Once upon a time, I was the luckiest first-year librarian ever. I had been a math teacher for years until my wife, who had already moved from the classroom to the library, convinced me of the wonders of Libraryland. For my first year in a library, I had an excellent librarian at home to talk me through all the wins, losses, frustrations, and conundrums that arose. I had the best first-year support imaginable! Everyone deserves a wife like mine.

I am now in year nine as a school librarian. I have served in two different schools in two different districts under four different principals with vast differences in leadership styles and visions for the library. I have also had the privilege to work alongside some truly remarkable librarians and with some absolutely amazing students. Here are 10 tips I have learned from all of these invaluable resources that can help you keep your sanity this school year, whether it is your first or your ninety-ninth.

  1. Find YOUR way to library. I once told a principal there are as many ways to library as there are librarians. Every one of us is unique, with different priorities, passions, and talents. Really think about what makes you excited to be a librarian and why. Once you have a vision for the kind of library to create with your particular magic, then you can start making it a reality.
  2. Be a listener and learner first. When you start at a new library, you have SO MUCH to learn about the community, space, collection, and more, but the same is true even when you are returning to the same library. Every year, there are new staff, students, tech, curricula…the list goes on. Take the time to learn and to build relationships in as many directions as possible. Connect with as many different content teachers, students, admin, and community partners as you can. Your future self will thank you.
  3. Librarianship is a marathon, not a sprint. I tend to want things to change in a blink, but being a librarian is playing the long game of education. We interact with students for more years than almost any other adult at school and work with systems that will outlast us. Slow down, make small changes, and watch how they accumulate.
  4. Keep your messaging simple. Plan for getting the word out to the staff, students, admin, families, etc. about all the awesomeness in the library, but keep your messages as simple as possible. There are plenty of adorable templates out there to make your advocacy gimmicky (looking at you, “library menu” templates with appetizers and entrees), but don’t let cutesy overshadow your core message. Keep your advocacy to the point for maximum impact.
  5. Comparison is your enemy. Other librarians are doing amazing things! Be inspired, but resist comparing yourself. They are not in your library, and you are not in theirs. Chasing other people’s highlight reels is one of the fastest routes to burnout. Do the best job you can for your community, and that’s all you need. 
  6. Collect your resources. There are so many out there! As you go about your life and work, you come across tools, people, books, and sources that you know will be crucial…later. Where do you store these so that you can locate and use them when that time comes? This could be a digital folder, a notes app, pictures and screenshots, or whatever works for you. Have a plan so that you don’t kick yourself later.
  7. Trust your gut. No one knows your library, school, and community better than you. Even if another librarian says you HAVE to try something in your library because it worked so well in theirs, remember that you are the expert of your space. Do a gut check before simply adopting others’ recommendations to make sure they are right for your community.
  8. No is not a dirty word. Setting boundaries for yourself and your library program is an act of protection and love. Of course, sometimes no is not an option, but when possible, set boundaries that allow both you and your library to serve at your best. You shouldn’t have to be a doormat.
  9. Keep your priorities straight. It can be so easy to be caught up in the competing tasks of a bustling library and forget that the students and their needs are the most important. Make sure that students and their experiences in your library stay front and center in your mind and planning; the rest is a bonus.
  10.  Be gentle to yourself. Your library will never be “finished;” there will always be collections to be expanded, experiences to be improved, and programs to try. It is a work in progress. Try new things and experiment, knowing that failure is always an option, and when something doesn’t go like you’d hoped, give yourself a hug and try something different next time.

May this school year give you plentiful moments of joy, growth, and success! However, when it decides to give you lemons instead, I hope that you lean on our librarian community like I learned my very first year. As I was leaving home on my very first librarian day, my wife gave me my favorite piece of advice: take a picture—you only get one first day. So on your first day this year, I hope you take a picture and pause a moment to enjoy the opportunity of a new year.

Which of these tips resonated with you? What is your top reminder to share with new and veteran librarians?