End Of The Year Madness And Those Moments That Make It All Worthwhile

The end of the school year is crazy for pretty much everyone. In the library, it involves students anxiously finishing and printing final projects (shout out to Jovan for fixing the printer this morning!), more than the average number of students dropping in to work on passes, and hundreds upon hundreds of tiny print overdue and fine notices.

Fortunately, I have some wonderful Library Aides who help me with sorting, highlighting, paper clipping, and delivery. You can see my Period 2 students (see above) working on piles of notices. Although not shown in that photo, there are shelves of even more behind them on carts (see right).

As an environmentally concerned person, it bothers me print so much. Unfortunately, the current library/textbook system is not configured to send email notices, and besides, there is still much room for educating students about use of their District Google Apps for Education Gmail accounts (students often don't know that they have access to this email account or simply never check it). I am also open to thinking about ways to alter circulation policies to be more user-friendly and welcome conversation about this with others!

In the meantime, I try to minimize printing by shrinking the notices to fit four per page. And, while I hate to impose upon teachers to distribute notices during class time, I appreciate your kind willingness to help - you are the best!

Now for the "worthwhile" part. Amid the flurry of sending out notices, clearing fines, repairing books, unjamming the printer, cleaning gum off the carpet, and more...a student quickly swept into the library this morning to turn in a late book. With a smile on her face, she handed me Invisible Man and burst out with heartfelt enthusiasm, "This book changes you!" Before I could even reply, she had disappeared in a flash.

The student was gone, but her words stuck with me. With her words fresh in my mind, I imagine the possibility that every notice represents, the chance that there may be yet other titles that have influenced students in similarly meaningful ways. Whether connecting over a book, an online journal article, a blog entry, a podcast episode, or a personal conversation - it is a privilege to be part of our students' journeys. And, as often as they may change in our presence, I find yet again that they change me.