We’re starting to see lots of YA book trailers, but not many for elementary. So when I saw this one on the Kid’s Lit blog for Michael Hall’s My Heart is Like a Zoo, I got excited!
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, take a look at how many animals Hall creates from hearts.
You know you want to see it …. here.
(BTW - Is the binding on these hardcovers remarkable or what? I haven’t had to tape in a single loose page despite ravenous circulation.)
Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the link.
Here in the Detroit area, we get the privilege of getting both American and Canadian TV. So we get to see both versions of the reality TV show in which entrepreneurs seek financing from a team of venture capitalists. The U.S. version, Shark Tank, has many of the same investors as the Maple Leafs’ Dragons’ Den.
In both cases, entrepreneurs go in and make a pitch for how much money they want, what product(s) they have, and how much of their company they’re willing to give in exchange for a financial arrangement.
I was reminded of this show today when a flurry of emails crossed the Michigan Association for Media in Education’s listserv announcing an unprecedented number of job reassignments that take librarians back into the classroom mid-year. (I’ve got to wonder - who’s been teaching those classes all fall?)
This is very unusual in Michigan’s union environment, where folks are used to being placed in the fall and, at the very least, staying there until the end of the school year.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Michigan school librarians are being cut at unprecedented rates — and earlier in the school year than we are used to. There’s little that can be said to palliate that pain for our colleagues. Though they would, in a pinch, agree that being moved to a classroom is better than nothing (an option, sadly, not available to low-seniority teachers, who face losing their jobs and, ultimately, their homes), they are legitimately angry that the state funding crisis, which has been slowly boiling for my entire seven-year career as a school librarian, has finally reached its inevitable boil.
(I’m reminded of how to cook frogs:raise the temperature slowly so they don’t notice that they are being boiled to death. Guess what - we’ve been slowly boiling for years, and trust me: there comes a point when The. Frog. Knows.)
It hurts to see school librarians and libraries cast off. As the daughter of a school administrator, I know that no administrator wishes to be in this terrible position. Given their druthers, administrators would like to have as many things to brag about as possible.
Ultimately, in Michigan, there isn’t a “we hate librarians” movement. Rather, the money is just running out. My friends who are counselors, Enrichment specialists, curriculum specialists, special ed parapros, general ed parapros, social workers, etc., are as worried as we are. Teachers brace to lose their jobs, have 35 kids jammed in a classroom designed for 22, lose benefits and planning time, and more. Sadly, no one is immune.
Is it about you? Or not? In the early years of budget cuts, I don’t doubt that principals who cut librarians early made those cuts based on the perceived value of that librarian. We are a personality-driven profession.
But guess what? It’s probably, most likely, 99% certain that it’s not about you if your job is on the line. If you’ve managed to survive 7+ years of cuts, you’re either a) lucky, or b) have adapted over time to refresh your value to the school.
If your job is on the line, you can a) let go, b) launch an advocacy campaign, c) fight back, and/or d) rearticulate your value. Sadly, what you cannot do is point fingers at others and say that they dropped the ball. The responsibility to react is in your hands.
So how does this relate to Shark Tank? It’s how we react to those cuts. Here are my lessons learned from my Shark Tank obsession:
Avoid the Single SKU.
The Sharks squirm when people come to them with a single product, known in the biz as a “SKU” in reference to the item’s unique code. They want to buy into companies that go beyond the single trendy gimmick, that will continue to grow, change, and benefit the investor. Similarly, librarians who define themselves as having a single skill to share — be it citation, database searching, books, or Accelerated Reader — won’t gain traction. Prepare to showcase all aspects of your contributions to student learning.
Know Your Niche.
The Sharks cringe when a new food entrepreneur comes to them. The grocery and food distribution business is highly complex and highly competitive. What can you do to distinguish yourself from every other barbecue rub? What can you do that classroom teachers can’t? The landscape in which we “owned” genres or notetaking or non-fiction or even citation has shifted … our state curricula includes most of those elements now for classroom teachers to teach. So if that’s the case, what is your niche?
Don’t Point the Finger.
Sharks like entrepreneurs who take responsibility as leaders, financial planners, and visionaries. They don’t like it when the candidates blame failures on other people. Similarly, it’s not your state assocation who should take the blame for your crisis, and I wince when I see the listserv turn in this direction. You are your state association. Partner with your colleagues instead of blaming them. In addition, don’t blame your Board for having to make heartwrenching decisions. Go to the source of the funding problem (in Michigan, it’s a Congressional issue).
Don’t Cry. At Least In Front of The Sharks.
It never wins anybody any money. It won’t win you your job, either. Cry at home, cry with friends, but be careful about crying in public, either via a listserv or a Board meeting.
Know Your Numbers.
The Sharks keep swell leather pads on their armrests so they can jot down the financial numbers being proposed. They’re numbers people. Anecdotes about happy customers? Not good enough.Smart applicants know that and come prepared. Know the stats that go beyond circulation. What do Keith Curry Lance’s studies indicate? What does School Libraries Work say? Speak the language of money to the administrators who are stressed about making ends meet.
Get Your Testimonials.
Now is the time to rally the non-librarians around you. Shark Tank wannabes use others’ buying habits to indicate their past success. They know that it’s one thing to have a great product (a library with a certified librarian) and another thing for others to support the product by buying it (using and loving the library). Cash in your personal favors. Ask others to speak on your behalf.
Love Your Product.
Though I don’t always agree with — or need — the inventions and companies brought to the Sharks, I’ve got to admit that the entrepreuers love and believe in their product. So it’s impossible to dislike them (even if I don’t need a fake golf club into which I can urinate if I can’t make it to the bathroom in time). What’s your passion? How are you sharing that with your Sharks in a way that will preserve your likability even if they ultimately say no?
Partner.
One thing I love is when the Sharks negotiate with one another to jointly invest. Each takes less risk and still gets involved in a product that really excites them.Unfortunately, if your job is in jeopardy, someone else’s probably is, too. Partner with others in your state or area. Share resources and strategies. Don’t go it alone.
Anticipate the Questions.
Savvy entrepreurs watch Shark Tank episodes before appearing on them. They need to know how things work, how to navigate the waters, and what strategies to use. What questions are you likely to be asked if your job is in crisis? (”Why do we need flexible schedule?” “Why do we need databases when everything is online?” etc.) Have your statistics and justifications ready. You never know when you’ll be next in line at the Piggly Wiggly with the Board President. Prep your elevator speeches.
It is heartbreaking to watch school librarians suffer and mourn. But it is even more heartbreaking for school librarians who call themselves school leaders shrink back from leadership when times are tough. Fight the good fight. Do your best. Don’t let anyone say, “We cut her because she was ineffective.” If the Fates decide that the money isn’t there, at least have them say, “The hardest thing we had to do was cut the librarian, because she was phenomenal.” Don’t let it be about you.
