Archived LM_NET Messages for New Librarians

Compiled 06/04/2002 by Melissa Davis,
Links corrected 07/22/2004
Splendora Junior High Library, Splendora, Tx.

Every summer LM_NET receives, from librarians who have just been hired for their first libray job, questions like:
          OK, I've got the Job,  Now what do I do.

Over the years there have been some excellent answers, below is a sampling of what can be found in the LM_NET archives. (http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/). I used these search terms: "new librarian", newbies, and survival. "New librarian" returns more than 600 hits but, I only examined the first 100 since they are ranked by relevance. Survival returns both librarian survival advice and wilderness survival books, but the list is not too long.

You might also want to participate in your state or national library association's 'New Members Roundtable'.

HIT: Advice for new librarians, aka survival strategies     Alice Yucht      05/18/2003
GEN: New school, new librarian survival guide             Alice Yucht       06/03/2002
GEN: New Job, New School: Advice for new school librarians. . .           Alice Yucht           06/19/2001
Ten Graces for New Librarians       GraceAnne DeCandido    05/19/2003
HIT: Time management tips                  Jan Hylen                  07/26/2001
Hit: Survival Tips                           Amy Irwin                 07/09/2001
Listservs for New Librarians         Terrie Hinojosa                05/08/2001
TARGET: Advice for Newbies - archived posts to look at     Tracy Hoffmann       07/24/00   Remember that the links on this page have the 'old' ericir.syr.edu addresses. You will need to search the new archives to locate the new location.
New Librarian Resources               Shonda L Brisco            07/17/2000     The publication Shonda talks about has been revised. The new edition title is:  Power Tools Recharged by Joyce Valenze. ALA, 2004. ISBN: 0-8389-0880-2
HIT: Survival-1-Before you begin         Joy Hendrickson     06/03/1999  [there does not appear to be a "Survival-2" in the LM_NET archive]
HIT: Survival-3-During the 1st year      Joy Hendrickson     06/03/1999
HIT: Survival-4-After the 1st year         Joy Hendrickson    06/03/1999
HIT: Survival-5-Words of Wisdom       Joy Hendrickson      06/031999
HIT: Advice for "newbies"           Roberta J. Ponis     06/30/1997
Beginning Media Specialist Survival Guide     Miriam Boots      06/04/1997
HIT: SURVIVAL GUIDE                         Robyn E Litwack    05/22/1997
HIT> LMC Guidebooks for new librarians    Sue Weiss      08/21/95
While the next 3 do not appear to be relevant to a new librarian, they are an extensive list of what information a new librarian might look for when you get to your new library.
HIT: Retirement To Do #1            Claudia Mahlman            04/01/99
HIT: Retirement To Do #2            Claudia Mahlman            04/011999
HIT: Retirement To Do #3             Claudia Mahlman           04/01/99

And here are a few websites that may be of interest. I located them by searching Google for "new librarian" +school

Y's Guide to New Library/School Job Preparation by Alice Yucht
Information for New and "About to Be" School Library Media Specialists from USC School of Library and Information Science
Support for Librarians from Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
Getting Started section of LISJobs.com's "Library Careers - Advice, Statistics, Salaries, and Articles"
Library Media Specialist Mentor's Guide from Atlanta Public Schools
Management Strategies for Librarians on Gloucester County Librarians Workshop The Best of the Web for Librarians from