships,
etc.). There jobs are numerous. Below is a list of things I can think of
right now:
* Check books in and out
* Shelf books
* Assist students with copying, computers, etc. (these would be more
experienced students)
* Run passes
* Help with displays
* Monitor the sign in desk
* Run errands
Hope this is helpful.
***
This likely doesn't help with exactly what you're looking for...and I am at
an elementary school... but I think this would match the interests of some
students at any level. Those who return to
my library most often know it best. At elementary, there are always
questions flying at me a mile a minute... and it's rather wonderful to have
some of the kids who are there because they
just love the place pipe up "I know where that is!" and help kids who are
less adept at finding things locate them. The same would work for HS if you
had ANY time to train them
in locating internet resources. There are so many kids out there who just
don't know how to look WELL, and having kids who can show them what to do
one on one would likely work better. You
will never have the time to show them all (or perhaps their undivided
attention)... having kids who know (for example) how to search the local
public library catalog when you don't have a book, or
other obvious online resources... might be helpful. If the kids are willing
to learn it all (likely learn it the way you wish every kid would learn to
use all of your resources), they will help
spread better techniques. And if the job involves doing stuff on computers,
they will perhaps find it more attractive, too... ;)
Wendy Edelman, English Teacher
English Department Chairperson
Atlee High School
Mechanicsville, VA 23111
wedelman@hcps.us
A chapter a day keeps the mind at play!
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