Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

I am flummoxed with life these days. And equally flummoxed at how everything seems to happen all at once. After 3 years of going after the Board about getting our building renovated and an addition done--a failed project started by the Director before me--we are so close, though I am learning this is an annoyingly long process with LOTS of stops and starts. We are in the hellish limbo of them meeting our budget, so we can post it for construction bids--we are hoping to do this in October. But, then again, we were hoping to do this in September, so who knows? Just received notice from one of my staff that his last day is in a month. Normally fall is slow for us, but with the building project, a Library Renewal Levy on the November ballot (and the speaking engagements that go with that!), and the planning of our centennial activities for 2017, and all my "normal," I feel like I'm "drowning, and someone hands you a baby." (Jim Gaffigan) On top of the work st...

Super excited to see the information is finally available for the OLC Convention and Expo . And reallyvexcited to spend 2.5 days in Cinci! Get going and book your room at the amazing Millenium before it's too late! Only $125 +tax/night and register soon!

"The conference report on House Bill (HB) 64, the state’s two year main operating budget bill, was adopted on a 4-2 party-line vote at about 2:30a.m. this morning.   The Senate is expected to approve the report later today and the House will vote tomorrow . Rep. Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell), Sen. Scott Oelslager (R-N. Canton), Sen. Bill Coley (R-Liberty Township) and Rep. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) voted for the report.   Sen. Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Rep. Denise Driehaus (D-Cincinnati) voted against the report. PLF – The Conference Committee kept the language increasing the PLF percentage to 1.7% of the total General Revenue Fund (GRF).   This is a huge success because anything can happen in Conference Committee.   However, they chose not to include a provision guaranteeing us the actual dollar amounts estimated in the budget documents. Tax Package – The Conference Committee made a few changes as they worked out the differences between the Ho...

From Ohio Library Council: "OLC to Present PLF Testimony Before Senate Finance Subcommittee    The OLC will present testimony on the state budget and in support of the Public Library Fund on Tues., May 12, before the Senate Finance Committee's Higher Education Subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Randy Gardner, (R-Bowling Green). The subcommittee hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the South Hearing Room. Library directors are welcome to be in the audience for the hearing.   Kim Fender, Director, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County and Chair of the OLC's Government Relations Committee, will be testifying on behalf of OLC.   Also, Patrick Losinski, CEO, Columbus Metropolitan Library, will speak specifically to the Tangible Personal Property (TPP) Phase-Out Proposal.    Tuesday's hearing is "Invited Testimony" only. Other groups testifying that day include the State Library of Ohio, Ohioana Library, Ohio History Con...

From Michelle Francis, Ohio Library Council:    "Budget Update – Yesterday the Ohio Senate began informal hearings on HB 64, the biennial budget bill, and later today the Ohio House will officially pass their version of the bill. As the Senate began their proceedings yesterday, they indicated that they would start with FY 2015 as a baseline and wouldn’t necessarily start with the House’s version of the budget bill. We need to let Senators know that we need to keep the House language changing the PLF percentage to 1.7% of the total General Revenue Fund (GRF). This will be our primary focus on Legislative Day and our advocacy efforts over the next 8 weeks. This is extremely important and we will need you to make contacts in the Senate – we will have to fight to keep this provision! PLF Change – The House’s version of HB 64 that will be debated this afternoon on the House floor still includes our provision changing the PLF percentage from 1.66% to 1.7%. Fol...

An update on the Ohio State FY '16-'17, in regards to public libraries, according to OLC's Access Weekly: " Analysis Underway on Proposed FY16-17 State Budget and Potential Impact on PLF The OLC staff and consultants have begun the tedious process of analyzing the 719-pages of Gov. Kasich's proposed $72.3 billion state budget for fiscal years (FY) 2016-17, and the potential impact the proposals may have on the Public Library Fund (PLF). The budget proposal includes a combination of tax cuts and tax increases. Overall, the administration claims it amounts to $500 million net tax cut, even though it includes increases in sales, commercial activity, tobacco, and severance taxes. Some of the high points of the proposal include: Cuts the income tax by 23% across-the-board (15% income tax cut this year and 8% cut next year); Raises the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) on gross receipts from .26% to .32%; Increases the Cigarette Tax from $1.25 to $2...

Delicious coffee at Pistacia Vera, German Village, Columbus After 2.5 days in Columbus I wanted to: *Move to Columbus! I miss living near(er) to a big, happening city! *Eat at the North Market everyday; Stuffed cabbage and chicken/cheese balls at Hubert's Polish Kitchen, sandwiches and pickles from the barrel at Katzinger's Little Deli, strawberry buttermilk ice cream at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams *Have a roommate again--sharing a room with Prairie Dawn for a couple nights was a blast and made me miss the camaraderie of housemates *Spend hours (decades!) at The Book Loft of German Village *Have a croissant and quiche every day at Pistacia Vera in German Village The conference was great, as was the digs (the Columbus downtown Hilton), and it was definitely hard to leave this happening city, but I was excited to head points north and west for a weekend of camping with ChicagoBoy. ChicagoBoy and I met up at the State Park, Chain O' Lakes , in Albion, Indian...

Feel like I've been so busy, leading up the Ohio Library Council (OLC)'s Expo it was all about the Expo, post-Expo it's been about playing catch up with things I let slip a little. The Expo was FANTASTIC! Not only did I make lots of new library friends, and some are actually not too far from us--SCORE!--but I also participated in my first Battledecks ! Battledecks is a competition where contestants get a certain amount of time (5 minutes in our case), 12 powerpoint slides, and a topic (ours was taken from Sessions presented at OLC). You must cohesively present your slides, describing how they fit in with your topic, and of course the slides are of the most bizarre and ridiculous pictures. It was so much fun and some of them were hysterical! Definitely want to participate in it again next year! So, my talk? It went great! I had about 25 people attend (not terrible for 8:30a.m.) and received loads of great feedback and was even asked to consider presenting it again at o...

Prairie Dawn and I are just about to leave for the OLC (Ohio Library Council) Expo. Did I mention I'm speaking? Did I mention I'm nervous?! Busy week! We're gone until Friday, then as soon as I get back I change, dump my bag and reload it with camping gear and head out. ChicagoBoy and I are camping in Indiana this weekend at Chain O' Lakes State Park (can we say it's going to be freezing?!) My only hope is that while I was packing for both the conference and camping, at the same time last night, that I put the right clothes in my bag, or I'm going to be looking pretty silly presenting...

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...

HOLY CATS! The FRIENDS group at our Library hosts a yearly Halloween party and haunted laboratory and last night I think we were the hit of the town, what with the torrential downpour, and hurricane warnings. We had over 500 people show up!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! Our tiny library was packed! I was bummed, I only saw the first 100 or so, then had to sneak out to head down to the Columbus suburbs. Ohio Library Council (OLC) has a bunch of chapters, divisions, and committees ; I was elected to one of said groups this past spring, and today attended my first meeting. Aside from the fact that I ran into a colleague from my old library--awesome!--I didn't know anyone there, so spent the day with fellow committee members addressing issues and goals for 2014! Our group was a lot of fun and I'm glad I was able to make more professional connections! As a young professional I'm always seeking opportunities to learn more about our profession and I think getting involved at a state-wi...