A little shameless celebration of me. I was interviewed during the Knitting in Public day in March for an article in our regional knitting magazine.
The article is now available on page 27.
Yippee!
Showing posts with label library. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library. Show all posts
Monday, June 08, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Knitting is Part of My Job Description, Right?
I just keep finding new ways to sneak knitting into my day and job description. I've added Mom-Knit-Mornings, a child friendly parents knitting group to encourage some of the pre-school moms who have approached me curious about getting an opportunity to knit. It's a small group thus far, which I'm perfectly okay with. We're putting it in the newsletter for the first time for April.
And then there's the annual Knitting in Public day which is....next week. Wow has time flown since January, when I sent a polite and very hopeful little email towards Chicago. Said email was fruitful and last night I sent out the "one week out" email with details and final itinerary.
It's my fan-girl pleasure to welcome Franklin Habit to La Crosse Public Library next week. Franklin, author of a popular knitting blog, minder of a rather troublesome sheep named Dolores and some sock yarn named Harry, photographer, and cartoonist, is coming up to speak to us. Our theme for the day, coined by co-partner with pointy sticks Madame Director, is Keeping You in Stitches: Knitting and Humor. Franklin published a fabulous book of knitting cartoons: I cried from laughing so hard the first time I read it. I'm so excited about next week.
There will be raffles and snacks, we'll be doing a stash swap, a gentleman who learned to knit in Korea is dropping by to talk about his experiences, it's going to be a crazy fun afternoon/evening. I just have decide if I wear the shirt with the knitting ninjas or the shirt that says "Seize the Wool" in Latin.
Last weekend, all in the name of handing out flyers and talking up the event, Our Lady of the Business Office and I went over to the Madison Knitter's Guild Knit In. Seriously, getting Stephanie Pearl-McPhee to sign the rest of her books for me, catching up for a few minutes with last year's Knit in Public Day speaker Joyce Williams, and possibly getting some of world's squishest alpaca yarn had NOTHING to do with it. Just because everyone I've shown the yarn to has tried to sneak off with it.
I hope I've remembered nearly everything we'll need, the clock is ticking. And unfortunately all this knitting doesn't include the really fast approaching deadlines of knitting I have to do before next week.
My life's been taken over by my pointy sticks--that's a good thing.
And then there's the annual Knitting in Public day which is....next week. Wow has time flown since January, when I sent a polite and very hopeful little email towards Chicago. Said email was fruitful and last night I sent out the "one week out" email with details and final itinerary.
It's my fan-girl pleasure to welcome Franklin Habit to La Crosse Public Library next week. Franklin, author of a popular knitting blog, minder of a rather troublesome sheep named Dolores and some sock yarn named Harry, photographer, and cartoonist, is coming up to speak to us. Our theme for the day, coined by co-partner with pointy sticks Madame Director, is Keeping You in Stitches: Knitting and Humor. Franklin published a fabulous book of knitting cartoons: I cried from laughing so hard the first time I read it. I'm so excited about next week.
There will be raffles and snacks, we'll be doing a stash swap, a gentleman who learned to knit in Korea is dropping by to talk about his experiences, it's going to be a crazy fun afternoon/evening. I just have decide if I wear the shirt with the knitting ninjas or the shirt that says "Seize the Wool" in Latin.
Last weekend, all in the name of handing out flyers and talking up the event, Our Lady of the Business Office and I went over to the Madison Knitter's Guild Knit In. Seriously, getting Stephanie Pearl-McPhee to sign the rest of her books for me, catching up for a few minutes with last year's Knit in Public Day speaker Joyce Williams, and possibly getting some of world's squishest alpaca yarn had NOTHING to do with it. Just because everyone I've shown the yarn to has tried to sneak off with it.
I hope I've remembered nearly everything we'll need, the clock is ticking. And unfortunately all this knitting doesn't include the really fast approaching deadlines of knitting I have to do before next week.
My life's been taken over by my pointy sticks--that's a good thing.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Librarian: One Part Personal Shopper
A part of being a librarian that I really enjoy is collection development: a.k.a. shopping. Getting to go through reviews and select books, music, audiobooks and finding the occasional DVD that I hop up and down and beg the DVD selector for...it's fun! And I'm not spending my money.
However, with that freedom of not spending my money comes the responsibility that I'm spending yours. I'm spending money from the taxpayers and that means I need to choose wisely to meet the highly varied needs of your children. This is why occasionally I'm cross-eyed from wading through reviews and going through my "possible purchase lists", trying to round out the collection. There needs to be a balance of "good literature", classics, popular fiction, mysteries, hard stuff, and snack food reading. And that means that while I have multiple copies of the 2009 Newbury award winning book (Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman) and the latest by Laurence Yep, I'm also going to order the Daisy Meadows and Captain Underpants books--because your third graders are passing those last two around at school, sharing them, and coming to me to ask for them. And often, if I can get them in looking at the snack food books they'll grab something else while they are here. Come on --> the cool books are here at the library....
This morning, for the first time, I ordered books that were a memorial. Money was given to the library children's department in honor of a woman who passed away and it was my responsibility to purchase items that will get a bookplate with her name in them. It sounds simple, order books, insert name plate, shelve. But I spent time considering what I would purchase--items that would circulate, ones we needed, but also books that will have a shelf longevity greater than the Tiara Club or Bionicle series.
I'm in the middle of a heavy weeding project, trying to breathe life and love back into a chapter book collection that hasn't seen it in a while. This means I'm handling every single book, putting holds on ones that are checked out so I can see condition, making the decisions about getting rid of Mary Kate and Ashley, Babysitters Club, or that book that was really popular eight years ago, but hasn't circulated of late. Part of the weeding means that I am replacing a lot of our well-loved and used classics and it was to this list I turned for the memorial.
For the memorial gift I ended up ordering Black Beauty (Anna Sewell); A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Madeline L'Engle); Hard Gold (Avi); and Little Women (Louisa May Alcott). Of the four, only Hard Gold is a new title, but the other three continue to have strong circulation, and they are books parents consistently ask for when looking for something they remember reading as children. And in competition with all of the new and exciting titles I'm buying, classics sometimes go by the wayside because of dull covers--which is why I spent time not only considering titles, but appearance of those titles. How it will appeal to the casual browser is important: we're all book-cover magpies.
So that is part of my day--being a personal shopper of literature and music. Hmm...I wonder if I've included that on my resume.
And now....off to read School Library Journal and pick out some more titles!
However, with that freedom of not spending my money comes the responsibility that I'm spending yours. I'm spending money from the taxpayers and that means I need to choose wisely to meet the highly varied needs of your children. This is why occasionally I'm cross-eyed from wading through reviews and going through my "possible purchase lists", trying to round out the collection. There needs to be a balance of "good literature", classics, popular fiction, mysteries, hard stuff, and snack food reading. And that means that while I have multiple copies of the 2009 Newbury award winning book (Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman) and the latest by Laurence Yep, I'm also going to order the Daisy Meadows and Captain Underpants books--because your third graders are passing those last two around at school, sharing them, and coming to me to ask for them. And often, if I can get them in looking at the snack food books they'll grab something else while they are here. Come on --> the cool books are here at the library....
This morning, for the first time, I ordered books that were a memorial. Money was given to the library children's department in honor of a woman who passed away and it was my responsibility to purchase items that will get a bookplate with her name in them. It sounds simple, order books, insert name plate, shelve. But I spent time considering what I would purchase--items that would circulate, ones we needed, but also books that will have a shelf longevity greater than the Tiara Club or Bionicle series.
I'm in the middle of a heavy weeding project, trying to breathe life and love back into a chapter book collection that hasn't seen it in a while. This means I'm handling every single book, putting holds on ones that are checked out so I can see condition, making the decisions about getting rid of Mary Kate and Ashley, Babysitters Club, or that book that was really popular eight years ago, but hasn't circulated of late. Part of the weeding means that I am replacing a lot of our well-loved and used classics and it was to this list I turned for the memorial.
For the memorial gift I ended up ordering Black Beauty (Anna Sewell); A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Madeline L'Engle); Hard Gold (Avi); and Little Women (Louisa May Alcott). Of the four, only Hard Gold is a new title, but the other three continue to have strong circulation, and they are books parents consistently ask for when looking for something they remember reading as children. And in competition with all of the new and exciting titles I'm buying, classics sometimes go by the wayside because of dull covers--which is why I spent time not only considering titles, but appearance of those titles. How it will appeal to the casual browser is important: we're all book-cover magpies.
So that is part of my day--being a personal shopper of literature and music. Hmm...I wonder if I've included that on my resume.
And now....off to read School Library Journal and pick out some more titles!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Have to Keep Hopping....
There's an interesting sorta-meme going around called "Day in the Life of a Librarian." While I will refrain from a full minute by minute, I thought I'd share an account of yesterday, so you have an idea.
Times approximate
8:35 --Call WebGuy to let him know that I will be a few minutes late for the meeting: I have to drop the car at the shop because the power steering has decided it doesn't want to play nice.
8:37 --Since the walk from the car shop to the library takes me right past the doughnut shop...well....
9:05 --Hustle upstairs, box of doughnuts in hand (people in my dept duly doughnuted)
9:06 -- Meeting with RA and WebGuy. Discuss some details for new website. Conclude with need for me to draw squares and return them to WebGuy as promptly as possible.
10:20 -- Turn on computer, check email, check intranet for new incident reports and blog posts. Send emails to Madame Director and Madame Immediate Supervisor asking them for five minutes when they get it (separately--different topics/times); Add patron request to acquisition system; Email title to Teen Librarian to confer if I should buy a book or she should.
10:50 --Get call from Acquisitions Guru to understand that this particular sub-series in American Girl does not come through on the standing order but will be ordered today for patron requests. Bow to the wisdom of the Acquisitions Guru. Get call from machine knitter-- should she bring machine again? What day? Yes, March 25.
11:00 --Write out children's dept requirements for registration module for new calendar program
11:30 - 1 -- Draw physical layouts for children's website--where I want editable boxes for staff (draw squares--write in content specifications); Confirm some money details for Knit in Public day; Rewrite current to-do list and attempt to figure out what I can wade through in afternoon.
1 -5: On Desk- Answering reference questions, walking patrons to shelves, putting books on hold, pulling a teacher collection, create registration form for upcoming children's program, reseting children's game computers that require log out to get a game to end (several times), registering patrons for storytimes. Yes, we have tongue twister books --No, all of our copies of the Sneetches are out, can I put it on hold for you?
1:05 Madame Immediate Supervisor swings past desk to review layout of website main page and primary sub pages. Brief discussion on what will need to be updated, how often, and by whom. Meebo WebGuy to say I have my layouts ready.
1:15 Zooming on the computer screen doesn't mean it's going to print out a full sized page. It will print the original size of that image. No, we don't have a color printer down here. There is one upstairs in reference.
1:30 p.m. Review Knit In timeline and other details with Madame Director. Get approval for some purchases, discuss possibility of interviews with unique knitters in the community, debate where to get snacks from and where we can keep snacks for least amount of mess.
3:00 p.m. Is it three already? I've been sending out emails and confirming with my speaker, hammering out other details, begging for flyer expertise from Sibling-the-Elder [a graphic designer: I am not], WebGuy makes flying pass through children's to pick up layouts and point out immediate problems. I promise to discuss next week and have Parents/Educators site mapped out. As he leaves I advise not to lose my square layouts-- he just took my master copy!!
3:30 Visit from one of my pre-schoolers who is in day care now and can't come to storytime as regularly. I hear that the Mike Myers version of the Cat in the Hat movie was "Icky" and was turned off after ten minutes.
3:40 Teen Librarian comes by to discuss book purchases, make a recommendation, talk about Teen website layout, debate the hiring of new Gaming Assistant now that Former GA has moved across an ocean. Teen Librarian exits stage left serving as pied piper of gaming teen boys.
3:45 [phone] No I haven't seen your brother and we've talked about the fact I can't give out information like that over the phone --two minutes later brother walks out of the stacks--Your sister is looking for you. Brother mumbles okay and settles down at game computer with headphones on.
3:50 -- Who's working the weekend? Me. Learn of mayoral candidate to be in children's room on Saturday for meet and greet. (We're having all the primary candidates in for this little gathering. Not a debate, just a chance for voters to come by and ask questions in separate spaces in library.) Note to self: put on a little extra make-up Saturday morning--the press will be probably be here.
4:00-- Attempting to locate various picture books for 3 themes a day care provider is looking for. Success on most of the books. One appears to have vamoosed somewhere between circulation and the shelf in the past 24 hours.
4:40 Do NOT vault over the side of the boat. [3 foot drop] You could get hurt and I don't want anything happening. Alright? Look at me...alright? Okay.
4:42 Okay, off the boat. Yes I know it was him this time and not you but I just spoke to both of you and you're done for the day on the boat.
5:00 Hello Reference? Me. Is Head of TS still up there? This computer won't let me access the F: drive from a website. Yes the F: drive is functioning. On his way down? Awesome.
5:06 [phone] Hello Youth Services....yes, that was me calling from my cell. Five minutes? Okay...
5:10 He's off the boat, she's waiting for Head of TS--he'll be down in five, this teacher collection isn't fully pulled, I've got to get outside for the nice person driving me home. Would you list me on the intranet out until Saturday?
5:11 This pile on my desk; this pile in my bag. And there was no weeding done today. But I did get four things crossed off my to-do list!!
Times approximate
8:35 --Call WebGuy to let him know that I will be a few minutes late for the meeting: I have to drop the car at the shop because the power steering has decided it doesn't want to play nice.
8:37 --Since the walk from the car shop to the library takes me right past the doughnut shop...well....
9:05 --Hustle upstairs, box of doughnuts in hand (people in my dept duly doughnuted)
9:06 -- Meeting with RA and WebGuy. Discuss some details for new website. Conclude with need for me to draw squares and return them to WebGuy as promptly as possible.
10:20 -- Turn on computer, check email, check intranet for new incident reports and blog posts. Send emails to Madame Director and Madame Immediate Supervisor asking them for five minutes when they get it (separately--different topics/times); Add patron request to acquisition system; Email title to Teen Librarian to confer if I should buy a book or she should.
10:50 --Get call from Acquisitions Guru to understand that this particular sub-series in American Girl does not come through on the standing order but will be ordered today for patron requests. Bow to the wisdom of the Acquisitions Guru. Get call from machine knitter-- should she bring machine again? What day? Yes, March 25.
11:00 --Write out children's dept requirements for registration module for new calendar program
11:30 - 1 -- Draw physical layouts for children's website--where I want editable boxes for staff (draw squares--write in content specifications); Confirm some money details for Knit in Public day; Rewrite current to-do list and attempt to figure out what I can wade through in afternoon.
1 -5: On Desk- Answering reference questions, walking patrons to shelves, putting books on hold, pulling a teacher collection, create registration form for upcoming children's program, reseting children's game computers that require log out to get a game to end (several times), registering patrons for storytimes. Yes, we have tongue twister books --No, all of our copies of the Sneetches are out, can I put it on hold for you?
1:05 Madame Immediate Supervisor swings past desk to review layout of website main page and primary sub pages. Brief discussion on what will need to be updated, how often, and by whom. Meebo WebGuy to say I have my layouts ready.
1:15 Zooming on the computer screen doesn't mean it's going to print out a full sized page. It will print the original size of that image. No, we don't have a color printer down here. There is one upstairs in reference.
1:30 p.m. Review Knit In timeline and other details with Madame Director. Get approval for some purchases, discuss possibility of interviews with unique knitters in the community, debate where to get snacks from and where we can keep snacks for least amount of mess.
3:00 p.m. Is it three already? I've been sending out emails and confirming with my speaker, hammering out other details, begging for flyer expertise from Sibling-the-Elder [a graphic designer: I am not], WebGuy makes flying pass through children's to pick up layouts and point out immediate problems. I promise to discuss next week and have Parents/Educators site mapped out. As he leaves I advise not to lose my square layouts-- he just took my master copy!!
3:30 Visit from one of my pre-schoolers who is in day care now and can't come to storytime as regularly. I hear that the Mike Myers version of the Cat in the Hat movie was "Icky" and was turned off after ten minutes.
3:40 Teen Librarian comes by to discuss book purchases, make a recommendation, talk about Teen website layout, debate the hiring of new Gaming Assistant now that Former GA has moved across an ocean. Teen Librarian exits stage left serving as pied piper of gaming teen boys.
3:45 [phone] No I haven't seen your brother and we've talked about the fact I can't give out information like that over the phone --two minutes later brother walks out of the stacks--Your sister is looking for you. Brother mumbles okay and settles down at game computer with headphones on.
3:50 -- Who's working the weekend? Me. Learn of mayoral candidate to be in children's room on Saturday for meet and greet. (We're having all the primary candidates in for this little gathering. Not a debate, just a chance for voters to come by and ask questions in separate spaces in library.) Note to self: put on a little extra make-up Saturday morning--the press will be probably be here.
4:00-- Attempting to locate various picture books for 3 themes a day care provider is looking for. Success on most of the books. One appears to have vamoosed somewhere between circulation and the shelf in the past 24 hours.
4:40 Do NOT vault over the side of the boat. [3 foot drop] You could get hurt and I don't want anything happening. Alright? Look at me...alright? Okay.
4:42 Okay, off the boat. Yes I know it was him this time and not you but I just spoke to both of you and you're done for the day on the boat.
5:00 Hello Reference? Me. Is Head of TS still up there? This computer won't let me access the F: drive from a website. Yes the F: drive is functioning. On his way down? Awesome.
5:06 [phone] Hello Youth Services....yes, that was me calling from my cell. Five minutes? Okay...
5:10 He's off the boat, she's waiting for Head of TS--he'll be down in five, this teacher collection isn't fully pulled, I've got to get outside for the nice person driving me home. Would you list me on the intranet out until Saturday?
5:11 This pile on my desk; this pile in my bag. And there was no weeding done today. But I did get four things crossed off my to-do list!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Weeding with a Vengeance: The Last of the Music CDs
(The first part of the saga.)
Ahh the tracking of the elusive music cd. It's a slow hunt. A REALLY slow hunt.
My latest printout was about 40-50 sheets long. Truth be told, I didn't count. I just found out the hard way that it is taking me on average about 10 minutes per page to track down the cds that weren't on the shelf if there is nothing else distracting me. And I have 12 pages left at present count.
The process for each cd that isn't checked off yet:
Is the cd checked out?
If no, when did they get returned? If within last 10 days, I will assume it is actually here.
If they are recently returned or checked out--do I need to see them/pull for replacement? If yes, mark on list in green (if in) or place hold (if out).
If they are "in" but haven't been touched in a couple of months and weren't on the shelf when I went through it--go to another screen and mark them as missing. If someone returns/checks out the cd, they'll go back to regular status. If not, we'll look around a few more times and then there will be some pruning. Either way, once in a missing status patrons can't put holds on them, so there are fewer disappointed patrons and consequently, fewer frustrated staff.
One line at a time--and some of these pages have a full half page of stuff. The good news is that a surprising number of the cds that weren't on the shelf were checked out. I was envisioning a far greater number of missing records. I hadn't realized that many parents and kids were picking up music. Yay that.
And that money I got to replace cds? Well....let's just say I went a little over budget. So I have a healthy "back up list" that I'll pull from once we know final prices on the cds and probably well into next year's budget.
It's been a pretty hefty amount of work but, all in all, once I finish, it will have been just over a week. Not a bad time investment considering the return is happier staff who can find cds patrons ask for and hopefully happier patrons who can find enjoyable music on cds that are in good shape.
So I think it's worth my time, even if I still don't understand why the previous selector bought five copies of the Chicken Little soundtrack.
(For that matter--neither does she)
Ahh the tracking of the elusive music cd. It's a slow hunt. A REALLY slow hunt.
My latest printout was about 40-50 sheets long. Truth be told, I didn't count. I just found out the hard way that it is taking me on average about 10 minutes per page to track down the cds that weren't on the shelf if there is nothing else distracting me. And I have 12 pages left at present count.
The process for each cd that isn't checked off yet:
Is the cd checked out?
If no, when did they get returned? If within last 10 days, I will assume it is actually here.
If they are recently returned or checked out--do I need to see them/pull for replacement? If yes, mark on list in green (if in) or place hold (if out).
If they are "in" but haven't been touched in a couple of months and weren't on the shelf when I went through it--go to another screen and mark them as missing. If someone returns/checks out the cd, they'll go back to regular status. If not, we'll look around a few more times and then there will be some pruning. Either way, once in a missing status patrons can't put holds on them, so there are fewer disappointed patrons and consequently, fewer frustrated staff.
One line at a time--and some of these pages have a full half page of stuff. The good news is that a surprising number of the cds that weren't on the shelf were checked out. I was envisioning a far greater number of missing records. I hadn't realized that many parents and kids were picking up music. Yay that.
And that money I got to replace cds? Well....let's just say I went a little over budget. So I have a healthy "back up list" that I'll pull from once we know final prices on the cds and probably well into next year's budget.
It's been a pretty hefty amount of work but, all in all, once I finish, it will have been just over a week. Not a bad time investment considering the return is happier staff who can find cds patrons ask for and hopefully happier patrons who can find enjoyable music on cds that are in good shape.
So I think it's worth my time, even if I still don't understand why the previous selector bought five copies of the Chicken Little soundtrack.
(For that matter--neither does she)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
About the Canada story....
There's a story going around about how a knitting group has been ousted from a library.
Several people have passed this on to me as I happen to not only have a little yarn issue but I have a pretty healthy knitters group here at work. (And in the interest of full disclosure, we're going on a four month break after today-- we're going to do scrapbooking for a few months. Knitting will resume in January.)
I have a feeling we're not getting the full story. It's unclear if the knitting was library sponsored or was an outside group using the space. The Yarn Harlot mentions in today's post that this is a small branch open only part-time without a lot of programming space or staff. That is a very different space to try and coordinate as opposed to my children's department, where we have several spaces we could use for programming and I'm fortunate enough to have the time to take ninety minutes out of my schedule to supervise a small group of attendees while other staff is available to help patrons find books/check things in and out/etc. I have a solid group of knitters but not a huge one and that can be both positive and negative in the eyes of those higher up or in the community.
It is always difficult to know what to cut, what to change and what to promote. Libraries have missions and mission statements, with a focus on literacy and information literacy. Most libraries have increasingly restricted budgets and sky-rocketing materials costs, with patrons who think they should never have to wait more than five minutes after a release date for the latest best-seller or block buster movie. It's a delicate balance of buying copies to meet a need and spending all your money in one place. And trying to make space available to public groups while still having space/time for library programs is an even bigger headache.
I hope the library is successful in being able to create more literary focused programs and events that will appeal to their community. I hope the knitters step up and create a book group. I hope people understand this isn't about hating a specific craft or punishing anyone but trying to meet their mission and the literacy and information needs of their community. And for that book club may I recommend:
Shall I Knit You a Hat?
by Kate Klise
and
Chicks with Sticks (Knit Two Together)
by Elizabeth Lenhard
At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
to start?
(Stephanie even has audio books--they might be able to get together and listen to her read!)
Several people have passed this on to me as I happen to not only have a little yarn issue but I have a pretty healthy knitters group here at work. (And in the interest of full disclosure, we're going on a four month break after today-- we're going to do scrapbooking for a few months. Knitting will resume in January.)
I have a feeling we're not getting the full story. It's unclear if the knitting was library sponsored or was an outside group using the space. The Yarn Harlot mentions in today's post that this is a small branch open only part-time without a lot of programming space or staff. That is a very different space to try and coordinate as opposed to my children's department, where we have several spaces we could use for programming and I'm fortunate enough to have the time to take ninety minutes out of my schedule to supervise a small group of attendees while other staff is available to help patrons find books/check things in and out/etc. I have a solid group of knitters but not a huge one and that can be both positive and negative in the eyes of those higher up or in the community.
It is always difficult to know what to cut, what to change and what to promote. Libraries have missions and mission statements, with a focus on literacy and information literacy. Most libraries have increasingly restricted budgets and sky-rocketing materials costs, with patrons who think they should never have to wait more than five minutes after a release date for the latest best-seller or block buster movie. It's a delicate balance of buying copies to meet a need and spending all your money in one place. And trying to make space available to public groups while still having space/time for library programs is an even bigger headache.
I hope the library is successful in being able to create more literary focused programs and events that will appeal to their community. I hope the knitters step up and create a book group. I hope people understand this isn't about hating a specific craft or punishing anyone but trying to meet their mission and the literacy and information needs of their community. And for that book club may I recommend:
Shall I Knit You a Hat?
by Kate Klise
and
Chicks with Sticks (Knit Two Together)
by Elizabeth Lenhard
At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
to start?
(Stephanie even has audio books--they might be able to get together and listen to her read!)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thought Challenge Response
As yet, I have had the good fortune not to have a book challenged specifically to me. Occasionally, if asked, I've discussed more controversial books with parents (why was there so much fuss about the Higher Power of Lucky?). I've also found myself explaining a suggestion to a parent and seeing them shut down on me when they realize the book has a quality they find unacceptable. This I usually don't take personally--there are books that would have deal-breakers for me as well. But generally, I've been pretty fortunate.
Blogger/Librarian Jamie Larue provided the transcription of a challenge response for a new picture book that he expects will be challenged over the coming year. I share the link with you and strongly encourage you to read it--even if you're not a librarian. It's thoughtful, open minded, and practical. And I hope that I am able to be as thoughtful and considerate should the need arise.
Blogger/Librarian Jamie Larue provided the transcription of a challenge response for a new picture book that he expects will be challenged over the coming year. I share the link with you and strongly encourage you to read it--even if you're not a librarian. It's thoughtful, open minded, and practical. And I hope that I am able to be as thoughtful and considerate should the need arise.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Official Posting Notice for Youth Service Manager Job
Madame Director informs me that the formal job posting is up and I've seen it on a number of job boards. To the resumes!!
Seriously, if you are interested at all, I do recommend applying. There is a lot of potential for growth and development of this department. There is also a lot of potential for baked goods and (if I'm productive) occasional knitted surprises.
What do I think we're looking for? Someone dynamic, enthusiastic, leadership, whimsy, forward thinking, and ready to experiment. Are we willing to look nationally? Absolutely. I came from IL/NY, another reference librarian from OR and a new hire starting next month in another department is from FL. So there's an interesting mix between people who have lived here their entire years and people brand new to the area (and yes, brand new lasts the first 10 years of residence).
Please check out my other post and the job ad. Again, please feel free to send questions my way (email on the blog site) and pass to those you think should be applying.
Seriously, if you are interested at all, I do recommend applying. There is a lot of potential for growth and development of this department. There is also a lot of potential for baked goods and (if I'm productive) occasional knitted surprises.
What do I think we're looking for? Someone dynamic, enthusiastic, leadership, whimsy, forward thinking, and ready to experiment. Are we willing to look nationally? Absolutely. I came from IL/NY, another reference librarian from OR and a new hire starting next month in another department is from FL. So there's an interesting mix between people who have lived here their entire years and people brand new to the area (and yes, brand new lasts the first 10 years of residence).
Please check out my other post and the job ad. Again, please feel free to send questions my way (email on the blog site) and pass to those you think should be applying.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Want to Work With Me? Head of YS at LPL Position
I've been given a green light to start circulating this information though I don't have a formal job posting available for you as yet.
My immediate supervisor, our Head of Youth Services, will be retiring the first week of August. We are beginning a search for a replacement.
La Crosse, WI is a town of 50,000 on the banks of the Mississippi with a Main Library and two satellite branch libraries. Our youth services department is very lively, with highly attended storytimes and I've got a healthy knitting group that meets on Wednesdays. Our teen librarian does a lot with gaming, which draws in a high number of young men, and we're doing a lock-in in August. The community heavily uses the library and loves coming into our bright and cheerful children's area, where we have computers, puzzles, highly beloved bean bag chairs, and a vintage giraffe. It's a space built and intended for children and has the added benefit of being a little bit separated from the rest of the building, allowing for children to be a little noisier.
The youth services staff (head, 4FT, 2PT, 5 aides) is based at the main branch with forays to the branches for programming and collection development responsibilities. We had a dozen at tie-dying at one of the branches last week and eighty for a program on bi-lingual bugs. We are supported by the community and are blessed with an extremely dynamic director. The staff as a whole is coming to embrace social networking tools with internal blogs, wikis, etc. Our current website is being revamped, yours truly is responsible for the new youth and teen sites when they go up (October).
As many of you know, I came to LPL from Chicago Public Library last November. The staff has been very welcoming. The winter was one of the harsher ones I've survived--but the natives were saying that too, so apparently it wasn't just me. Three local coffee shops within a ten minute walk of the library--one of which makes good soup, another good donuts. If you want to buy there are a lot of houses for sale or there are a number of nice apartment complexes. And I know where to get good waffle fries but have not yet explored the banana splits.
If this sounds interesting, please email me questions and I'll be happy to answer what I can (my email is on my blog website). If you know someone who would be interested, please forward this on to them.
Once the official job posting goes out, I'll let you know.
And, as I said with our last position: We've got a hedgehog and a raccoon-- what can you add to the mix?
My immediate supervisor, our Head of Youth Services, will be retiring the first week of August. We are beginning a search for a replacement.
La Crosse, WI is a town of 50,000 on the banks of the Mississippi with a Main Library and two satellite branch libraries. Our youth services department is very lively, with highly attended storytimes and I've got a healthy knitting group that meets on Wednesdays. Our teen librarian does a lot with gaming, which draws in a high number of young men, and we're doing a lock-in in August. The community heavily uses the library and loves coming into our bright and cheerful children's area, where we have computers, puzzles, highly beloved bean bag chairs, and a vintage giraffe. It's a space built and intended for children and has the added benefit of being a little bit separated from the rest of the building, allowing for children to be a little noisier.
The youth services staff (head, 4FT, 2PT, 5 aides) is based at the main branch with forays to the branches for programming and collection development responsibilities. We had a dozen at tie-dying at one of the branches last week and eighty for a program on bi-lingual bugs. We are supported by the community and are blessed with an extremely dynamic director. The staff as a whole is coming to embrace social networking tools with internal blogs, wikis, etc. Our current website is being revamped, yours truly is responsible for the new youth and teen sites when they go up (October).
As many of you know, I came to LPL from Chicago Public Library last November. The staff has been very welcoming. The winter was one of the harsher ones I've survived--but the natives were saying that too, so apparently it wasn't just me. Three local coffee shops within a ten minute walk of the library--one of which makes good soup, another good donuts. If you want to buy there are a lot of houses for sale or there are a number of nice apartment complexes. And I know where to get good waffle fries but have not yet explored the banana splits.
If this sounds interesting, please email me questions and I'll be happy to answer what I can (my email is on my blog website). If you know someone who would be interested, please forward this on to them.
Once the official job posting goes out, I'll let you know.
And, as I said with our last position: We've got a hedgehog and a raccoon-- what can you add to the mix?
Friday, June 20, 2008
A View from the Pigeon Hole
A bit of rant this morning.
As noted before, I have to re-up for ALA this week and I'm not especially pleased about spending another year getting my email filled with yet more ads and having them send me shiny magazines with, at best, two articles each that are written with someone obviously other than me in mind. I understand not everyone has the fascination with RSS feeds that I do but the fact that I'm still seeing a proliferation of "understanding the very basics of xyz 2.0" articles and presentations scares me a wee bit.
I'm still frustrated at the base price of ALA, which provides me with said shiny magazine, a membership card, and discounted prices at conferences where I still have to pay to present. Assuming, of course, that I'd like to spend $1500+ hauling off to each of the bi-annual conferences. [Have you seen airline prices these days?] But what really irritates me is that there is very little place for involvement that doesn't shunt one into a division (at least $35-$50 extra dollars per division) based on library type. I could just join roundtables, which I've done in the past, but I feel like I'm not getting enough out of all of this library networking that we young professionals are supposed to be doing.
Others have tried to argue to me that "you can get cross-library experience in any division." I'm sure that may be true to some degree. However, I generally disagree. In a division you're focused on the problems and needs of that type of library and while some of those problems are universal (funding), many of them are not (best in early literacy). And really, if you're an academic librarian hiring another academic librarian, are you going to be looking with more interest at a resume of a public librarian who was in ALSC or an academic librarian whose name you've heard through ACRL? We are a profession of networkers and that still primarily comes through our divisions. Nothing says pigeon-hole to me like the ALA divisions.
I understand the necessity of grouping like things with like. Certainly college libraries are faced with different challenges than public libraries. But this strongly forced wedging of us means that it is at relatively great expense that we try to branch out to other types of librarianship. Also--my business card says Youth Services Librarian, La Crosse Public Library. Tell me, how many people on appointing committees for ACRL and RUSA would take me seriously? Would I truly be welcome in those divisions? Am I the only one hearing the sound of "Oh, well, she's just a children's librarian" with a polite pat on the head and shuffling me off back more appropriate divisions for my current work? I've already encountered professional condescension because I just work with children. It seems to baffle quite a lot of people that, while yes, I enjoy working with children, it might not be my only aspiration in my professional career.
Librarianship is supposed to be a flexible profession. And certainly I have met, heard of, and talked to librarians who have worked in all manner of libraries. They seem to be, however, the exceptions. Perhaps this is the choice of the professionals. But without our national organization (ALA) strongly encouraging and providing opportunities for us to find what else is out there, isn't it shunting people into neat boxes?
Though not presently job hunting, it is a concern I've had in the past and a legitimate barrier that I've run into that people get hung up on my current job title and forget the flexibility of the training we all underwent. And while I think there are many people in PLA who would be amazing to work with and fascinating to learn from, I wonder as I contemplate that check box on my ALA renewal if it will make me that much more pegged into a specific job type. Of course, professional involvement and professional development will always be what you make of it. I know that and I know I can only reap whatever I'm willing to put into my participation at ALA. I just wish there was a better way to explore more of ALA and more of librarianship without spending the equivalent of a month or two's rent, or at least more easily realized returns which made the investment feel worthwhile.
For those non-library people:
ALA --American Library Association
ALSC--Association for Library Service to Children
ACRL--Assocation of College and Research Libraries
RUSA--Reference and User Services Association
PLA--Public Library Association
As noted before, I have to re-up for ALA this week and I'm not especially pleased about spending another year getting my email filled with yet more ads and having them send me shiny magazines with, at best, two articles each that are written with someone obviously other than me in mind. I understand not everyone has the fascination with RSS feeds that I do but the fact that I'm still seeing a proliferation of "understanding the very basics of xyz 2.0" articles and presentations scares me a wee bit.
I'm still frustrated at the base price of ALA, which provides me with said shiny magazine, a membership card, and discounted prices at conferences where I still have to pay to present. Assuming, of course, that I'd like to spend $1500+ hauling off to each of the bi-annual conferences. [Have you seen airline prices these days?] But what really irritates me is that there is very little place for involvement that doesn't shunt one into a division (at least $35-$50 extra dollars per division) based on library type. I could just join roundtables, which I've done in the past, but I feel like I'm not getting enough out of all of this library networking that we young professionals are supposed to be doing.
Others have tried to argue to me that "you can get cross-library experience in any division." I'm sure that may be true to some degree. However, I generally disagree. In a division you're focused on the problems and needs of that type of library and while some of those problems are universal (funding), many of them are not (best in early literacy). And really, if you're an academic librarian hiring another academic librarian, are you going to be looking with more interest at a resume of a public librarian who was in ALSC or an academic librarian whose name you've heard through ACRL? We are a profession of networkers and that still primarily comes through our divisions. Nothing says pigeon-hole to me like the ALA divisions.
I understand the necessity of grouping like things with like. Certainly college libraries are faced with different challenges than public libraries. But this strongly forced wedging of us means that it is at relatively great expense that we try to branch out to other types of librarianship. Also--my business card says Youth Services Librarian, La Crosse Public Library. Tell me, how many people on appointing committees for ACRL and RUSA would take me seriously? Would I truly be welcome in those divisions? Am I the only one hearing the sound of "Oh, well, she's just a children's librarian" with a polite pat on the head and shuffling me off back more appropriate divisions for my current work? I've already encountered professional condescension because I just work with children. It seems to baffle quite a lot of people that, while yes, I enjoy working with children, it might not be my only aspiration in my professional career.
Librarianship is supposed to be a flexible profession. And certainly I have met, heard of, and talked to librarians who have worked in all manner of libraries. They seem to be, however, the exceptions. Perhaps this is the choice of the professionals. But without our national organization (ALA) strongly encouraging and providing opportunities for us to find what else is out there, isn't it shunting people into neat boxes?
Though not presently job hunting, it is a concern I've had in the past and a legitimate barrier that I've run into that people get hung up on my current job title and forget the flexibility of the training we all underwent. And while I think there are many people in PLA who would be amazing to work with and fascinating to learn from, I wonder as I contemplate that check box on my ALA renewal if it will make me that much more pegged into a specific job type. Of course, professional involvement and professional development will always be what you make of it. I know that and I know I can only reap whatever I'm willing to put into my participation at ALA. I just wish there was a better way to explore more of ALA and more of librarianship without spending the equivalent of a month or two's rent, or at least more easily realized returns which made the investment feel worthwhile.
For those non-library people:
ALA --American Library Association
ALSC--Association for Library Service to Children
ACRL--Assocation of College and Research Libraries
RUSA--Reference and User Services Association
PLA--Public Library Association
Monday, June 09, 2008
Down to the Wire on ALA
My membership in ALA lapses at the end of the month so it is coming close to time to decide if I'll renew another year. I assume I probably will--at least a basic membership--though I'd rather spend the $120 on many other things. I feel like I need to give it another year and another solid "try" before fully giving up on it and since Madame Director is about as supportive as anyone I'll be able to find...now is a good time.
Reminder that there is a survey for members on electronic participation. Karen's got the details. Please, please, please if you're a member go over and fill this out. Insert cynical comment about how fast change will come here...but change must come.
Reminder that there is a survey for members on electronic participation. Karen's got the details. Please, please, please if you're a member go over and fill this out. Insert cynical comment about how fast change will come here...but change must come.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Not Just a Name on a Screen
I had the chance to meet David Rothman in person yesterday. We frolicked amongst the MLA Poster sessions (that's me right there in the beginning, the short one with the beads) and joined in the enthusiasm and occasional snarkiness of that many cool people stuffed into one place. I was carrying a knitting project with me, which sparked at least three conversations. Yarn--it's a unifier!
It was quite the reinforcement of the changing face of communication that, other than the fact we'd never actually HAD a cup of coffee together before, David and I have been friends for at least three years. Instead of any first meeting strangeness, it was catching up with an old friend, sharing crazy stories and scheming.
And, at his repeated pestering over three hours, I finally agreed to consider giving Twitter a try. I hopped in this morning and within seconds had friends and colleagues signing up to follow yet another form of my random stream of consciousness. I'm using the same screen name as I have on Meebo (hedgielib). So, apparently, at least for a few weeks, I twit.
Ahh this wonderful world of the interwebs. It means I respond in public to "Hedgie," that I have managed to send a meme overseas (thanks Jennie), and that I have the chance to be regularly inspired by people I may never "actually meet."
It was quite the reinforcement of the changing face of communication that, other than the fact we'd never actually HAD a cup of coffee together before, David and I have been friends for at least three years. Instead of any first meeting strangeness, it was catching up with an old friend, sharing crazy stories and scheming.
And, at his repeated pestering over three hours, I finally agreed to consider giving Twitter a try. I hopped in this morning and within seconds had friends and colleagues signing up to follow yet another form of my random stream of consciousness. I'm using the same screen name as I have on Meebo (hedgielib). So, apparently, at least for a few weeks, I twit.
Ahh this wonderful world of the interwebs. It means I respond in public to "Hedgie," that I have managed to send a meme overseas (thanks Jennie), and that I have the chance to be regularly inspired by people I may never "actually meet."
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Really...Carpeting
The children's area of the library has a boat on which small children are fond of running, stomping, and gleefully playing make believe. Recently, we put in carpeting where the wooden floor was--to help prevent small feet from sliding quite so much and to perhaps make it a little bit softer when they do fling themselves "on the deck."
But at a first glance, would you call this carpeting?
It's a very dense "carpet" with a rubber backing, and isn't supposed to absorb spills. We have not yet tested this but no doubt will have opportunity to do so. Not sure I'd put it through the home but certainly a consideration for a basement.
(Thanks to Tim for the picture)
But at a first glance, would you call this carpeting?
It's a very dense "carpet" with a rubber backing, and isn't supposed to absorb spills. We have not yet tested this but no doubt will have opportunity to do so. Not sure I'd put it through the home but certainly a consideration for a basement.
(Thanks to Tim for the picture)
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wondering When They'll Pursue Young "Adults"
To read a lot of library professional literature, or to read just about any positive news story about libraries of the moment, there is currently a huge focus on teens. The stories proclaim that nurturing teens means cultivating future patrons and support. So libraries cater and plan to the best of their abilities to get teens into the library- to stuff them full of snacks and play video games.
Before certain bloggers jump down my throat, I'll say up front I'm not 'against' gaming. This shouldn't be taken as an anti-gaming diatribe to be used as an excuse to tell me that I'm not "with the movement of the future." We have gaming, I've helped with gaming, I can understand it and appreciate its value without finding it particularly interesting. I can also do readers advisory for genres I find utterly tedious. But a lot of teens don't game and are getting passed over in this rush to grab the gamers. (I'm also not against snacks but it's occasionally frustrating to know one of the only ways we'll get teens in the door is to have food.)
It raises the question: what happens once they turn 18 or 21? What happens when at 25, they've moved beyond high school or college and are ready for something different? Are libraries stepping up?
Consider your adult programming: Are your adult services librarians reaching out with as much enthusiasm to patrons in their 20s and 30s as your YA librarians are to the teens? Are you as aggressive about meeting the needs of new home owners or independent business starters, those newly independent from parental homes, adults who have newly relocated to your area, or just people who are looking for others with whom they share a common literary interest? Is the majority of your adult programming done at times inconvenient to working adults or is it very limited in its appeal? I know, we can't be all things to all people, but I've encountered libraries where it seemed they weren't being anything to anyone of those age groups beyond a repository of materials.
There's a weird break that I've come across in library public programming: tons of stuff for kids, an increasing level of programs for teens, and then--seniors. While these are all valuable age groups to consider and program for, that cuts out about 35-40 years of people, many of whom are active library users and who are tax payers supporting public libraries.
Certainly with the increasing focus on gaming you could offer gaming programs for adults. But while the number of gaming adults is increasing, there are many adults who--like me--aren't interested in a library program based around a Wii or an RPG. I hear rumors of libraries making a concerted effort to reach out to adults with appropriate computer classes, programs on cooking or home buying, and business development assistance. I recently heard of one librarian who took a strong group of "aged out teens" and developed an adult version of their popular manga/anime club. I hope that's a growing trend.
I worry that some libraries run the risk of over-cultivating the teens. Is the concern being raised that we could potentially fall flat on our faces if teens feel they've outgrown us once they've left high school? Our teen librarians are working like crazy to keep them involved, what is happening to make them care beyond their 19th birthday?
One side note--it's broader than libraries. There's a trend to write and read more young adult and teen literature. While in many ways this is admirable, bringing out new writers and new voices and a wealth of enjoyable books--we're also seeing backlash of adults finding it unacceptable that other adults aren't reading "adult" books. If the good books are in teen though...
I'm pleased to see such a growth of outreach to teens. As much as I laud preschool storytime, it's wonderful to plan programs for youth old enough to have a "craft" with small pieces and hot glue. I'm glad there are librarians with enthusiasm and drive that are pouring their passion into making their libraries a teen-friendly place. I love and read a lot of the new literature coming out for young adults.
But I've grown weary of the magazine covers celebrating all things teen gamer. I'd like to hear about more things that worked to engage those just post-collegiate or ideas that we can use for our teen programming that may translate better into adult programs. Younger adults too are seeking their identity. Why not make the library a part of it?
Friday, March 21, 2008
Recognizing Professionals
Rachel Singer Gordon has a very thoughtful post about what it means to be a librarian and the times when one can separate the degree from the word.
I found myself nodding through most of Rachel's post and I suggest you take a read through it. She makes some excellent points that cut through much of the blustering about who is a professional and who isn't.
Rachel's post was somewhat prompted by snobbish backlash to this year's LJ Movers and Shakers. I've seen similar snobbery not only online in blogs and listservs but also I have seen it used as an excuse to devalue excellent people whose work is that of professionals in libraries. I'm rather particular about putting my degree on my business cards and formal letters sent out to the community because I'm proud of my education and there are times when reminding people that I do have an advanced degree is helpful. But when I need help, I'm also very likely to call the Incredibly-Patient-Mother, who ran a children's department for seven years without an MLS.
There are benefits to the degree, certainly. I think we're starting to see trends in the LIS programs that will make the degree stronger and more useful to the graduates, as opposed to being just the piece of paper needed to advance. On the flip side, the majority of the library students I knew (and know) are already working in libraries. They're taking the skills they've learned on the job back into the classroom.
In the real world we see different kinds of "professional." I know "library professionals" who have stopped learning, which is baffling for me as an information omnivore. Although fully burnt out when I finished library school, I'm probably headed back into some kind of formal coursework in the fall. I thrive in school. I know "paraprofessionals" who are continuing their education, some of them even including library school, and who, in a few years, are much more likely to be scampering up that professional ladder, gaining further recognition and accolades for their work in the community. How can we not recognize their achievements thus far based on lack of occasionally mind numbing coursework?
The nominations for the 2009 Movers and Shakers are open. To quote the requirements:
Something to keep in mind for those working as librarians who do not yet have an MLS. (This is a rehash of the nagging lectures I give to friends who are working in libraries.) Consider the future and if you will want to change jobs or move to a new location. If so, go and read the job ads. If the majority of the job ads for what you are doing require the degree, it is probably in your best interest to look into completing it. I would hate to see you unable to continue your work or find equal because the hiring place has that requirement in place and you are unable to meet it. I would hope that if you are the best person for the job you would still be considered, but have, as a candidate, been disqualified for enough other reasons that I wouldn't want to not give the committee an obvious one.
And for the record, one of the most motivating reasons I went to library school was a reference librarian at my hometown public library. Marcia was always welcoming and inspiring as I bounced through ideas of becoming a journalist, a writer, a professor and all other manner of English major things. It wasn't until just before she recently retired that anyone bothered to point out to me that she hadn't gotten her master's degree. And really, it didn't matter--She was a professional librarian.
I found myself nodding through most of Rachel's post and I suggest you take a read through it. She makes some excellent points that cut through much of the blustering about who is a professional and who isn't.
Rachel's post was somewhat prompted by snobbish backlash to this year's LJ Movers and Shakers. I've seen similar snobbery not only online in blogs and listservs but also I have seen it used as an excuse to devalue excellent people whose work is that of professionals in libraries. I'm rather particular about putting my degree on my business cards and formal letters sent out to the community because I'm proud of my education and there are times when reminding people that I do have an advanced degree is helpful. But when I need help, I'm also very likely to call the Incredibly-Patient-Mother, who ran a children's department for seven years without an MLS.
There are benefits to the degree, certainly. I think we're starting to see trends in the LIS programs that will make the degree stronger and more useful to the graduates, as opposed to being just the piece of paper needed to advance. On the flip side, the majority of the library students I knew (and know) are already working in libraries. They're taking the skills they've learned on the job back into the classroom.
In the real world we see different kinds of "professional." I know "library professionals" who have stopped learning, which is baffling for me as an information omnivore. Although fully burnt out when I finished library school, I'm probably headed back into some kind of formal coursework in the fall. I thrive in school. I know "paraprofessionals" who are continuing their education, some of them even including library school, and who, in a few years, are much more likely to be scampering up that professional ladder, gaining further recognition and accolades for their work in the community. How can we not recognize their achievements thus far based on lack of occasionally mind numbing coursework?
The nominations for the 2009 Movers and Shakers are open. To quote the requirements:
The editors of Library Journal need your help in identifying the emerging leaders in the library world. Our eighth annual Movers & Shakers supplement will profile 50-plus up-and-coming individuals from across the United States and Canada who are innovative, creative, and making a difference. From librarians to vendors to others who work in the library field, Movers & Shakers 2009 will celebrate the new professionals who are moving our libraries ahead.I don't see a field that requires degree date and transcripts.
Something to keep in mind for those working as librarians who do not yet have an MLS. (This is a rehash of the nagging lectures I give to friends who are working in libraries.) Consider the future and if you will want to change jobs or move to a new location. If so, go and read the job ads. If the majority of the job ads for what you are doing require the degree, it is probably in your best interest to look into completing it. I would hate to see you unable to continue your work or find equal because the hiring place has that requirement in place and you are unable to meet it. I would hope that if you are the best person for the job you would still be considered, but have, as a candidate, been disqualified for enough other reasons that I wouldn't want to not give the committee an obvious one.
And for the record, one of the most motivating reasons I went to library school was a reference librarian at my hometown public library. Marcia was always welcoming and inspiring as I bounced through ideas of becoming a journalist, a writer, a professor and all other manner of English major things. It wasn't until just before she recently retired that anyone bothered to point out to me that she hadn't gotten her master's degree. And really, it didn't matter--She was a professional librarian.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Speaking of Knowing People
Congratulations to the 2008 Movers and Shakers. A list with names and blogs is available over at Librarian by Day. It's wonderful to see recognition given to people who are innovating--libraries need you and I'm inspired to share the profession with you.
A special hat tip to David!
A special hat tip to David!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Apply Storytime as Necessary
Wednesday mornings are always a little dose of sunshine during the week--for that's preschool storytime.
The 'preschool' time is a challenge to prepare because it is our "drop in" story time. Thus I have no one formally registered, no clue on how many I'll have week to week, and an age range generally running from 2-6. Development levels are all over the place. I use crafts sparingly, usually focusing on more physical activities rather than crafts as they don't require manual dexterity the 19 month olds don't have and which can be expanded to a broader age group without the five year olds being bored and "done" in .5 seconds.
I usually prep on Tuesday nights, finding picture books appropriate for whatever theme I'm doing (today was trains), semi-memorizing action rhymes that help reinforce what we're talking about, debating the use of a flannel board activity, figuring out a little early literacy tip to sneak in, and if I'm a week ahead of time-working on a craft. I did use a video a couple of weeks ago--our copy of Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats was out and we have it in video from Scholastic--a really nice gentle version. But that's a rarity for my story times.
I close Tuesday nights and have never professed myself to be a morning person, so Wednesdays aren't my favorite morning to roll out of bed. The residual lethargy slips away about 10:07 a.m. when I head into our story time area. This is, quite literally, a Mississippi riverboat. There is a deck outside the room and the kids have a fabulous time climbing all over it, pretending more boat stories that I could ever imagine, and frolicking on the carpet that truly looks like hard wood flooring.
Young children are marvelously enthusiastic, particularly in story time. At 10:15 I ring the bell on the boat to call everyone in and from the second they race for their carpet squares, the energy is teeming. Now I'm faced with excited children, some forward and some shy, all anticipating and that's as powerful a wake up as a Starbucks Double Shot. There's a 'hello' song to pull their focus and we're off into adventuresome tales. Toss in an action rhyme and the required 'head and shoulders'-- which we have to do (at P's demand today) "REALLY fast!!" and 35 minutes flies by without a thought. We finished with a little parachute time today--circling around while singing "Little Red Caboose" and then letting them shake the parachute and run under it. I've never quite understood the parachute fascination, but I think if I had the opportunity to lay under one sometime, I might.
It's one of the best half hours of my week, that chance to be with children who are happy to be there, introduce funny stories on familiar and new subjects, and find a way to change it up just enough to keep it fresh for the parents and myself. It's a lovely way to set aside the rest of the world for a few moments and allow our imaginations to run free.
And besides, how often do you get to say "After a rousing round of 'Hot Potato'..."
The 'preschool' time is a challenge to prepare because it is our "drop in" story time. Thus I have no one formally registered, no clue on how many I'll have week to week, and an age range generally running from 2-6. Development levels are all over the place. I use crafts sparingly, usually focusing on more physical activities rather than crafts as they don't require manual dexterity the 19 month olds don't have and which can be expanded to a broader age group without the five year olds being bored and "done" in .5 seconds.
I usually prep on Tuesday nights, finding picture books appropriate for whatever theme I'm doing (today was trains), semi-memorizing action rhymes that help reinforce what we're talking about, debating the use of a flannel board activity, figuring out a little early literacy tip to sneak in, and if I'm a week ahead of time-working on a craft. I did use a video a couple of weeks ago--our copy of Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats was out and we have it in video from Scholastic--a really nice gentle version. But that's a rarity for my story times.
I close Tuesday nights and have never professed myself to be a morning person, so Wednesdays aren't my favorite morning to roll out of bed. The residual lethargy slips away about 10:07 a.m. when I head into our story time area. This is, quite literally, a Mississippi riverboat. There is a deck outside the room and the kids have a fabulous time climbing all over it, pretending more boat stories that I could ever imagine, and frolicking on the carpet that truly looks like hard wood flooring.
Young children are marvelously enthusiastic, particularly in story time. At 10:15 I ring the bell on the boat to call everyone in and from the second they race for their carpet squares, the energy is teeming. Now I'm faced with excited children, some forward and some shy, all anticipating and that's as powerful a wake up as a Starbucks Double Shot. There's a 'hello' song to pull their focus and we're off into adventuresome tales. Toss in an action rhyme and the required 'head and shoulders'-- which we have to do (at P's demand today) "REALLY fast!!" and 35 minutes flies by without a thought. We finished with a little parachute time today--circling around while singing "Little Red Caboose" and then letting them shake the parachute and run under it. I've never quite understood the parachute fascination, but I think if I had the opportunity to lay under one sometime, I might.
It's one of the best half hours of my week, that chance to be with children who are happy to be there, introduce funny stories on familiar and new subjects, and find a way to change it up just enough to keep it fresh for the parents and myself. It's a lovely way to set aside the rest of the world for a few moments and allow our imaginations to run free.
And besides, how often do you get to say "After a rousing round of 'Hot Potato'..."
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Forbidden Question: Salary
It came up again on a listserv tonight--a frantic interviewee wondering when she could ask about the salary for a position. Immediately the responses poured in: You never ask.
Why is that? Explain this to me me. First of all, I have a serious issue with a job advertisement that doesn't list at the minimum a range. But that's for another time and place. Why does it make me the "loser" --as one person put it--to ask about money in an interview? While we all are coming to our professions for various reasons and while we would hope we are pursuing something we love--this is a job. We're interviewing because we'd like to get paid so we can afford an apartment, food, and whatever your equivalent of yarn is. There's an amount we can afford to work for and an amount we can't. A few years ago I turned down an in person interview because it was a position in Manhattan and they wanted to offer me $26K. I couldn't make rent on that--so, for me it wasn't worth even wasting my time on an interview I wasn't very sure about anyway.
I dislike the idea of waiting until getting a job offer to hear the salary. To me, that's tacky and somewhat shady on the part of the employer. If you can't give me an exact figure, that's fine, but give me a range or a minimum. You expect me to come in and present myself, explain why I want to work for you, explain how I will benefit and aid your company/library etc. Do me the courtesy of addressing something that you know is on my mind--the size of the paycheck. If you get it out of the way, I'm a lot less likely to worry about it and more likely to be able to answer your other questions. If you don't tell me, I'm going to sit through the next hour with you worrying that you're going to offer me this job--which I want-- and I'll have to decline because it will never cover my financial needs. Many young librarians have heavy student loan debts--they need to find something to support them through paying them off. Why waste your time and mine by not being upfront?
The interviewee had the idea she might wait until the end when they asked if they had any more questions and inquire about a range. I agreed with this idea--but suggested she lead off with another question or two first so it wasn't a sharp transition. I also gave the suggestion of waiting and calling the Human Resources Department/Business Manager after the interview. That way it's not something you need to address that day. I know in most libraries it will get back to the interviewing panel that you called and asked but I don't think it should be to the interviewee's detriment. You can phrase it as "I was there interviewing the other day and when I got home, I realized I had forgotten to ask about the salary range for this position."
Why is salary a forbidden question? Do employers not realize that a lack of salary in the job ad makes me automatically assume they're not paying much? Why is it that when we're spending it money is something to brag about, but when we're earning it, it's a filthy subject?
Grumble...
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Knitting Club at the Library: Week One
So amongst the chaos of raving after-school children that were unmannerly trying to cause utter disaster in my library today, I pulled 8 girls into our auditorium for week one of Knitting Club. It was not intended to be only girls--but only girls signed up. It was supposed to be ten--but two girls were not able to arrive because their father was in an accident and mom wasn't home from work yet. Rumor had it a half dozen adults were planning to join us (bring your own materials). None did. (Anybody want to come next week?)
So after a morning spent trying to diffuse personality bombs and bring peace, harmony and lightly amusing commentary to the world at large--I now had eight balls of energy to try and bring to heel and knitting.
Okay. So, first we looked at some knitting examples that either I or my roommate had made. They liked some of the stuff, I think either a shawl that I made or my roommate's ruffle scarf probably would have tied for most popular. Then everyone was given needles and got to pick out a colorful yarn. Now we get to create those first few stitches--a knitting technique called casting on. I'm told that I do it in an unusual way but as far as I can remember, it's the way I was taught and it works. I've taught adults this method with success--usually in five-ten minutes.
The girls took 40 minutes to grasp the concept. Apparently making a loop around one's thumb with a piece of yarn is difficult. All but one finally managed to get it--with one girl taking it to it like a fish to water (her needle was stuffed with stitches.) Then we moved for the last twenty minutes to basic knit stitch. I have never seen such disasters.
I'm sure my grandmother did--when she was teaching me to knit when I was seven. But by the time I was 10 and older--which is the average age of the girls I have--I was the lone kid in a knitting class as my local library and while not fast, I was pretty good at ye olde basic knit stitch. And after they figured out what I was doing wrong whilst purling and put an adult on me for an hour to watch my hands...I had that one too.
I ended up working in the auditorium for an hour after the class. Until about 6:15 I still had my full complement of girls. Slowly they trickled out until I was left with the two youngest and most frustrated. With one in a chair on either side of me, we went over and over and over the steps: push the empty needle in through the bottom of the stitch, making an X with the needles (empty needle in back); now hold both needles in the X with your left hand (no, your other left hand); the yarn attached the skein is behind the needles and you can pull it out to the right--now wrap it counter clockwise around the back needle (pause to explain counter clockwise) and between the needles; let go of the yarn; Pick up the yarn and the back needle (empty needle, right hand needle--whatever) with your right hand; spread the needles apart a bit--see the yarn you wrapped is now between them? ; Okay, pull the right needle down and make a new loop with that yarn that's in between it (This stage takes FOREVER); Now slide the old loop/stitch off the left hand/full needle.
Both were incredibly frustrated--one complaining with loud regularity that it was too hard. I kept saying that no it wasn't and she could do it. Interestingly--while she complained, she also was the most vigilant about wanting to try again. Finally--when she had two needles that were nowhere CLOSE to the same size as each other--she could see how to make the loop. She managed four knit stitches by herself. The other young girl was less vocal but just as frustrated. When I was able to demonstrate to her though without the noise and rambunctious energy of the other girls, she picked up a little faster and said it was much nicer with just us.
Both told me it was "getting easier" and they'll be back next week. I have four weeks to try and get these girls to make it through a couple of rows of knitting. I told the girls that if/only if it's dead quiet in the library we'll add in some extra knitting time other than Thursdays.
Angels and ministers...
So after a morning spent trying to diffuse personality bombs and bring peace, harmony and lightly amusing commentary to the world at large--I now had eight balls of energy to try and bring to heel and knitting.
Okay. So, first we looked at some knitting examples that either I or my roommate had made. They liked some of the stuff, I think either a shawl that I made or my roommate's ruffle scarf probably would have tied for most popular. Then everyone was given needles and got to pick out a colorful yarn. Now we get to create those first few stitches--a knitting technique called casting on. I'm told that I do it in an unusual way but as far as I can remember, it's the way I was taught and it works. I've taught adults this method with success--usually in five-ten minutes.
The girls took 40 minutes to grasp the concept. Apparently making a loop around one's thumb with a piece of yarn is difficult. All but one finally managed to get it--with one girl taking it to it like a fish to water (her needle was stuffed with stitches.) Then we moved for the last twenty minutes to basic knit stitch. I have never seen such disasters.
I'm sure my grandmother did--when she was teaching me to knit when I was seven. But by the time I was 10 and older--which is the average age of the girls I have--I was the lone kid in a knitting class as my local library and while not fast, I was pretty good at ye olde basic knit stitch. And after they figured out what I was doing wrong whilst purling and put an adult on me for an hour to watch my hands...I had that one too.
I ended up working in the auditorium for an hour after the class. Until about 6:15 I still had my full complement of girls. Slowly they trickled out until I was left with the two youngest and most frustrated. With one in a chair on either side of me, we went over and over and over the steps: push the empty needle in through the bottom of the stitch, making an X with the needles (empty needle in back); now hold both needles in the X with your left hand (no, your other left hand); the yarn attached the skein is behind the needles and you can pull it out to the right--now wrap it counter clockwise around the back needle (pause to explain counter clockwise) and between the needles; let go of the yarn; Pick up the yarn and the back needle (empty needle, right hand needle--whatever) with your right hand; spread the needles apart a bit--see the yarn you wrapped is now between them? ; Okay, pull the right needle down and make a new loop with that yarn that's in between it (This stage takes FOREVER); Now slide the old loop/stitch off the left hand/full needle.
Both were incredibly frustrated--one complaining with loud regularity that it was too hard. I kept saying that no it wasn't and she could do it. Interestingly--while she complained, she also was the most vigilant about wanting to try again. Finally--when she had two needles that were nowhere CLOSE to the same size as each other--she could see how to make the loop. She managed four knit stitches by herself. The other young girl was less vocal but just as frustrated. When I was able to demonstrate to her though without the noise and rambunctious energy of the other girls, she picked up a little faster and said it was much nicer with just us.
Both told me it was "getting easier" and they'll be back next week. I have four weeks to try and get these girls to make it through a couple of rows of knitting. I told the girls that if/only if it's dead quiet in the library we'll add in some extra knitting time other than Thursdays.
Angels and ministers...
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Get Out and Participate!
Cheers and Happy Valentines Day! I think we got less than a foot of snow and if my sister can make it back from Washington DC in one piece, we'll be excellent. (She's at the airport and has actually seen a plane taxi! A positive start)
Although the week hasn't been especially exciting a couple of things have cropped up and I'm starting to feel energy coming back again so perhaps I'm emerging early from winter hibernation.
Item one: an article proposal was accepted! Yay! So now I have a couple of months to put that together and see what coherent piece I can come up with for said newsletter.
Item two: I'm judging a romance novel contest! Giggle all you want but if you have seen what little I've managed to get into my LibraryThing thus far, most of it is from the romance shelves in my bedroom. It's my version of television and it's a lot easier to stop at the end of a paragraph and come back a week later. Also--no commercials. There isn't even product placement! It's fabulous!!
I'd also like to start doing book reviews but I'm a little concerned that my "affiliation" of "freelancer" will be a turnoff. I'd love to have a glossy place of work for you--truly I would--but I'm paying the bills with MS Access.
What are you doing this spring to participate? Any book/resource selection places you recommend I apply to? Enjoying the glut of chocolate and pink/red hearts?
Although the week hasn't been especially exciting a couple of things have cropped up and I'm starting to feel energy coming back again so perhaps I'm emerging early from winter hibernation.
Item one: an article proposal was accepted! Yay! So now I have a couple of months to put that together and see what coherent piece I can come up with for said newsletter.
Item two: I'm judging a romance novel contest! Giggle all you want but if you have seen what little I've managed to get into my LibraryThing thus far, most of it is from the romance shelves in my bedroom. It's my version of television and it's a lot easier to stop at the end of a paragraph and come back a week later. Also--no commercials. There isn't even product placement! It's fabulous!!
I'd also like to start doing book reviews but I'm a little concerned that my "affiliation" of "freelancer" will be a turnoff. I'd love to have a glossy place of work for you--truly I would--but I'm paying the bills with MS Access.
What are you doing this spring to participate? Any book/resource selection places you recommend I apply to? Enjoying the glut of chocolate and pink/red hearts?
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