Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

For those of you following the e-book news the past few years, you may remember that certain publishers aren't always available or available to all e-book vendors. Well, we just received word through our consortium this morning that over 10,000 Penguin Books are now available for purchase through our consortium's e-book carrier, OverDrive ! This means we now have access to even more authors, including: Lee Child Tom Clancy Harlan Coben Patricia Cornwell Clive Cussler Junot Diaz Ken Follett Elizabeth Gilbert Charlaine Harris Khaled Hosseini Iris Johansen Nora Robert just to name a few! WOO HOO!

This past weekend Sticks had its yearly fall festival: a parade, booths run by local businesses and organizations, and lots of fair food. Because I had to help set-up the FRIENDS of the Library's booth--selling used books and membership--I was able to be up to see the sunrise and enjoy the quiet, blocked off downtown streets; to walk around and nod at the other early birds, setting up their booths, drinking coffee; to see as Main Street slowly fill with people, followed by a parade, followed by even more people; to see the town bustling. As I walked around and looked at booths and chatted with friends and neighbors I realized that I actually know people in town now. I actually could look out into the sea of faces and recognize patrons and kiddos who frequent the library, I even got hugs from some of the kids I used to read to when I did school visits, pre-Prairie Dawn. I've been here for nearly a year and I'm not such a stranger anymore. And maybe I've finally come to...

In, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild , Mr. Tiger lives in a perfect little town, with perfect little houses, surrounding a perfect little fountain. Mr. Tiger is just like all the other animals, dressed to the nines and proper, walking around in the city, until the day he taps into his wild side. He starts running around on all fours and without clothes to boot! He's gone wild! What the other animals don't understand is why? Why would he want to be different? A short and simple picture book about being true to who you are and acceptance. I LOVED it. Very sweet stuff. And, also did anyone else feel like the illustrations were reminiscent of Jon Klassen's?--the plants and the muted color choices!!? How could I not love the pictures in a story that are so very Klassen-reminiscent?!

" Between 1915 and 1970, more than 6 million African-Americans moved out of the South to cities across the Northeast, Midwest and West. This relocation — called the Great Migration — resulted in massive demographic shifts across the United States. Between 1910 and 1930, cities such as New York, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland saw their African-American populations grow by about 40 percent, and the number of African-Americans employed in industrial jobs nearly doubled." --NPR, "Great Migration: The African-American Exodus North" It is this very migration we experience in Jacqueline Woodson's, This is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration ; told subtly from the point of view of a piece of rope and its evolution of roles within a family: the tie that keeps the family's possession on top of their car when they move, a jump rope, etc. As always, Woodson has offered a thoughtful and unique insight into a part of U.S., and more specifically Afric...

Oh my sweet and gentle Moses! I spoke with Janet Ingraham Dwyer , Youth Services Consultant at the State Library of Ohio yesterday!! And, get this, SHE IS COMING TO STICKS LIBRARY to consult with us on 1. how to best utilize our very limited space for the kids/teens and 2. to offer suggestions on programming and unique ways to market ourselves to draw in more kids, and teens. Prairie Dawn has been worshiping Dwyer from afar since we saw her speak at a conference this past spring and we're both SUPER EXCITED, but I thought P.D. was going to faint when she heard me invite Dwyer to sit in on a story time. Poor P.D. is so nervous now. Did I mention how FREAKING EXCITED WE ARE!! So thankful for that great news, but even more thankful it's Friday. Going to be a busy busy day--due to a staff family emergency this week and another staffer on vacay, I've been on the desk EVERY SINGLE day since arriving back from my lovely long weekend. I love working the CIRC desk, so no worries...

You know that feeling you have when you're just not ready for things to go back to normal? When  you don't want the fun to end, and yet it has to...coming back from my lovey weekend away has been hard. So, it was sweet to find a postcard in my mailbox upon my return. My thoughtful friend, Magdalena, shared this lovely bit from Rilke: “ How could we be capable of forgetting the old myths that stand at the threshold of all mankind, myths of dragons transforming themselves at the last moment into princesses? Perhaps all dragons in our lives are really princesses just waiting to see us just once being beautiful and courageous " --R.M. Rilke, from "Letters to a Young Poet" It's the little things, no?  

I love love love John Green; I am so grateful to JBean for telling me to read, The Fault in Our Stars , which has now become the book I tell EVERYONE to read. Everyone. My sister. My Mom. My favorite aunt. My best friends. Folks at the Library. Prairie Dawn. Before Prairie Dawn had even read it I made her put it on the fall lineup for our Teen Book Group. (More on that soon!) I love that John Green writes real teenage characters, tangible to real teens. These characters are coming into their own and trying to understand the world, sometimes poetically, other times emotionally stumbling through it like a weaving drunk. Green's characters are sometimes sweet and funny, sometimes self loathing or self deprecating, sometimes funny as hell, other times over the top dramatic, sometimes raw as hell, but always BELIEVABLE! I love that John Green celebrates nerds, and being honest, and wearing your heart on your sleeve, and has the most quotable lines and lovely sentiments. And ...

I am in love with this song. For so many reasons. And so much.

As Summer Reading ended I realized I hadn't yet taken a lick of my vacation time--and the year was already half over!--thus began that fun time of figuring out how to use up 12 days of vacation...Fast forward to this past weekend: 4 days of relaxing and no work, in and around the Windy City. The Boy doesn't have any available time off right now, so I'd planned time to myself in Chicago on Friday. After parking downtown--gaping at the $30+ parking fees!--I made my way over to the Art Institute. I love the Art Institute, it's pristine layout, it's carefully thought out collection. I love that when I see the Art Institute's lions, guarding the front steps, my step quickens; being on the steps of the museum affords you with one of the best views of Chicago, in my humble opinion. I love Michigan Avenue's hustle and bustle, it's proximity to Millennium Park, it's skyscrapers, and the constant flow of cars and tourists alike. To an outsider it would be a...

After rest the Boy is feeling better! So, I'm headed out on the road in the morning, pointed toward Chicago. Can't wait to see the exhibit at the Institute of Art! Can't wait to see Lake Michigan. To see downtown. To be in a big city. To get away from Sticks! To hang with the Boy! Can't wait! "Chicago" Hog Butcher for the World,    Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,    Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;    Stormy, husky, brawling,    City of the Big Shoulders: They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen your painted women under the gas lamps luring the farm boys. And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to kill again. And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the faces of women and children I have seen the marks of wanton hunger. And having answered so I turn once mor...

It is a truth long since recognized that time drags when there is something we can't wait to get to, and flies by all too quick when we are in life's wonderful moments. That in a nutshell is this week. I have been looking forward to my planned 4 day weekend to Chicago since back in July. Not only do I want to go see the art exhibit, " Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity ," at the Art Institute of Chicago, but there's a small chance I might get to see a fellow former Farmer, and most importantly I am going to see the Boy. But I just talked to the Boy and he was in bed at 10p.m., and had the beginnings of a cough. OH NO! I am hoping that this is not the nasty bug I had two weeks ago, which left me feeling TERRIBLE for a couple of days. I am so so so hoping and doing that Catholic thing of praying to any patron saint I think might help. Oh dear... And yet, it is hard to be worried when there is such loveliness about: "Boundaries" There is a place w...

This is the attitude I've decided to have today. It's either that or I hide under my desk and sleep. Somehow I think the Board would frown upon that.  I'm. So. Tired. 

Today was a long day. This summer I was invited to serve on the board of our consortium, today was my first meeting with the group. It was interesting to hear about some of the proposed changes, to get a first hand peek at the new interface our catalog will have, and to ask questions and hear feedback about things that I don't usually hear about until they trickle their way to us directors via the frequent emails. It was nice to have a break from Sticks and be in Columbus for a few hours, and eat some tasty food . Even though we were inside the whole time, I feel rejuvenated just being in a big city. After the 3 hr. meeting, and 3.5 hr. roundtrip drive, and with food in my belly I was so beat by the time I got back to Sticks; had just enough time to sneak home and feed Hemmy, and take a 30 min. cat-nap, before I was back at work, this time setting up for our 6p.m. speaker. (That was a bust because unfortunately no one showed up for her program). At 7:30p.m. I spoke for a local c...

  Out of the office all day with a meeting, then I have to go back to the Library late to speak for a local civic group. I know all week I will just be praying for the weekend; 4 day weekend coming up and can't wait!! Friday morning I will be on my way to see this exhibit.

Iz Friday finally? Here is some Friday cuteness for you. Still can't believe I got this sweet little kitten a year ago! I adopted Hemmy and got glasses the same weekend last August--really taking this Librarian thing a little too seriously!--and he's been with me through the big move to Sticks and Director-dom. Today I am off to my first county fair here in Sticks; Prairie Dawn and I are working a booth, passing out library swag and library event calendars. Wish us luck! And happy weekend!

I feel like I've finally caught up. My box in my Treasurer's office is empty. All purchase orders and super blanket certificates filed away; receipts are initialed and filed away; the pile of magazines: Library Journal, School Library Journal, as well as the reviews Forecast , etc., and the pile of stuff: Oriental Trading Company fliers and the like have all been gone through and recycled. I can see the top of my desk again! I've even managed to weed the Adult Fiction section (AGAIN!) while Prairie Dawn tackled weeding the Juvenile picture books, something we've wanted to do since before Summer Reading and also since we pulled out the Easy Reader books. We're getting things ship shape around here. I'm caught up all of my orders for the month, my email inbox is empty, I'm prepared for our upcoming participation at the county fair which is looming on the horizon, I'm prepared for a meeting at the State Library which is also fast approaching. I feel...

I was using Google to find an image, my search term was, "Mark Twain holding chickens," (don't ask) and this is what came up...don't even know how or why. This is what I wanted... Today felt a little too Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for me. Can't it be next Thursday?