When you have a trip planned during programming season, what do you do to prepare? I have my little brother’s wedding this coming weekend across the country (yay!) and I have been hard at work preparing for my absence at work and at home. I’m sure it is different depending on your position and work tasks, but I will share some of my vacation preparation.
Storytime Planning
At my libraries, I lead toddler and baby storytimes, along with two preschool storytimes each week, totaling 5-6 storytimes weekly. When I’m away, either my supervisor or a coworker covers them. To minimize their workload, I prepare everything in advance. The books are checked out and set on my desk, song lyrics are printed, the flannel board is ready, and the craft is fully prepped. If the storytimes follow a particular sequence, I leave notes explaining the order. I also check out a few extra books to give the person covering more options beyond my selected titles.
Project Deadlines
When working on a project, like a new scavenger hunt, I adjust the deadline to ensure everything is ready before I leave. Since our library system has inter-branch delivery every Thursday, I often need to complete projects a week in advance to account for my leave date. For blog posts, I write and schedule them ahead of time, as I won’t be able to manage them during vacation. Strong time management is essential in coordinating vacation preparation. Time management is key here! For some time management tips, check out this ALSC blog post from the ALSC Managing Children’s Services Committee.
Other Various Vacation Preparations
I don’t know about anyone else, but my desk is a project zone! I have one stack of books for an award committee I’m on, another stack checked out for storytime, my planner and storytime planning sheets, and whatever project I’m currently working on (right now, a dinosaur scavenger hunt). Since I work at a public desk 100% of the time, all my projects are done here, and I’ve come to accept the “organized chaos.” However, I don’t like returning from vacation to a cluttered desk. So, before I leave, I tidy up everything and either put my scavenger hunt away or, ideally, finish it and send it off. Yes, the mess bothers me a little bit, but the end results are always worth it and kids love asking what I am working on. Here is a photo of my desk mess so you can feel better about yours!
Am I missing anything?
Tons of coffee. Am I missing anything else? What do you do to prepare when you leave for a vacation?
(Image courtesy of K. Caldwell)