Much of what I do day to day in my job involves using a combination of experience, common sense, creativity, thrift, efficiency, and flexibility. The application of nous to solve real-world problems on a minimal (or sometimes non-existent) budget in creative and useful ways is one of my great pleasures in life.
Library Relocation
While undergoing building renovations, the Stafford High School Library operated out of half a classroom for five months. In an effort to provide continuous library service, I climbed the formidable stacks of stored boxes of books and materials, and (with the help of the extensive spreadsheet I’d created while we packed) found four boxes of new and popular fiction. Those and magazines on a book truck, and we were in business!
In early January 2008, I simultaneously became the substitute for the Library Media Specialist position and had to train a library assistant while unpacking the entire library into a newly renovated space. I had no help other than student volunteers and part-time special education paraprofessionals. The library was open to patrons from the moment we unpacked the first book on to the shelves and we were fully unpacked within a week.
From mountains of boxes to a new library!
Procedure Manual
A goal, now achieved, for the 2010-2011 school year, was to compile all existing library procedures and workflow processes into one comprehensive and dynamic manual. Using Word 2010, the manual is fully cross-referenced.