Doing the Job without the Job Doing You In

A library media specialist already knows from library school some things that he/she should do, namely collaborate with teachers to integrate information skills instruction with classroom content, encourage reading, teach wise use of technology, and advocate for the library media center program. Maybe what isn't talked about as much is what a library media specialist should not do. This article discusses eight things library media specialists could do to lose friends and decrease influence: (1) Complain about working hard; (2) Sit in a dark and empty library media center; (3) Pretend that the school year starts two weeks later than it does for everyone else; (4) Close the library media center at the times when everyone can use it; (5) Care more about the books than about kids reading; (6) Impose rules to limit the access of all, rather than work to change the behavior of a few; (7) Say no first; and (8) Allow non-instructional use of library media center without complaint. Four types of access are also discussed.