Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

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 ...

10. Don't be surprised if you see lots of comfortable shoes with all kinds of outfits. Librarians are about practicality. 9. At some point during the week you will hear discussion of the latest book or comic book/graphic novel turned into movie, opinions about the actors selected, and who really should have been cast. 8. You will see a few too many programs on whatever the latest craze in libraries is in the current year...STEM or Makerspaces ring a bell? 7. You can play a sort of Where's Waldo that includes: one librarian wearing some kind of kitchy library swag, i.e. due date slip scarves or socks; a librarian wearing an ironic cat sweater; a few famous authors, an endless sea of characters wearing glasses. 6.  You and your friends play "Shoulder Bag Show-off." Winner points out the most shoulder bags touting a specific library name, or a book seller. Double points if the bag displays "famous" mascots like Penworthy Bear, or the Baker & Taylo...

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...

I used to love to write here. But then I just didn't anymore. Maybe for a variety of reasons, including: I don't want to talk about work outside of work Work is insane We've begun a building project, which just thinking of it make my blood pressure go up, so why write about it!? I am still alive and kicking, and working in Sticks, but I am beginning to count down on my time here. Once the building project is done (in a year+!!) I am planning on moving to Chicago to be with ChicagoBoy. Nearly 3 years together, the last 7 months some of the best of my life, and excited to be planning our future! And no, no damn engagement ring yet, please don't ask. My friends do. ALL. THE. TIME. We're getting there. I will try and write more about this building journey. Or my life journey. Or whatever. Hope you, dear readers--are there any left out there?--are well.

I've been flying around like a busy bumble bee lately: Training a new staff person Getting tax forms ready and out (my office looks like an IRS truck exploded...ok, maybe not that bad) Preparing to weed Adult Fic/Non-Fic AGAIN Preparing to weed our Reference collections in Children's and Adult AGAIN Preparing to shift collections around to make more room for our teens--so hard with no space! Working on Summer Reading--Yep, I've had all of our entertainment booked since before Christmas, now booking some local speakers of interest. Summer Reading 2014 is going to be awesome The usual paperwork And in my free time I've been reading like a mad person--did I mention that I am a judge for the 2015-2016 Choose to Read Ohio? It's been great, but still have 7 books to get through by next week. YIKES! I feel like I haven't seen the sun the past two weekends, holed up in my apartment So, in lieu of going into detail about anything right now--maybe I can do th...

At work we're preparing for our 2nd Annual Silent Auction, where local businesses and individuals donate items to the Library, which we then auction off to the highest bidder, with the funds going toward Sticks Library programs in 2014. Last year we raised over $1,300, so this years goal is $1,500 as I've hit up more businesses than last year! Wish us luck!! We're also working with Sticks College to fundraise clothing items for local families in need, in lieu of fines, we're taking said items. I know a lot of libraries do food for fines at this time of year, but our local food pantry gets so many donations at this time of year, we hit them during their drier spells, spring and fall, hence why we do a clothing drive. Busy time for libraries is definitely during summer reading, and for us at Sticks, things are slowing down with programming--aside from the normal monthly activities like storytimes and school visits, etc., we only really have a visit from Santa and ...

Thank God for helpful library friends; stressed out last week I got a hold of "Sunshine," the school librarian, and met her at "Beans," a favorite coffee shop that makes you forget you're in the middle of nowhere! Sunshine listened as I vented about library stuff and admitted to my homesickness for friends and family. She really heard me. And it felt nice to laugh and smile--I feel like I seldom do that much outside work these days. I left feeling lighter. The last few weeks have meant working really hard, playing an endless game of Pong between all of these computer and computer-related items representatives. And I'm tired. After nearly a month I feel like I've made little progress, other than ensuring we have Deep Freeze ready. I am still working on getting quotes for our new computers; need to purchase our new scanners; need to purchase a new receipt printer; am waiting for yet ANOTHER quote for Microsoft Office Pro 2013; need to check in with...

Oh, holy hell. The Children's Librarian starts in 11 more days, thank God. Except that means training. The schedule is approved by all. Now I am figuring out coverage for vacay requests through August. Computer buying process is still back and forth like Pong. The company sends me quotes, I go over those with our IT guy, he tells me what we should ask for/change, and I send it back. As if this process hasn't been hard enough, one of our cataloging computers died last week, another cataloging/CIRC (of two!!) computers is on the fritz (choosing when the scanner or keyboard or both will stop working at random), and I just learned that our barcode scanners and receipt printers are so hold they will need replacing. Every time I think about the cost I hear money bleeding out of this place. Urgh. On the upside: Summer Reading donation requests went out a few weeks ago and we've been getting a good response so far, over $1,000 in our first two weeks! I received word last week...

I haven't been posting much lately because things have been so crazy busy! Tomorrow is the last day of our silent auction; we asked businesses and community members to donate something that we could auction off, with all proceeds going to the library (hopefully toward new computers!) Stay tuned for our final $ count! Tomorrow is also the end of our holiday fines-sweep-clear for those patrons who donate new winter gear for kiddos.  Weeding still goes on! I weeded out the most tattered and gnawed on kids' board books--bought a batch of new ones to replace the old; weeded the adult non-fic, taking out anything that hasn't circed since 2004, with some exceptions. Funniest find? An old VHS manual from the early 1980s. Building maintenance issues arising with the boiler and a broken drain. Still meeting with people in the greater community and college to see how we can help each other out! Storytimes out the wazzoo!! I used to feel beat at OHCity when I did two a week as n...

I feel like I have this deer-in-headlights-look today; still not believing that I have the keys, and the title, and the RESPONSIBILITY! I am a director. Holy cats! I am beat and have about ten million people to call to talk about my first day, so I will just bullet point what my first day looked like: Spent 2 hours just wading through 6 INCHES of paperwork and 12 INCHES of library journals and collection development magazines and flyers that have accumulated since the last director left Set up a meeting with the former director, to get aligned with a few things that need some overlap (he is kind enough to come during his free time and do this with me!) Set up my new Oplin email account Talked to the WONDERFUL and very helpful folks over at SEO (Serving Every Ohioan) a couple of times! They were so nice. Made my first decisions: dealt with a fine policy discrepancy Visited with the President of the Board, she popped in to say hello. So nice. :) Talked with another Board Member a...

Some interesting library related articles: Occupy Boston Tent Libraries Philip Pullman on closing libraries Detroit Library closures Brighton District (Michigan) library wildlife habitat This is not far from where I grew up! YAY!

A returned book with an interesting story Tough times for MA libraries ALA info on Banned Books Week 2011 Library Media Box (think RedBox) Vintage posters revamped Learning to drive with the help of local libraries

This exhausting week in LaLa Library Land: Monday my 15-23 months old group was so much fun! (I am going to miss this bunch of parents when their kids move up to the 2 year old group). Our current theme through January is Favorite Children's Authors. I chose to start with Eric Carle, who is my favorite illustrator, and thus introduced the kids to The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear (both favorites of mine). The kids loved the stories and that for Brown Bear, Brown Bear, I actually had enough copies for everyone. We also pulled out our huge parachute for the last 5 minutes of class before toy time and had so much fun. The kids excitement and laughter is so contagious. Had my last Ancient Civilizations group Wednesday, where we learned about Pueblo Indians . After talking about the who, what, where and when's of the Pueblos, each kid began the task of making coiled bowls (w/Crayola air dry clay--WONDERFUL!) Then while we let the bowls dry a little I read some...