Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

"But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness.  The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head ... The harvest has dwindled, and I have grown apart from the intense midsummer relationship that brought it on." -  Robert Finch  Stumbled upon this quote, and was struck dumb with a sadness I feel for the garden I once had. I love our cozy little condo--we spent so much time during our courtship there; it was a place of refuge when I was tired of library life in Ohio; it's our first home as a married couple. But, our condo has no space for a garden, and this makes me sad.  I think of the hours of time I spent on my knees planting, pulling weeds, picking produce. My garden was often one of the few spots were I went to feel alone in a community of 100 people; the place where I had the silence to day dream. I miss the day dreams dreamed there because the day dreams of 20-something me are so different than those of 30-something me. *sigh*...

I always pause and remember the horror of that day.  I pray for those lost.  I pray more for those who lost loved ones, who continue to move on. I pray for peace. Stumbled across this today and thought I would share.  "I did not see the devil's face at Ground Zero. I saw the face of God in the people working, caring, sweating, crying, rescuing, recovering and being very spiritual in their very humanness." -Franciscan Father Joseph Bayne , chief chaplain of New York's Erie County Emergency Services

Nearly a month ago I wrote about my New Library's problems with: Leaking roof (may be caused by roof windows) Leaking windows Bad door seal, leaking Outside in-ground lights full of water and not working Electrical issues with exterior light programmer Inability to use light switches for a week, due to the fact that the electrician screwed something up when trying to fix the light programmer Dead water softener What's been fixed after a month: Decided to not repair or replace in-ground lighting due to cost, so we've gotten solar powered lights  The water softener computer has been replaced and the unit is up and running. Neat thing I learned, no one has EVER added salt to the water softener, EVER. OMG! Wonder why it's broken!! Still waiting on repairs for everything else. *sigh* 

I have never owned a home. When I lived at the Farm in New England—what feels like a million years ago, and as many miles away--we were wardens of sorts over our cabins and houses. Problems resulted in written “tickets” to the Maintenance Team, who then resolved the problem. The same can be said of all the apartments and house I’ve rented; a call to the landlord usually resolved the issue (I fortunately always had good landlords, for the most part). ChicagoBoy, the homeowner (I guess that makes me a co-homeowner in a couple months?), is a handyman and a Landlord himself, so much more adept at handling problems. And yet it’s me who is stuck with the mounting challenges of a new building. I’ve gotten good at reading warranties—only one problem has still been under warranty—and getting recommendations for service people. I’m learning the jargon of these people, getting better at home to explain the problems. I’ve dug in. In my first 3 months at the New Library I’ve had, and am ...

Stumbled upon this today while searching for "the perfect Walt Whitman quote." So lovely. And Garrison Keillor! Who knew he had it in him... When my body and your body Lie together under a white sheet Your head on my arm Your leg thrown over my leg The whole long continent of you The pale ridgeline of your ribcage and hip and thigh Neighbor to me There is nothing that needs to be explained Or accomplished, the world is at rest and complete And though We drift apart in the eddies of the day We will find our way back To the slight hollows that mark the place Where we lie now, astonished, saying nothing. -Nude Study, by Garrison Keillor, in 77 Love Sonnets

You guys, our wedding is just under the 3 months away mark!! This past weekend we: picked out tuxedos for the guys--Vera Wang tuxes!! ChicagoBoy let me choose and they are SMOKING HOT!! ChicagoBoy finally renewed his passport--Scotland and Ireland here we come! I backed up music onto our new 1TB external hard drive to transfer to our home computer, so I can start getting the wedding music for the reception together! This week's wedding goals: Seating chart Quotes about love for the tables--each table is named after an author, so will feature a quote about love by said author Start working on wedding music

Something most libraries/librarians have been watching VERY closely. I can't believe we have to fight so hard to protect our libraries and schools in our country. Sad panda. Colleagues, I’m pleased, but with important cautions, to tell you that all of our collective work to Fight for Libraries! is poised to pay off dramatically. Key parts of the House Appropriations Subcommittee bill that is scheduled to be voted on tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 EDT were released late this afternoon. The bill does NOT cut last year’s funding to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Once final, that would mean no cuts to LSTA in this critical first vote stage! (We’ll know about Innovative Approaches to Literacy tomorrow.  Now the cautions… While unlikely, an amendment could be offered to the bill that changes the IMLS appropriation. In addition, after tomorrow’s vote, there will be at least two further procedural opportunities for the bill to be amended. After the House acts, of ...

This guy.

Something has stirred my father into my waking thoughts more than usual lately, of course Father's Day weekend is an obvious reason, but if feels like something more--perhaps our wedding, now less than 4 months away...? Whatever it is, I've found myself grieving again. I think about all of the things my Dad is missing, how he'd be a grandfather of six (soon to be 7) grandchildren. How he won't get to walk me down the aisle, or ever get to know my sweet, kind, wonderful ChicagoBoy. I keep thinking of C.S. Lewis', A Grief Observed , the solace I felt in reading it upon my fathers death; Lewis and I kindred spirits in our mourning. “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing. At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find ...

Recently attended the Director's University at the Illinois State Library. A well spent week in Springfield--my first visit--with lots to learn, and a few beauties to admire from afar!

Did you hear about the newly opened American Writers Museum ?! I am super excited to go check this place out! I like their mission statement, short and sweet: "The mission of the American Writers Museum is to engage the public in celebrating American writers and exploring their influence on our history, our identity, our culture, and our daily lives." So, who's coming with me?! 

Eric Carle's sloth is pretty much my spirit animal these days. I am in week 3 at the new library--I've yet to cook up a code name for it--and feel like I am slowly, painfully slowly getting things. I am still struggling with learning how to do all of the finance work, as I had a F.O. at my last job. Last week I met up with local directors and felt a little better hearing about similar concerns, but a little worse when they kept saying words and IL acronyms that I did not understand! Oh, Ohio libraries how I miss you so. I miss a lot of things in fact. I miss my Youth Services Coordinator, PrairieDawn, and our friendship and shared jokes after years of working closely and sharing an office. I miss some of my old staff. I miss my old regular patrons. And sometimes when ChicagoBoy does things that frustrate me--I mean come on, the dirty laundry bin is RIGHT THERE!!! WHY IS YOUR DIRTY UNDERWEAR ON THE FLOOR--I miss my old single life a little bit too. I came to IL to be wit...

After 4.5 years at Sticks Library, it is finally time to say goodbye. This week is my last, and I prepare to pass off Summer Reading, the Library's Centennial celebration, and the building expansion and renovations that I've been working to get going for 3+ years. These past weeks have been jam packed with activity, me in my office hurriedly going through notes and leaving as much information behind for my replacement--who is yet TBD. This weekend I've run the full gambit of emotions; so sad to leave behind a wonderful job and coworkers, excitement to finally be living with ChicagoBoy and seeing him EVERY DAY, and nervousness about my new job. I dread tomorrow, my final Board Meeting, because I don't want to blubber like a baby when I say goodbye to these wonderful people. I am so tired from all of the moving and living in an empty apartment, sleeping on a cot--I keep telling myself that my catson and I are glamping--and so tired of feeling emotional. I am just goin...

Just received this email from Ohio State Librarian, Beverly Cain.  Even if you're not from Ohio, it's worth the read.  Even if you're not a librarian, it's worth the read.  The following message is sent on behalf of State Librarian Beverly Cain: Dear Colleague, The White House has released its new budget blueprint, an advisory document that proposes increases in spending to military programs and national security, coupled with major decreases to—or the complete elimination of—many programs supporting museum and library services, scientific data and research, human health, and environmental safety; social uplift, education, and protection for the poor; international diplomacy, cooperation, and aid; and the arts, culture, and history. The House and Senate will now begin offering their own budget resolutions, and a long process of negotiation—informed by the will of the people, as expressed to our elected representatives—will ultimately re...

The last time I was job hunting was 2012, and while that wasn't that long ago, it seems it. I am a firm believer that you should update your resume every 4-6 months, including every speaking engagement, lecture, paper published, etc., so that when you are ready to job hunt you won't be stuck scratching your head about the details of what you've done since * insert year here . On the other hand it's the cover letters--I've sent out at least 25-30 since I began my job search in September--that are giving me grief. I found some interesting articles this weekend and thought I would pass them along in case you are too! 12 Great Cover Letter Examples for 2017 31 Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter Examples

A patron walked into our Library Tuesday and announced, "there's a dead cat in your front yard. Just thought you should know." PrairieDawn and I walked out front, me wearing gloves and carrying a garbage bag, PrairieDawn with the shovel. We finally found the poor animal, laying seemingly asleep, under our front hedges. I thought I could be tough and just scoop the thing into a garbage bag and be done with it, but I started to cry, thinking of my own sweet cat probably asleep on my couch...These are the moments when I wish we had a maintenance man, or anyone else more capable than me, on staff. We went back inside and thought about who we could call. I was for calling the local vet, when PD suggested we call one of our patrons who's a vet in the next city over,  but who lives in Sticks. He wasn't able to come by, but sent someone else to retrieve the poor animal later that afternoon. I've been thinking about that exchange all week, our patron's kindne...

A friend just asked for a list of multicultural reads for 6th graders, and since reading multicultural books is so important I thought I would share it here. Multicultural Reads for 6th Graders: The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis Esperanza Rising, Pam Munoz Ryan Brown Girl Dreaming, J. Woodson (LOVED this book) One Crazy Summer, Williams-Garcia Inside Out and Back Again, Lai The Cay, T. Taylor Ties That Bind, Ties That Break, Lensey Namioka Witch of Blackbird Pond, Speare Chains (Book #1, The Seeds of America Trilogy), Anderson Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor Birchbark House, Erdich Starry River of the Sky, Lin Threads, Polonsky Dancing, Alma Flor Ada Tiger Boy, Perkins Ninth Ward, Rhodes Star in the Forest (story about illegal immigrants--timely), Resau Boys Without Names, Sheth How I Became a Ghost, Tingle

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” -Thomas Merton

So we got engaged on Christmas Eve. During a walk in our favorite park, ChicagoBoy took me to a beautiful overlook and proposed.  And of course, I said, "yes."  And now I am in that golden glow of just not believing I really get to spend the rest of my life with this man. This wonderful, wonderful man. I am stunned. And overwhelmed. And so so happy.

This was in our book drop today. Wonderful wonderful.