Library without a Library-it's IMPOSSIBLE!

OK, so we are 5 months into this "RENO relationship" (and another year and some left). 
And it's official--running a library program and maintaining rich connections CAN NOT BE DONE!  As a "LEGIT" strong librarian, how can I possibly be

• Connecting with teachers and students to digital resources to engage learning?  
• Promoting literature for leisure and content? 
• Collaborating with teachers?  
• Empowering student leadership? 
• Establishing a community presence?  
• Hosting programs and special events?  
• Providing professional development? 
• Staying in touch with my networks
• Pursuing grant support?
• Advocating for the role of strong school libraries?
• Thinking about our new space when I'm not really "living" in one?

when I am all over the place, traveling between 6 schools, splitting my time in ways that are never equitable, sharing spaces, places, tools, and resources, using my car (and Ms.Lindy when-if the weather turns around) to store and deliver resources, having students run one of the spaces (the Nook), and doing much of my work off-site/off-hours and online??   

You know how?   

First, I've had to transform my #LEMONS2LEMONADE theory.  Not every lemon can be transformed. In fact, I often fantasize about pummeling said lemons into a brick wall. Some "lemons" have to be put back into the bowl,tossed, or cut in half. Maybe I can use the juice or the zest, but not the whole lemon!  I (we) have to CHOOSE DIFFERENTLY.

I've had to rethink, shift priorities, find new ways to deliver instruction, resources, and ME!  I've embraced "FAIR isn't EQUAL" and have had to rethink how I "divide myself up".   Genuine conversations with partners have changed--what do you NEED? when would you PREFER? What is the biggest impact I can make for you?  I have to LEAD DIFFERENTLY.

Access to resources TRUMPS control of resources and systems to make it so have needed some shifting(though I've never been a control freak, accountability matters for sanity reasons);  more "teaching to fish" and "less fish";  though both have their place, I know!   I have to MANAGE DIFFERENTLY.

Email, texting, voxing, tweeting, Facebook, google drive/calendar/forms, phone (and phone forwarding), Dropbox, Symbaloo and Libguides have been gamechangers to deploy resources and information.  I have to COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY.

Maintaining and fostering connections beyond our school community are STILL important. Grants, award pursuits, conversations with Syracuse University, leading through NYLA/SSL, writing, presenting, workshops, conferences, professional development, Teen Book Fest, Bookapalooza, and overall "bigger picture" partnerships MUST happen.  I have to ADVOCATE DIFFERENTLY. 

Students crave leadership, involvement, community, and voice.  How we make that happen requires creativity, shared supervision, alternative approaches, innovation, and trust.  I have to EMPOWER DIFFERENTLY. 

Can we have a strong school library program without a library living under one roof?   Impossible......or not....

Impossible is not a fact, it's an opinion.

Stay tuned....Pine Grove Library is ON THE MOVE!