What I’m up to
I wrote an entire post a couple of weeks ago and just never posted it. So my only goal today is to actually post this thing! This will be a quick one.
We are well into our new school year. This year I am in the library roughly 75% of the time; I am also teaching two other classes (AP Lit and an elective).
I am living the dream.
What I’m reading
The Poisonwood Bible, which I assigned as summer reading this year (it was my first time not assigning All the Light We Cannot See). I read TPB years and years ago and was nervous to assign it (it is NOT an easy book), but it was even better than I remembered.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. I feel so luck I’ve gotten to read books by two favorite authors back-to-back. I will read anything these two authors write. Tom Lake has a frame story of three daughters pressing their mom for details about the summer the mom spent with man before he became a movie star. It’s good, but if you haven’t read Patchett, I’d recommend starting with Bel Canto or The Dutch House.
I just started Nora Goes Off-Script by by Annabel Monaghan. I can’t remember why I put this on hold, but it’s charming so far. Light.
Oh! And I read A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga for the library. It’s a middle grade book about a Mars rover, kind of like a kid’s Andy Weir. So good. highly recommend.
What I’m thinking about
I love working in the library. It is the best job. Here are some things I love:
Everyone LOVES being in the library, I get to spend all day with people excited to be there.
I love nothing more than buying books, and I get to do it without spending my own money. :)
It’s my job to recommend books to people. AHH.
The kids are so fun.
I still get to work with teachers.
I see SO many kids every day.
While part of the job is scheduled (I teach elementary library classes), so much of the job is project-based. I love thinking of new ideas and figuring out how to implement them. Things I’m working on: a way to solicit and display student recommendations on actual books (kind of like “staff recommendation” shelves in libraries), partnerships with high school clubs, an easier system for parents to borrow books, potential classroom collabs, major weeding of outdated and falling-apart books… the list goes on (and on and on).
What I’m learning
I finished my first semester of my MLIS/M.Ed program and just started my second semester. I think I’m going to love this semester’s classes: one on school library management, and one on teaching reading.
Being a student has for sure influenced how I teach. More on this later.
What I’m digging
I bought an Owala bottle and I love it. It’s the perfect complement to my giant Stanley (which now lives at school). It is so pleasant to drink from, even in weird positions (like lying in bed).
And most of all… my new nephew. Welcome to the world, HLS.
What I’ve saved
Here’s what I’ve assigned so far in my Contemp. Lit elective: Charles Yu’s “Standard Loneliness Package,” Ted Chiang’s “The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling,” and this article about a man who finds out his new apartment was the scene of a murder.
This article rings true but also makes me feel really terrible. (NYT)
Ok. Not even going to reread this. Sending!
Until next time,
Kate
Glad that you are enjoying your new responsibility! ❤️