staying sane: crown control in a high school library
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Staying Sane: managing the crowd in a high school library at breaktimesTRANSCRIPT
Staying Sane
Overview
A three pronged attack:
1. Staff
2. Librarians
3. Library Prefects
A work in progress
•It is largely about relationships
•It is not perfect but it works pretty well
Staff: Our roleBeing out there
• Visible presence on the floor
Staff: Our roleBeing out there
• Meet and greet
• Cheerful, but clearly directive: “Grab a book and find somewhere to sit, thanks.”
Our role: Student staff
• Back up and support prefects and librarians
• They are trained but not paid
• We take overall responsibility (and the flack)
Our role: Other staff
• Encourage other staff to drop by
• Elevator moments
Our role: The principal
• Having the principal on board is key
• Aware of, advocates for and is in touch with what is happening in the library
Student Staff: Head student librarian
• Recruited at the end of the previous year
• On going training of student librarians
• Provides cover and does a duty
• Meets library staff once a week
• Member of Library Committee
Student staff:Student librarians
• Recruited at the beginning of the year
• Training sessions: library staff with head and senior student librarians
Student staff:Student librarians
• Cover desk, sorting and shelving, stationery
• Having efficient student librarians allows us to be away from the desk and the shelving during break times
Student Staff: Leadership
• Not ‘the chosen one’
• From within
• Voluntary
• Collective
• Imperfect
Student staff: Prefects
• Leadership: a prefect position
• High expectations and flexibility
• Recruited
Student staff: Prefects
• Mentored step by step
• Fourth tier okay
Student staff: Head library prefect
• Member of Student Council recruited end of previous year
• Speaks at assemblies
• Assists with training and rosters
• Organises cover
• Meets library staff once a week
• Member of library committee
Student staff: Prefect PR training: What to do/say• Physical demeanor:
Walk the talk- act the part, believe it, and so will they
• Voice: simple definite, Don’t Engage: “You know the rules.”, Cracked Record, “Are you refusing to obey my instructions?”
Student staff: Prefect PR training: What to do/say
• Yellow card/red card
• Refer to staff for guaranteed back up
Student Staff: Prefect Duty
• When on duty the prefects have the same authority as the staff
• Sign in, collect cards, lanyard, coffee, eat an drink on duty, sign out summary
Student Staff: Prefect Duty
• Cover two circuits as individuals or in pairs
• May be assigned to meet and greet
• Oversee computer use
Student Staff: Prefect Event management
• Each team runs an event once or twice a year
Student Staff: Prefect Event management
• Advertising is key
Student Staff: Prefect Event management
Student Staff: Prefect Event management
• Training includes organisation...
Student Staff: Prefect
...and time management
•Simple step by step process followed
•Excellent life skill
Prefect Event management
• All are mentored through the process
• Doesn’t come naturally to everyone
Prefect Event management
• Ties in with library themes and displays
• Event can be a hands on lunchtime activity or one that lasts over a few days
Student staff: Perks• They do a great job, make it
possible for us to stay sane
• Prefect perks
• Librarian perks
• Some students are both and get two lots of perks
• Eligible for cultural ‘blue’, testimonial, recommendation for leadership roles
Definitely a work in progress
Always open to trying something new if it will help
keep us sane
Verity Rowsell-Starkey Jeanette Cornege-Dill