Library Lifesavers

This book offers a survival guide for media specialists who want to THRIVE—not just SURVIVE—in their busy media centers.Librarians jobs are getting harder and harder, yet few books exist solely to help them identify and deal with stress. Library Lifesavers: A Survival Guide for Stressed Out Librarians fills that gap. This unique self-help book offers today’s multitasking media specialists the ready-to-use strategies—Lifesaver Tools—they need to find balance and stay afloat. Identical twins Pamela and Tamora Bacon organized their book around the THRIVE theme, presenting six basic tenets:T - Take ActionH - Hurry No MoreR - Read & Regain ControlI - Inspire Yourself & OthersV - Vision ... Past, Present & FutureE - Exercise Your Mind & BodyEach section begins with a real-life question, followed by practical advice and hands-on activities to help librarians "renew" themselves professionally and personally. Whether you read the chapters sequentially or randomly , this unique volume may be the difference between sinking and enjoying the ride.The "Counselor's Corner" offers helpful, practical advice from a licensed school counselorMore than 60 ready-to-use reproducibles are accompanied by explanatory narrative to help librarians and teachers (Grades K-12) "renew" themselves and inspire others along the wayA complete bibliography including all resources referenced throughout the textAn appendix offering dozens of helpful Internet links

"Faced with demands for better organization and time-saving strategies, the Self-Help Sisters have come to the rescue with their survival guide. Each of the sections begins with a real-life question followed by a quick personal assessment and hands-on activities. Each section also offers helpful, practical advice from a licensed school counselor. The sections on controlling e-mail and student discipline were particularly illuminating." - Library Media Connection, "A witty self-help book for librarians struggling to maintain sanity and a stress-free work atmosphere. The authors present ready-to-use strategies to help librarians find balance and manage their time better. Often the two sisters give different, but equally useful advice as one twin comes from a school principal background, while the other has been a media specialist and reading coordinator. Each of the six sections includes a real-life question, practical solutions, and hands-on activities, including reproducible documents called lifesaver tools. The authors are concerned with the whole librarian: body, mind, and spirit as evident by their encouraging of journaling, reflecting, and exercising (even dancing!) as stress-reducing activities." - School Library Journal

Pamela S. Bacon, MEd, is a reading coordinator at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, IN, and a freelance writer. Tamora K. Bacon is the literacy coordinator for Greencastle School Corporation in Greencastle, IN.