I understand how difficult hiring can be. How do you know for certain that you will choose the right person with the right skills, experience, and personality to get the job you need done, and done well? With that thought in mind, I spent some time this evening challenging myself to create a list of 50 reasons why I would be a great choice for a school librarian opening. I suppose I could have set that number higher - or lower - but 50 seemed like a good target number. Obviously these are all biased since I am the one who created the list, but you can always check out my LinkedIn profile for things my friends and colleagues say about me. My friends tend to be brutally honest. Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's painful; but it has always led to personal growth.
1. I keep up with all new and upcoming literature written for K-12.
2. I am an active galley reviewer for more almost a dozen publishers.
3. I am actively involved in the American Library Association - I've served on multiple virtual committees for YALSA, the young adult division, since graduating from Pitt with my MLIS.
4. I am tech savvy - in addition to blogging, I use all Google apps for education, am active on Twitter, and love to tinker with tech tools.
5. I have a degree in English in addition to an MLIS and am therefore adept at both "the cannon" and new literature.
6. I have experience working with children in an educational setting from Pre-K through grade 12.
7. I am infinitely patient with decades of training from my own children, volunteer work in schools, substitute teaching, and babysitting.
8. I have spent a considerable amount of time working in a wide range of special education settings.
9. I have decades of experience in collaborative work settings both business and educational.
10. In addition to my education experience, I have experience in other work settings.
11. I am comfortable with both the tried and true and constant change.
12. I am mature. Not old, mature.
13. I am able to forward think.
14. I respond well to criticism. (Understanding that no one is perfect, I am able to make adjustments when necessary.)
15. I have a sense of humor. Ask my kids.
16. I am always professional. Always.
17. If I don't have the answer you need, I will figure out how to get it for you.
18. I am loyal.
19. I am honest.
20. I am always concerned with student impact - they are the reason we teach.
21. I am a team player.
22. I consider other perspectives.
23. I am always looking for new things to learn. Since completing my MLIS, I've taken multiple courses and attended both state and national library conferences. At my expense.
24. I always look for ways to improve how I am doing things. Even the best lessons and programs can become even better.
25. I speak multiple languages and understand what it is like to struggle with learning a new language.
26. I have lived in other cultures and have an experience-based understanding of the words "diversity" and "multiculturalism".
27. I have a solid understanding of the Common Core and how it relates to both curriculum and the school library. My lesson plans have always been linked to existing and evolving cross-curriculum standards.
28. I have had extensive training in collection assessment and evaluation.
29. I am equally comfortable with digital collection development as the development of collections using more traditional media.
30. I am familiar with a multitude of high-quality vendors who serve school libraries.
31. I have experience managing staff.
32. I have experience coordinating volunteers.
33. I have experience creating budgets.
34. I have experience managing budgets.
35. I am familiar with outside funding sources for school libraries.
36. I am comfortable and experienced with fundraising.
37. I have my own personal, and very extensive, library of books appropriate for K12 and teacher development.
38. I am well-versed in a wide array of subjects including science, art, literature, business, music, history, politics, and geography.
39. I have experience working for high tech companies filled with engineers.
40. I have experience answering a wide variety of reference questions.
41. I am always willing to learn something new.
42. I have experience in multiple assessment techniques from usage statistics to developing and conducting surveys.
43. I am experienced in using a multitude of communication tools from newsletters to wikis to blogs.
44. I am comfortable with social media...and use it responsibly.
45. I can effectively manage almost any classroom situation without resorting to yelling.
46. I am polite.
47. I have exemplary customer service skills.
48. I am dedicated.
49. I am enthusiastic.
50. I am passionate.
