Monthly Archives: August 2015

Biographically speaking…

Posted on August 12, 2015 by bakrawiec

As mentioned in the prior post, every librarian has a unique vision for developing the collection under his or her stewardship. In my case, when I started in the library from which I am retiring, I appraised the collection, and … Continue reading →

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morning after: lame duck librarian

Posted on August 11, 2015 by bakrawiec

Assuming that the Board appointed my replacement last night, I’m even more officially a lame duck librarian this morning. Meanwhile, until my work account ends on August 31st, I continue receiving email notifications concerning boxes upon boxes of new books … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Children, Education, Employment, Librarian, LIbrarians, Library, Library Media Specialist, Retirement, School, Seniors, Teachers, Teaching, Transitions | Leave a comment

Replaced…will (should???) anything remain?

Posted on August 10, 2015 by bakrawiec

Retirement is getting “realer” and “realer.” July 13th, the Board of Education accepted and approved my resignation as an elementary library media specialist for retirement purposes. Tonight, just about one month later, they are expected to approve the hiring of … Continue reading →

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unfortunately…forced into leaving teaching

Posted on August 9, 2015 by bakrawiec

In an earlier post, I compared “social media” constraints at the end of my teaching career with “social” (public drinking) constraints at its start. In that post, I wondered if the anti-public drinking constraint was aimed particularly at women. …Would … Continue reading →

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Part 1: Family Library–How It Happened

Posted on August 8, 2015 by bakrawiec

Being asked to edit a colleague’s assignment turned out to be a spectacular personal and professional bonus! From the moment I first read in my colleague’s library visitation report that the media specialist whose library she formally observed had invited … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Children, Education, Families, Family, Kidlit, LIbrarians, Library, Library Media Specialist, Parents, Reading, School | 2 Comments

Part 2: Family Library–Gratifying Work in Progress

Posted on August 8, 2015 by bakrawiec

In general, here’s how our Family Library worked. Usually after school (rather than before), when there was more browsing time, parents or grandparents would come to the library with (though sometimes without) their children. I would create a family account … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Children, Education, Families, Family, Kidlit, LIbrarians, Library, Library Media Specialist, Parents, Reading, School, Students, Teachers, Teaching | 2 Comments

Part 3: Family Library–Payoff

Posted on August 8, 2015 by bakrawiec

There are many things I am proud to have done professionally; there are many things I will miss about being an educator. High on the list of those things is the Family Library experience I was privileged to facilitate, which … Continue reading →

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to drink or not to drink in public…

Posted on August 7, 2015 by bakrawiec

In a recent post, I alluded to occupational constraints regarding the personal use of social media, put in place in what has turned out to be my last teaching job. Reminds me that at the other end of my teaching … Continue reading →

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25 years after the head-on crash, I’m headed in a new direction

Posted on August 6, 2015 by bakrawiec

It was twenty-five years ago this morning that a routine drive to work on a rainy Monday morning ended up with a totaled car and physical injuries, resulting from a head-on crash with a pick-up truck on a major highway. … Continue reading →

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something old; something new…not involving weddings

Posted on August 5, 2015 by bakrawiec

Of all the additional expenses I imagined I might have in retirement, here’s one I underestimated. Fortunately, on the one hand, it’s a relatively low cost item. And totally discretionary. On the other hand, the cumulative cost of how many … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Employment, Retirement, School, Students, Teaching, Transitions, Work, Writing | 2 Comments