Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

A girl came up and asked for Number the Stars by Lois Lowry today, stating that she couldn't find it on the shelf. After taking her to where it was located in the Newberry winners sections we got to chatting about The Giver (another Lois Lowry book that I liked). She took my suggestion and decided to check it out. Then her Mom came over and we got to talking about the books, Rules, by Cynthia Lord (which I had also just recently read). The Mom wanted the daughter to read the book because, like the main character, this girl also has an autistic younger brother. The girl looked at her Mom (rolling her eyes) and then at me and said, "I only like to read books that have nothing to do with my life. I don't want to read about stuff I already know about." I had to laugh. I know where she is coming from. If you were to offer me a mystery that took place in a library, I would probably throw up my arms and say, "I don't give a shit if Marian the Librarian was beat t...

Real things that I heard/happened in the library this week: " Jesus loved to read," A Mom to her child in the Children's Department. Hmm...which Gospel was that mentioned in... The Book of Dewey Decimalicus...? We have a box out for patrons to throw their "gently used" books, DVD's, etc. in. In turn we sell these items at our tri-annual Friends Used Book Sales and the money comes back to the library, etc. Someone donated a book about health. Nice...Then the Circulation staff noticed that major portions of the book were highlighted... especially the parts of the book concerning bowel problems, with notes-to-self added with comments that should stay "notes-to-self." "Madame Librarian," a retired librarian-turned-senile-patron came through the library. I learned that she likes to take children's books and re-label them. While reading Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs tonight to my bedtime story group, one of the little boys whispered t...

Back to titles from songs Today was one of those days. Last night I finished My Sister's Keeper , which I enjoyed, surprised by the ending. That was after I watched I am Sam for the first time. I felt emotionally ravaged. I woke up this morning with a renewed sense of life. All that thoughtful "what does life mean"-edness that both the book and movie forced me to have, I thought I would make the most of the day. I got up early and actually left the house early, got my morning hazelnut coffee. God Bless, Tim Hortons ! Work was alright. Had a training session on microfilm and microfiche-yes, in the age of technology these formats are still used. There are some things that even Google hasn't been able to scrape up. Had to "play nice," with the new girl. For those of you GFers that know me well, you know that I hate training new people and I hate change in my workplace unless I have control over it. I can already tell that I need to be careful with her....

This is the honest to God, word for word question that someone emailed in to us today at the library: "I'm 54 years old and found a bug on a tree outside my house that I have never seen the likes of. I have it, it was dead but clinging to the tree. Would like to know what kind it is. Some kind of beige beetle and the back of it is open as though something came out of it. yuck, but could you help? I have a pine bush nearby that is dying and am wondering if this beetle had anything to do with it. It is full of webs, which makes me think they are not connected. Could you refer me to an entomologist----if that is what they are called? Thank You." This is for my friends who have asked what I do all day. Ok, no, my job is not quite this exciting, I wind up helping students answer questions and do research, but there are the occasional questions like this that surface. We are the super heroes of the research world. "Doing it since Alexandrian days!"

The printers are down at the library today, a note posted on the printer. An Education student approaches and asks if the printers are in-fact broken. “Yes, the printers on this floor are down. But they might be functioning on the first floor. You could try and print from down there.” She goes, and returns five minutes later. “The printer that you sent me to wouldn’t let me print, so I tried another printer I found on the other side of the library and that wouldn’t let me print either.” “Oh, that is because the print queues from these computers only go to two printing terminals. This one (I point to the one behind me) and the one I sent you to downstairs. I guess they are both malfuncting. I will mention that to maintenance.” “Oh, I see.” “Sorry about that. I can show you how to email the documents to yourself, then you can print them from another printer later.” “Oh, okay.” I show her. “So, would you like to email this document to you so you don’t lose anything?” “No, no, no. I am goi...