Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

Though Summer Reading doesn't officially start until Monday, today's a big day--our 2nd Annual Summer Reading Kick-Off, which brought in over 500 people last year! A day of fun: a Used Book Sale, Touch a Truck, 4-H animals, Face Painting, and OF COURSE signing up for Summer Reading 2014!! I'm deep breathing and checking my list for any last minute things that might arise...I think we're ready!

We are always super pumped when a new Mo Willems book comes out, especially when it's that silly, funny duo, Gerald (Elephant) & Piggie. Willem's newest book, due out June 3rd, arrived at Sticks Library today, taken from the box by a very excited Prairie Dawn, who exclaimed, "ELEPHANT & PIGGIE ARE HERE!!" (She's pretty enthusiastic about most things--one of the things I love about working with her!) My New Friend is So Fun! is a story about friendship, both new and old, but also in wonderfully illustrated, simply and lovely laid out Mo Willems style, covers that feeling we get when our dearest friends hang out with someone new that's so fun, so so fun! That little voice in your head that makes you wonder if you're replaceable and maybe not as so fun, so so fun ! maybe not even best friends anymore...but also in Willems style there is sweetness and a lovely ending. I won't say more, because let's be honest, Willems' books are as much

From Ohio Library Council's Access Weekly:   "House Committee Unanimously Passes OLC eBook Resolutions Last Thursday , the Ohio House of Representatives State and Local Government Committee unanimously reported Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 and House Concurrent Resolution 50 out of committee. Both resolutions urge members of Congress to seek a solution that would ensure public libraries have access to eBook materials. Kim Fender, Director, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, and Chair, OLC Government Relations Committee, testified as a proponent of the measures on behalf of the OLC prior to the vote. Click here for a copy of her testimony. Both resolutions now move to the House floor for consideration by the full chamber." Why is this even an issue, you ask? In the simplest of terms (from the Connecticut General Assembly page on, " H.B. No. 5614, Session Year 2013 ,") these resolutions help, "require publishers of electroni

Feeling like I haven't been writing much lately because I've been so damn busy. Which is a good thing. I've been: Finalizing Summer Reading at work (our Kick-Off's this weekend!!), program begins Monday! Having nightmare about the aformentioned Playing softball (our team's terrible! This weekend we lost 18-3, an improvement of the previous weeks 25-3) Traveling all over God's green Earth: Indiana (camping), Michigan (Godchild's Baptism), Cleveland area (visit to my A3's house to see my niece and chubby baby nephew) And reading TONS. Particularly reading tons of YA lately, which is why I wanted to share what I've read and enjoyed lately! The Maze Runner series by James Dashner: YA dystopian genre, a trilogy with the fourth book acting as a prequel to The Maze Runner. I am reading them in the order pictured and am about 1/4 of the way into Death Cure. We Were Liars , E. Lockhart: I picked this up because John Green gave it a stellar review on

Never wrote about our glorious weekend at Turkey Run State Park , a few weeks back! It can be surmised as such: Campfires! Wonderful hiking Glacial erratics 10 mile canoe trip through the most beautiful slice of Indiana I have ever seen! Sun sun and more sun Except the thunder/lightning storm that woke us up Sunday morning at 4a.m.--and if you never slept in a tent through one of those storms, it is pure Heaven. I LOVE storms. LOVE. Would I recommend this park? Absolutely! I was VERY proud of these epic bacon, cheeseburgers that I made. Sugar Creek, a river which flows through the park; we canoed this Sunday Bridgemeister, Turkey Run State Park Suspension Bridge Getting up close and personal with this little guy who wanted to inspect the food I was unpacking Hiking past glacial erratics, through areas where water once ran thousands of years ago!

Do your parents ever ask for recommendations for FREE online resources for their kids? If so, this is a great list that I got from one of my parents!

Ok, this is a little bit cute, right?

Sticks College is such a great asset to us in a variety of ways, huge proponents of their students doing service work within our community I've worked with them before, and just last week met with their community volunteer efforts coordinator who introduced me to Volunteer Match. According to their website , "VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit , volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. Our popular service welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 97,000 nonprofit organizations." We recently started using Volunteer Match and hope to have success bringing in some extra help from community members during Summer Reading. Fingers crossed. If nothing else, it's another

Webster City, IA – Kendall Young Library, Teen Librarian Kendall Young Library is seeking an enthusiastic, creative, tech-savvy, service-oriented Teen Librarian to join our staff.  The Teen Librarian plans and coordinates teen programming (grades 6-12) and is responsible for teen collection development.  Additionally, this position provides reference services for adults and teens; helps patrons use our digital and physical resources; and handles publicity for the library. Qualifications:  Bachelor’s Degree required.  Master’s Degree in Library Science (MLS or MLIS) preferred.  New graduates and currently enrolled master’s students encouraged to apply. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  Preference will be given to applications received by June 1 . For more information about the position and how to apply, visit the Jobs section of the Kendall Young Library website.   And because all things Iowa make me think of

I'm officially camping, hopefully when this posts I'll still be sleeping. Since I won't be writing today, thought I would share this sweetness. My cat, Hemingway, loves to jump into bed with me right when I've gotten comfortable, propped up on my elbows with a good book. He curls up against me, occasionally putting his paw over the page so I can't read, his sure signal I'm not petting him enough.  Just look at this handsome devil!

This week I had the opportunity to chat with some friends I don't get to talk with as much as we'd like to because, well, life happens; though time passes I feel as close to these folks as I did when we shared jobs, houses, a community. Upon reflecting on my many friendships I decided: There is something so magical about friendships that transcend great distances and years. I have made so many mistakes (and still do) in this life, but my friends cannot be counted among those. Walking out the door to head to Columbus, then Indiana and camping bound. Have a great weekend!

Things have been crazy busy lately. Sitting at home this morning waiting on the plumber who is back again to finish my shower--3 days to fix this hot mess! While I'm enjoying the quiet time at home and the ability to finish The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey--can you say, I'm pumped to see how the movie turns out, LOVED the book--I know I have a million things waiting for me at work! Our Summer Reading Kick-Off is again planned for the end of May with a "Touch-a-Truck" event with local ambulance, tractor, fire truck, and police car, 4-H animal petting zoo, face painting, and a giant used book sale. Everyone's lined up and ready to be here, and our small, but mighty FRIENDS of the Library group is running the book sale, leaving me with nothing to do but pray for a sunny day. I've finished our registration binder, have plenty of reading logs and calendars of events for kick-off day (last year over 500 people showed up!), all the prizes are purchased or donated (on

Librarian – Youth Services Columbus Metropolitan Library The Librarian is r esponsible for providing specialized training and programming functions, collection analysis, Readers’ Advisory and in-depth reference services.  Provides training and guidance to other Public Services staff including the use of electronic resources and reference tools. Responsibilities: The Librarian is responsible of providing a high level of customer service and assists customers through various aspects of utilizing the Library, including expert level reference service in person, over the phone, by email, instant messaging, etc. Promotes behaviors and activities supporting early literacy skills and the advancement of reading. Creates displays and merchandises materials. Keeps abreast of developments within the profession, provides ongoing training on current trends, best practices and new technologies.  Maintains personal skills to assure quality of service in areas of Library col

Passing along a job opportunity for you Midwesterners: The Bremen Public Library is looking for a Director for their Britannica Library Branch.  Go here and click on the Director position available tab for full posting. Good luck!