Managing Multiple Sites

Survival Guide for the Mobile Librarian

• Routines: Teach students routines so they will know what to expect and even help you keep on track.  Set up your own routines so you will be in the habit of what comes next.  See:  Elementary Library Routines.  

• Routines to Consider

  • Attention Signal

  • Bathroom Procedures

  • Entering and exiting the library

  • Book Check in and Book Check out

  • Taking out and putting away chromebooks

• Batching (What is Batching?) - make a box for a particular activity.  Handle them all at once instead of immediately.  For example, repairs, discards, copies. Set aside a time of day when you will check and respond to e-mails.

• Buy 2 of everything so you don't have to carry things back and forth between two sites.

• digitize - keep everything in your Google Drive so you have access to everything no matter which site you are at.

• Have a digital calendar so you can schedule remotely. See:  Planner, Scheduling

• Keep task lists so you remember what you were working on when you come back the next scheduled day.  See:  Bullet Journal

• plan ahead - keep in mind that if you are alternating weeks or days, your next day is still "tomorrow."  Try to be ready when you leave by making copies or preparing materials for your next scheduled day at that site.

• monthly folder box.  See: Action Plans

• Ask yourself - can a student do this?  If yes, ask for help.  See:  Volunteers

• library club - Having a library club with volunteers to do daily tasks such as facing, shelving, shelf reading, pushing in chairs, picking up trash, etc.  My clubs help me set up and take down Book Fair.  See:  Volunteers

• ASB, Long Beach Scholars, AVID, Cheer, Volunteer Hours. See: Volunteers

• Task lists for everything. See: Action Plans

• Every Minute counts!  See:  5 Minute Task List

• Make an Operations Manual for each site since procedures can be site-based.  See: Operations Manual

Many schools have five minutes passing periods, and this may sometimes be the only break you have in your day.

If you find yourself with 5 minutes, here are some things you can do:

Self Care

• write in your Journal

• eat a snack

• take a bathroom break

• drink some water

• meditate

• put on some lipstick or perfume

• sanitize your hands

Work

• clear your workspace, even if it means putting everything in a drawer, basket, or box

• process a book

• Book Repair

• go to the office

• throw something away

• put away 5 things

• do a brain dump

• respond to 1 email

• trash your junk e-mail

• back up your files

• read a few pages in a book (See Finding Time to Read)