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!

Come Into The Library. . .Said the Spider To the Fly

TA - DA MOMENTS In Online Reference
It seems that as reference librarians we are a bit cautious (ok major understatement) about the influx of electronic means we now use to interact with our patrons. Telephone reference, email reference postings, instant messaging! We have read about, rehearsed, endlessly practiced, and fine tuned the all-important reference interview. No closed ended questions, active listening, attention to body language-- all part of reading the cues. Now we are being asked to throw it all out the window and try to satisfy the information needs of many by reading a few randomly typed lines on the computer. Can it be done??? Many of my fellow students would answer "Yes, but not well." Librarians' statements include "It is OK for quick ready reference only", and " We suggest to all that they come into the library for more (detailed) information," "We really need to pull them into the library."

I personally have long felt that while it may not be what we are used to, it is absolutely necessary to reach patrons where they want to be reached. After all, perhaps the information seekers are truly more comfortable with the "pajama reference interview". Less intimidating, much anonymity, able to turn off the flow of information at any time! (Yes, you know sometimes we go too far!) The real question is--can we achieve any type of personalized service results in a digital situation? Because that is what we are worried about, right? (Please tell me it is not just about numbers walking in the door, job security, or desk arrangement.)I have a problem with email--I often am too abrupt in my messages and fear that I come off aggressively. And, I read too much into other people's messages and get my insides in a knot over what I perceive as people's "undercurrent of meaning". So can this digital thing work? I was not sure until. . .

A sad moment came in a professional acquaintenance's life. Oddly I could feel it coming as the tone of her own posts changed and while everything appeared professionally normal, I could tell that a part of what I had come to know as her "electronic personality" was missing. I boldly made an inquiry that led us into several personal conversations, speaking of painful moments we were experiencing simultaneously. When it came time to offer condolences I was unsure of what could be said "digitally". But her response back to me will linger in my mind as a lesson. I repeat it with apologies for not asking permission, butI know she will realize what a few words can teach. She said "And thank you also for your compassion -- to think we were strangers in January and teaching with technology has contributed to a caring relationship."

Well, of course -- it all boils down to how much we care about the patron. Can we put a face on the digital inquiry? Can we not get ruffled by the speed of technology, and slow down enough to really "hear" them? Can we switch from reading body language to picking up digital nuances? I believe we can! I think we can establish the same relationships "online" that we can in the library setting, especially with regular patrons or students in an academic setting. Perhaps it will take a few extra lines of typing -- asking them to update us on their success or inviting them back for more questions. The same reassurances are appropriate (no, they are not bothering us) and the same courtesies need to be offered (they do not know our shift is ending). We also need to not pass judgment on why they are not coming into the physical building. The bottom line is we need to reach out and extend the same hand we would in person, we need to have just as much patience online, and we need to work on expanding our own comfort zones.
This was a TA-DA Moment for me!
The things you can learn when you least expect it!

Please--post in the blog comment section your tips for good service in online reference -- or challenging experiences you may have run across.

DON'T LOSE THESE LINKS
Read: The Librarian is In and Online, Computers in Libraries 2003 @ http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/oct03/west.shtml to see "lessons learned".

PSYCHIATRIC HELP: FREE FOR STUDENTS (Accepted & Dispensed)
My funny moment came when a very challenging patron called me on the phone 5 minutes before closing this week. She has been restricted to 3 questions a day and they usually are questions that have many dead ends (celebrity phone #'s etc.). We do usually ask her to come in because we have a hard time undrstanding her on the phone. I felt my body tensing as I took the call,especially since she had asked for me by name. Her comment: "I thought I would just let you know it is too late for me to call today so I will have to call back tomorrow. I thought you might have missed me." Deep breath Sharon--time to check in at the free advice station for some meditation--or a good laugh!