One Week Down

Now that I've finished the first full week of school, people have been asking me how it's been.  I only have one response:

EXHAUSTING.

Last week I was so tired I wanted to cry, except crying requires energy.  I mostly sat on my couch in a stupor upon coming home from work each day and watched marathons of House Hunters.

It's so hard to adequately describe my first week as a high school librarian.  The "job" isn't all that different.  I'm still booking classes in the library, planning book talks, troubleshooting iPads, etc.  But any time you move to a new campus, there's so much new "stuff" to learn.  I think my standard answer to all the questions was, "Ummm.... I don't know.  But I'll find out."  God bless my fabulous library assistants.  They are true pros who helped keep things sailing as I tried to keep my head above water.

Today, as I began week 2, I started to feel more at home.  My "To Do" list is starting to seem manageable.  I've met lots of teachers and even remember a few of their names!  Win!

Mostly, I've loved the kids.  I had many classes come through the library the first week for a brief orientation, and I almost had to laugh at the stark difference between middle school and high school.

Here's how library orientation used to go in middle school:

"Everyone take a seat.  It doesn't matter what seat.  Just get one.  Get one now or I will assign you one.  I don't care if you don't like that person.  SIT DOWN NOW.  Stop talking.  I will not talk over you.  (Waits....)"

Here's library orientation in high school:

(Students enter library and sit down.)  "Hello!  I'm Ms. Henson, your new librarian.  Welcome to the library!  If you'll please get out your iPad or phone..."

It was amazing.  They just... listened.

I was nervous that I wouldn't know high school books as well as I know middle grade books. However, as students began checking out books for the first time, I realized that most of them have read NOTHING.  I was very quickly rattling off book suggestions left and right.  Luckily I read lots of book reviews on my own time, so even if I haven't personally read a YA title, I'm at least familiar with its basic premise.  A teacher came to my office last week and asked if I ever did book talks.  Seriously?  That's my favorite thing!  What librarian doesn't do book talks?  Tomorrow I'll be presenting "Ms. Henson's Top Ten."  Can't wait!

Hopefully soon things will calm down and I'll get into a groove.  I have a huge cart of new books to process in my office, and I'm dying to steal some of them to read.  But for tonight, I'm just thankful I had the energy for this blog post.  Cheers to Week One in the bag!