I feel I was granted a unique opportunity with my service learning project.  I was able to experience multiple facets of the field.  My service learning project allowed me to see how high schools, elementary schools, early learning centers (pre-k), and public libraries function.

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My experience allowed me to see firsthand many of the topics covered in my courses and subjects not covered, at least not yet. I was shown how the yearly budget is created, how collection development is determined, and procedures for placing orders using IAESC Procurement, within the school system.

I saw the different responsibilities librarians have, other than just materials. For example, at the library, they are often called to be a substitute teacher.  Ms. Lounges often has classes coming into her library, since she is unable to leave, and submit tests or oversee completion of assignments.   I have sat in on meetings she has with other committee member from the school system planning events for the school.

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At the high school, I also checked books in and out.  I learned how to remove books from the system to be used by a journalism instructor in a class project.  I was shown how to prepare shipments of books, so they are shelf ready.  I re-shelved books and helped reorganize the media center.

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I spent a session at Liberty Elementary School, where I was able to observe and assist a class by checking in books and checking out the student’s new selection.  I also assisted in the distribution of a test. This involvement allowed me to see how they address special needs students. I enjoyed watching the children use the computer to search for books based on subjects they wanted to read.  The librarian considered that class to be one of her rowdier classes, so I was able to view how she implemented a time out to the class.

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At the George Earle Early Learning Center, I assisted with Story Hour with a group of kindergarteners.  At this school, story time is a huge production.  The theme for the day was campfire story time, which they called Smory Time. We raised a tent outside, in a grassy field, and put carpet squares down in a semicircle with an inflatable fire in the middle.  The librarians chair was placed at the entrance of the tent.  We placed a basket of felt animal masks for the children to wear during the reading.  The event began with a couple of campfire songs played by the librarian on her guitar, followed by a track from Mindful Moments, which is a meditation disc for children.  Then the masks were passed out, and story time began.  After the book reading, a snack was handed out to the children.  Since the school was also hosting a book fair, their younger siblings were also invited to school. 

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I was able to observe some of the work involved in hosting a book fair at the school. The children were able to create Wish Lists of the items for sale at the book fair.  They were happy to have my assistance to clean up, after a visit from a kindergarten class. 

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My service-learning project also extended to the public library.  It so happens that Alice Hunt-Lounges is on the board for the Lake County Library.  She was able to get me several hours at two of the county libraries, Lake Station Public Library and Hobart Public Library.  Although, they are no more than fifteen minutes apart, their community needs are different.  The Lake Station branch deals with lower income families.  Most of their work beyond material lending is helping with resumes, filling out application for employment, helping them find government information, and basic use of technology.  For the children, they provide many hands on activities for them, through games, crafts, and story time.  They try to have a take home craft available for kids.  Their children’s’ area is set up differently too.  Their books are separated by themes, such as horses, vehicles, dinosaurs, or princesses for example, since children are often fixated with certain subjects.  Each theme has a color-coded label. 

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The Hobart Public library offer majority of their help to students doing research for school.  The library also collaborates with the School City of Hobart to ensure they have materials needed to assist the students.  The librarian at this branch used to work for a stand-alone Illinois library.  I was able to learn how different libraries operate.  She explained how the Indiana library system in Lake County is different in so many ways.  The thing that she thought was the biggest difference, in Illinois, is everyone who headed a department had a master’s degree.  In Indiana, only one person in the branch may have one.  Also, once an LTA attains a master’s they are no longer able to work in the children’s department.

The branch heads from both public libraries were quick to point out that their positions are not just about library work.  Their position, at least in Lake County, Indiana requires a jack-of-all-trades experience.  Housekeeping leaves at 11 a.m., so if a toilet becomes clogged, they are the ones expected to fix it.

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One thing the school system and public libraries have in common is they do not do repairs.  They may on occasion, put a new book jacket cover on a book. In the case of children’s books put some clear tape on the spine.  Otherwise, they do not repair books.  If a book becomes damaged, they will either replace it or weed it.  If a book is important to the collection, and it cannot be replaced the public library will send it to the main branch who will then send it out to a vendor for repair.  The school system sends it to the superintended and she will send it out to a vendor for repair.  

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My greatest challenge was finding a place to host me.  The semester was half way over before I my daughter’s school system agreed to host me.  My greatest accomplishment was the networking opportunities this created for me.  I would love to work with these community partners in the future.  Ms. Hunt-Lounges has encouraged me to apply for a position for the library.  If I do, she told me to contact her for a reference.