So today I got the library, and discovered the computer lab covered in fire extinguisher powder.
This is a first, I have to admit. And out of that frustration, I am starting this blog.
I've been an urban libarian off and on for about nine years now. I was in elementary schools for five years, took a brief "sabbatical" to go to law school for a year, then returned as a high school librarian. This is my fourth year back, third year at Charlotte High School.
The title of the blog comes from one of the first "I don't believe I had to say that" moments I had here at Charlotte. A group of students came rushing in, and one of them jumped up on the table and started dancing.
"Excuse me!" I said. "There is no table dancing in the library!"
The student looked at me in shock, and said, "Oh. Sorry. My bad." He got down off the table, and ran out of the library and down the hall.
My intention with the blog is a combination of stories, thoughts, and trying to work through how best to serve an urban population. To a large degree, we are in trouble as far as graduation rates, needs, and what we can do to improve.
The blog will be a record. Summer is going to be mostly reflective, but this upcoming year is going to involve a lot of change, and it needs to happen quickly. As a district, we are sinking fast, and if we don't make some changes on our own, they will be made for us.
Most of the lab has now been cleaned - just a bit here and there to fix. So back to work. Time to get cracking.
