Entrepreneurial librarianship - 36 suggestions

ENTREPRENEUR: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise m-w.com

INTRAPRENEUR: a corporate executive who develops new enterprises within the corporation m-w.com

LIBARYPRENEUR: a librarian who actively searches for unfilled needs in his/her organization and assumes responsibility for meeting them, adding value to his/her position. The Blue Skunk

One of the terms that one heard a great deal at the 2012 ISTE conference was entrepreneurship. (What a horrible word to spell!) In education there seems to be no clear definition but when the term is applied to education, it is about private individuals or groups offering new, usually commercial, systems of learning - charter schools, for-profit schools, or online schools. Increasingly, however, I hear it being applied to individuals within traditional schools trying new educational approaches, as well. (More like intrapreneurship.) 

David Warlick in his blog post, ISTE Reflections, describes the educator-entrepreneur as:

• Self-directed
• Taking control of their time
• Modeling their entrepreneurship for their students
• Not making excuses
• Taking responsibility

And, I might add, taking risks.

Good librarians have always been good educational entrepreneurs, looking for unmet needs and then meeting them, creating positions of value as they go. As professions transition to reflect the changes wrought by information technologies, this entrepreneurial disposition is critical. The librarians in our district have become webmasters, network managers, book fair organizers, online teaching materials selectors, volunteer coordinators, and PTO liaisons - none of which are traditionally "library" jobs, but all which are appreciated, necessary, and give added value to their positions. 

A week or so ago, I send a request to LM_Net for examples of "librarypreneurship" and I got a whole raft of excellent, often lengthy, responses. Below is my summarization and categorization of these replies. I did not list a lot of details nor jobs I see as part of librarians' expected duties.

Here are 36 ways real librarians are showing librarypreneurship:

Literature-related jobs

1. Book fair organizer
2. Reading tutor
3. Building-wide reading contest and promotions organizer
4. Book swap manager
5. One book/one community program organizer
6. Literacy night sponsor

Technology-related

1. School webmaster
2. Building based technology contact - answering software and technical questions, organizing, maintaining, creating, and disseminating "how-to" instruction sheets for various programs (Renaissance Learning,, Discovery Education,, Study Island)
3. Technology trainer
4. Flipped classroom and online class support provider
5. Distance learning coordinator
6. Videographer of school plays, school cultural events, and academic programs
7. Technology policy committee member
8. Tech fair host
9. Skyping authorities facilitator

School-community-related jobs

1. Building PTA liaison and/or officer
2. Community marketing director
3. School newsletter editor
4. School news video program director
5. Organizer of  information for parents and community about school's extracurricular offerings
6. School blogger

Other

1. Career guidance support provider including "career of the month presentations"
2. SAT prep in the library host - an ongoing after school event
3. Advisory program homeroom teacher
4. Special events/programs planner - campus-wide celebration organizer
5. School grant writer
6. Leadership representative for special area teachers
7. Fall school picture day organizer
8. School yearbook sponsor
9. Field trip chaperone
10. Van driver
11. Chief Information Officer (CIO) to principal and staff providing professional development resources and training to the teachers
12. Academic teams advisor
13. Database expert for needed building record keeping functions
14. Textbook manager
15. Credit recovery teacher

I just sensed a huge shudder in the (library) force. "I am too busy already and you think I should take on MORE work? I know everyone is busy. But consider Thoreau's quote: It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about? For those whose jobs may be precarious (and whose isn't), I would say "yes" to any tasks that is valued by my organization, even if meant not doing a traditional library task (inventory? custom cataloging? ???)

Here's my goal: If my position is every eliminated, I want the person who made that decision to really regret having done so. Not a nice sentiment, to be sure. If the work I am doing is important, I will be missed. Libraryprenuership will help me meet that goal.

Comments

[Guusje]

Personal Shopper : I troll the thrifts on a reqular basis and I always picked up books / stuffed animals / decor for my teachers.

School Baker : I was the official baker of brownies. I can't begin to count the number of batches I made.

[Karen DeFrank]

I have lived my whole life in the town where I work. I know most of the streets, and most of thr families that have come thru our elementary school, and who is related to who. I'm also a member of the largest church in our county, which has helped with helping families with food baskets and clothing donations. This knowledge has been extremely helpful to new principals and guidance counselors. I know most of the board members, too, and their children. extreme community relations I guess! Certainly has helped me feel indispensable.

[Maree T]

Online Shopper: I do all the searches and negotiations with companies for any purchases the faculty or Office are after. I also troll the auction sites and let staff know what is available and bid for the school

[Len Bryan]

National Honor Society Sponsor
PTSA Faculty Rep
Announce/keep score/run scoreboard at volleyball, football, basketball, and baseball games
Student club and organization liaison
Faculty psychologist
Student Mentor
Technology Integration Specialist
Head bottle washer
Recycling advisor
Vacuum, duster, and mop technician
Staff happy hour coordinator

[Kathy Kaldenberg]

Because it was a resource I would have loved to have had when I was a new employee, I created a password-protected database with employee photos and names. I update it each school year.

I consider myself a professional connection maker (or maybe a sort of matchmaker). I work at all 3 of our buildings and know every staff member, from custodians to administrators. I listen to people's stories and try to learn about their interests and lives. This helps me connect staff members with each other and with resources, both for classroom learning and for personal interests. It is one of the most rewarding things I do.

[Doug Johnson]

Thanks, Guusje. Great suggestions. (I hate to shop.)

Doug

Hi Karen,

Those community connections can be incredibly helpful in maintaining a job. It's tough to fire people who are real members of the community (congregation, Lions Club, ball team, etc.)

Doug

Hi Maree,

Thats a new one for me, but sounds valuable.

Doug

Too funny, Len. I am guessing some of these positions are unofficial?

Doug

Hi Kathy,

Malcom Gladwell in his book Tipping Point describes the role you are playing as a connector. I know it is personally rewarding. Do you think your administrators see the value of the service/activity? (I am not being challenging, just curious.)

Doug

[Jocelyn S.]

I really like the photo at the bottom. That's pretty much my goal: to make myself indispensable. My schedule is jam packed and I'm totally stressed at most times, but I love my job. My biggest problem is that I'm pulled in so many different directions, I don't feel that I'm doing a great job at anything. Just surviving the day a lot of times, but I'm thankful for my job nonetheless.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Jocelyn,

Your situation demands that you work with your principal to help you establish priorities. It will make you more effective and raise your importance in the building. Really!

Thanks for the note. I am sure you speak for many, many librarians.

Doug

[booklady710]

Biggest new challenge is finding rigorous material for Common Core curriculum and finding differentiated materials for those with special needs.

Also, I invite all new staff members to breakfast, help them get the lay of the land, answer questions about who does what and invite them to seek me out if they have any needs. I made a brochure of what I provide for the staff and put it in everybody's mailbox. I then schedule to meet with them every quarter to touch base, asking them how I can help them.

Biggest favorite for the staff? I made an online site of district acronyms and what they mean since acronyms are frequently used in staff meetings and new people don't have a clue what they mean.

[Doug Johnson]

I love the acronym list! Great suggestions. Thank you for sharing them.

Doug

[Choose career wisely]

I am feeling good to post this comment here.Thanks for letting me comment on it.