Summer, Cicadas, Coming Out Of My Cocoon

Today is the next to the last day of my safe and secure job that has been a huge part of my identity for 10 years. I have left it to quickly advance to the end of my MLS degree. So many people comment on how nice the summer will be, "You can get a tan this summer!" I am working an unpaid 120 hour internship, taking two classes, and keeping a part-time job at the library. Free time is still not in my vocabulary. But why do I feel so bereft? My work has been my identity -- no matter how stressful it might be, there is a tremendous sense of pride in being able to juggle administrative balls in the air. Who will I be now?

It is fitting that this is the summer of the cicadas. My plans to take my laptop outside may be thwarted by droves of large winged noisy critters. But I do feel a kinship. These bugs have stayed "safe and secure" for 17 years. Now they are bursting out of their shells and taking on the world, trying to achieve all they can as quickly as possible. I have stayed in the safe mode of worker/student long enough. This summer it is time to shed the shell, try out my wings, and make some noise!

So -- how will I spend my summer? Trying to advance my skills even further in the Library 2.0 era. I will master the "digital libraries project", further examine MySpace, YouTube, and Facebook so I can better help the youth and librarians in the library make good decisions about public social forums, and spend time at a library that has a mission of serving its public in a progressive fashion! And about that tan -- I might just squeeze in some gardening and farmer's market time to get a healthy glow!

For now I am off to read a book recommended by a colleague, Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life by Gail Sheehy. I could use an "advisor".

The Perils of Blogging

It is only fitting that I post my summary of my LIS blogging experience. I chose this venue for a class project so that I would break through another technological barrier. I do not go into many chat rooms, I do not IM, and I needed to get the feeling of the “exposure” that online writing offers. My initial questions were:

• Would I feel as if I were talking to myself? (The idea of this could be both disappointing and dangerous!)
• Would I have anything to say?
• Would I embarrass myself?
• Would I find any like-minded people?
• Would I learn anything?

(Of course, later questions would involve the logistics of picking a blog host and learning the system! I picked Blogger as it appears to be the most reliable. I do have to note however that there was a period of several days where that claim was questionable. In the middle of my blogging project Blogger came out with its “newest version”. I have to admit to being a huge chicken, as I decided to continue working with the old version until my class ended. I will update after that, when a loss of material would be less devastating. My worst moment in blogging came when I had put much thought and genuine heart into my Thanksgiving blog, and somehow lost 50% of the posting when trying to recover a change. Blogger only recovers a small amount of material at a time – typing truly important thoughts in and copying them to another venue would be the way to go. My funniest moment came when I spent all afternoon trying to tweak a picture and fix a layout and despite my working with customer service and help questions had no success. Imagine my embarrassment when I discovered that I had to “refresh” as my computer had cached the original version! )

As I began to compile my profile I realized that I wanted to be as honest as possible about who I really was (after all I was not looking for an online date!) At that point I also wanted to pick a mission for my blog – and decided that I did not necessarily want to educate the world or prove my worthiness, I simply wanted to log some of the odd experiences and conflicting thoughts that a library student may have. So often, we are so immersed in other’s readings and discussions that we cannot see the topic clearly. About three weeks later unanswered questions pop up that we want to toss around. In those thoughts come the real learning. I also wanted to express any self doubts I might have so that I would begin to develop a tighter support system that would help me as I change careers. I quickly became aware of the fact that everything I voiced was public – and can and would be used for or against me. This could be important to someone embarking on a job hunt! (How can those folks on MySpace and other social sites not get this????)

As I started to write the posts I felt a bit self-serving, as if I was doing a one-woman dialog to a room of none. Still, it felt cleansing and invigorating to put my thoughts down. It made me research my own questions further to find some answers, or at least to provide links to those who had something else to say on the subject. I discovered I could lobby for causes that I thought were worthy, such as promoting breast cancer awareness or cleaning the bathrooms in your library. I could share things I thought were just plain interesting or wildly amusing. And, lastly, I could week by week gradually convince myself that I am absolutely headed in the right direction in my career! There are no end of Ta-Da Moments in the library!

I hope that those of you have read the beginnings of my blog postings will have been slightly entertained, slightly educated about a topic you were not aware of, or slightly shook up enough to think twice about something! Thank you for reading, posting, or privately emailing me your thoughts. I do believe that I will continue this unconventional librarian blog -- and psychiatric advice will remain free (at least until I graduate).

The Spirit of Giving

"Tis the season to be jolly. . .fa la la la la!" The sights and sounds of the holidays have permeated the library as we hang our politically correct decorations and put out treats for all. We dress in cheery colors and exchange tales of past holiday memories with staff and friends. Our patrons get involved with our holiday plans and and want to know where we are going and what we are cooking and what we have ordered from Santa. For a few days some pressure is off the librarians as class assignments wind down and people are researching the latest novel or turkey recipe. Quiet music fills the air and paper crafted artwork litters the floor of the library.

But, at some point, each librarian takes a step back and realizes that for many of our patrons the holiday will be lonely. Our visitors watch the signs carefully to see which days the library will close down, and express their sadness that we will not be open. Not for the first time we realize that not only is the library a warming or cooling center, but it also the hub of the social needs of many.

When I first experienced the pangs of guilt that comes from working in an inner city library, I started to quiet down and not really answer when asked about my holiday plans. I realized however, that those asking sincerely wanted to hear about my family and its gatherings. And, by answering them, I was accepting a great gift from my patrons -- a realization of how fortunate I was in life (no matter how troubled I might be) and how loved I truly was. I wanted to return that gift in some fashion, outside of the normal offerings of the library, but knew from a professional standpoint that I was a bit limited and must be cautious.

Today, however, I would encourage all to take the time to look beyond the walls of your library and see what you might personally be able to contribute back to your community. Perhaps it is a bag of warm gloves, a basket of food, an hour of your time, a smile as you leave the building for the night. Do not think of anything you give as charity, think of it as a return gift -- I know that all of you have learned life lessons from those we try and serve daily and would like to say a special holiday thanks.

Don't Lose These Links!!

To Inspire Contributions

The Text of "A Christmas Carol"

http://www.stormfax.com/dickens.htm

Review of the new kid's version of "It's A Wonderful Life"

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Wonderful-Life-Kids-Too/dp/0525477675

For Responsible Giving
http://www.give.org/
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/cpid/518.htm

Putting Your Best Foot Forward!

No, this is not another posting about those librarian shoes – although we could talk a bit about some of those funky leisure looking outfits some people insist on wearing—I mean really there is casual and then there is SLOPPY!

I am talking about presenting the best image possible of your library – to both patrons and staff. We spend a lot of time talking about marketing the library and targeting the right audience with our notices and programs. We spend hours reading through review journals selecting the proper books, reference tools, and periodicals for patron use. We evaluate and reevaluate database use each month. We check our circulation policies and hold staff meetings about customer service. But, have we taken a good look at our bathrooms lately?

Seriously, especially in times of budget cuts and personnel shortages, some areas of our libraries are being very neglected. Perhaps our tables are not cleaned each evening, our carpet is starting to show stains, and our bathrooms are dingy, not always clean, and showing great signs of wear. Maybe it is not just the patron areas, perhaps (and most often) it is the staff lounge or private washrooms.

If you go to McDonalds and you use their washroom, you have perhaps at times come out and thought (well, first, “Why did I just eat here?”), “They must not care very much about my business if they are not taking care of things like this!” What do our patrons think of us? That we do not respect them enough as individual people to offer them clean and fresh looking facilities? What do out of town visitors think of urban libraries showing dirt and neglect? That we are not an inviting place to visit?

Perhaps the public areas of the library look fine, but your staff areas are sad. We need to remember that it is stressful for librarians to spend many hours on the floor dealing with the public, and we need to offer them a calming clean place to escape to momentarily. If you are trying to get coworkers to be enthusiastic and take ownership of library policies you need to show them that you also are thinking of their needs, no matter how basic.

Some argument may arise that will say the patrons (or staff) do not take care of the library as “place”. I say that the better we make it for them, the more they will learn to respect it. So, when figuring out this year’s budget, make room for a few new coats of paint, some repair, or even some pleasant air fresheners. Perhaps you could even get staff to volunteer for a clean up day by rewarding them with a great staff thank you party!

The bottom line is you really can’t put “lipstick on a pig” and dress it up much. Clean up your house before inviting more people over!

I Don't Feel Much Like A Librarian Today!

Well, first of all, let me be perfectly clear! I am still a lowly library clerk, a top notch office manager, and a good MLS student -- I am not yet a librarian! But I already know that TODAY at least I don't much feel like a librarian. Today I want to wear long flowing skirts, sparkly sweaters, and large swaying earrings. I want to dance around the floor in red shoes. I want to sing "Happy Holiday" to those stepping off the elevator. I want to pass out chocolate bells and striped candy canes and giggle as the fifteenth child come by in pipe cleaner antlers. I want to tour the Internet stations and kick off anyone who is not shopping or emailing Aunt Bertha (ok I guess you can finish that term paper) and send them outside to go caroling or tree trimming.
(I want to smile merrily at the grumblers who cannot wait five minutes for use of that same Internet.) I do not want to say SSSHHHH!

No, I do not just want to goof off because it is Christmas. I want to celebrate with my extended library family. I want to share cheer at the same time I am celebrating the availability of information! I do not want to get bogged down into a stereotype that says to project professionalism I must remain somber, quiet, and unobtrusive. I am afraid!

Will I be able to project my own image and still get a job? Or should I hide my light under the proverbial basket until hired? How does one seek out a job opportunity where the library team believes in enjoying themselves and their work? Does this attitude mean I should limit myself to working with children or young adults?

Do you have any "outside of the image" experiences you can share with me so I can find my way?




Don't Lose These Links!

http://www.librarian-image.net/

http://welldressedlibrarian.blogspot.com/
Read the hilarious posting about hiring work study students.

http://stereotype-librarian.blogspot.com/

http://www.msdewey.com/
The new cyber librarian that helps you search. Type in Librarian Stereotypes for more links and see the newest "image" in search!

What Will Happen To Free Speech?

Is it just me or is there not much attention being paid to the latest Internet censorship trial that just wrapped up this week? Decisions made could greatly affect the tone and offerings of the Internet -- and subsequently change policies or practices at the local library.

Just in case you also need some info: The case is now named ACLU v. Gonzales. It is described as a challenge to the "Child Online Protection Act" (COPA), which would impose "draconian criminal sanctions", with penalties of up to $50,000 per day and up to six months imprisonment, for online material acknowledged as valuable for adults but judged "harmful to minors."

I am not trying to take a side -- although as a librarian I would err on the side of free speech (while the mother in me screams AAAARGH)--the following links seem to have the best information, including timelines of the CIPA and Copa Acts etc.

Don't Lose These Links!!

http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/internet/27144prs20061023.html

http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/internet/onlinefreespeech.html

http://www.ala.org/al_onlineTemplate.cfm?Section=al_online&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=141395

Who's Coming To Thanksgiving Dinner?

‘Tis the season—for giving thanks and celebrating the harvest. Certainly the Information Sciences field is in the throes of a bountiful season. We have produced and begun to cultivate more information than we can possibly use in a lifetime. So now we devise ways of sharing and exchanging. (Anything sounding familiar yet?) If we could only just sit down at a long, laden table and “dish it out”. Of course we still must have our weapons ready for marauders and any other dangers to our space. And, we must store enough to maintain us through the “droughts” and “famines” and to give us a basis for sprouting more “information”. But for right now let’s just concentrate on those we will invite to the harvest celebration. Will it be only those who planted and toiled? Will it be just those who are a part of our settlement? Will we invite newcomers to the area? How about the wanderers and strangers? Our “enemies”?

Was the first Thanksgiving spontaneous or did careful thought go into the planning? What kind of thought and discussion has gone into your library’s plan to share the wealth of resources we have compiled in our community? This is a decision that tests our giving natures, our desire to educate, our sense of fairness and our civic responsibilities. Many questions arise concerning: ownership of information, definition of community, and partnership with other libraries. Some answers seem to be clear cut – some awfully murky.

We all agree that everyone should be able to come into our library and read our books, make use of maps, browse our magazines. Most libraries agree however, that without a library card, users cannot remove things from the library. We have a responsibility to the community to try and keep track of the resources -- so we need to know where you live.

What about the Internet access? What difference does it make who is using the computers -- don't we all like to check our email when out of town? However! In my library there are many computers, but many more computer users. Should the residents wait in line while others are using the facilities?

How about reference questions? Quickie questions are no problem -- but who gets to take advantage of the resources and personnel at the library for lengthier problems?

My first instinct is to be proud of the resources of our public library and want to share them. This is the age of "free information", yet those of us in the field know there is no such thing. We are paying for these services, through our tuitions, our taxes, our building fees. And those who are paying should receive quality service for their money. So, for now, we will have many pages of procedures, forms,"visitor stations" and other confusing bits that try to untangle this age of technology dilemma.

As for me, I hope to get the wishbone this Thanksgiving, so I can wish for a time when everyone is a part of a library district and everyone can be "served"!

Don't Lose These Links!
Butterball Hotline
http://www.butterball.com/en/main_canvas.jsp?includePage=holidayGuide_2006.jsp&t=Butterball%20Holiday%20Guide&s0=holidayGuide&s1=home
Memorable Quotes From A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068359/quotes

Psychiatric Help: Free For Students(Accepted and Dispersed)
I am so thankful for my teachers, coworkers, and fellow students who have challenged me to think about things in a different light. At least 50% of the time -- well, let's just say a woman has a right to change her mind!