Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

Because I love poetry. Because I love Bill Murray. Because I love Billy Collins. All this made this article a wonderful morning read. What We Miss Who says it's so easy to save a life? In the middle of an interview for the job you might get you see the cat from the window of the seven- teenth floor just as he's crossing the street against traffic, just as you're answering a question about your worst character flaw and lying that you are too careful. What if you keep seeing the cat at every moment you are unable to save him? Failure is more like this than like duels and marathons. Everything can be saved, and bad timing pre- vents it. Every minute, you are answering the question and looking out the window of the church to see your one great love blinded by the glare, crossing the street, alone. --Sarah Manguso

The hardest part of being the Director in a small library is that we don't have an HR person, so on top of everything else we do we also get to do the paperwork for the new hires, and retires. Thank God for the internet or these processes would take a lot longer!  One of my board members pointed out that though I'd been informed of staff retirements, I had to officially accept them with a letter...I am finding that a paper trail is an important thing. So, I found a short and simple letter on one university's HR website (sorry forgot which!?) and honed it to work for us. Attached is my sample of a retirement letter.  Is anyone else out there going through this process too?

Hemmy was at the Vet's again overnight this week. Medicine and an x-ray and $135 later--thank God small town Midwest living is cheap!--and all the Vet could come up with is that he thinks poor Hemmy is anxious and causing his own symptoms.  The Vet asked if there was any extra stress at home--CHECK any changes in our enviornment--CHECK had I been working later and/or been out of town--CHECK and CHECK Poor Hemmy has probably been feeling as overwhelmed as me lately; this was the most stressful summer that I think I've ever experienced. Summer Reading was great, but exhausting. I've had 2 staff decide to retire early. That means I've been going through the hiring process AGAIN. I have a budget meeting before our county budget commission to explain why I shouldn't lose any funds. Covering vacation at work, this week alone already worked two 12 hour days, and another 10 hour day. My house was hit hard by all the rain and a problematic situation was made worse...

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!