Customer Service Tip
Jane Schissel, Teacher-Librarian - Broomfield High School
Someone recently asked why I have the students sign in when entering the library. Here is a “sampler” of the many practical reasons. The sign-in form (a Google Form) provides me with an accurate count of the number of students who use the library per day. It provides me with crucial information about who was in the library in the event of any type of emergency and we need to account for people. It provides teachers with a way to track whether students they sent to the library actually made it to the library--and when. I need to know who is in the library because I am responsible for the space and everyone in it. Those are all good reasons and they are all true. The most meaningful reason for me, however, is less about data and more about setting the tone for the library space.
I have students sign in because it slows the energy coming into the library just enough for me to connect with each and every student as they enter the space. It allows me to smile at them, acknowledge them, ask about their day, learn names—connect with them. For some of them, it is the only time during the day someone looks directly at them and smiles. They need to be seen. It allows students the chance to slow down and to practice, of all things, a little patience.
I think it is healthy to practice waiting. The wait builds in time for an exchange. The wait gives students a chance to scope out the space and come up with a plan. The wait contributes to a calmer environment. The students who stand in that line do so because they really want to come into the library. The line becomes a gatekeeper of sorts. Those who are there to disrupt, menace or have picnics are less likely to bother with the whole process. Does it take time? Yes. Do some students occasionally grumble? Yes, though not often. Is it worth it? Yes! It is a two-minute investment at the start of each period that pays dividends in the end.
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