People just never cease to amaze me! I mean, sometimes I even amaze myself! This very morning I'm sitting here at my desk after having assisted this patron search out some books, right? Then I take the time to "Thank God" for today and to grant me patience with other people 'cause they can be down right obnoxious at times. Then again, maybe 'obnoxious' isn't the word to describe this guy! See what you think: When I asked him how he's doing, he says "I guess I'm doing alright"(digging in his nose), "but I'm a little disappointed right now 'cause I went to see 'bout this job, and they gon' tell me to come back later"(They had to mean NEVER!) Anyhow, I assigned him a computer and as he's turning to leave, I see his butt. I mean he's wearing the waist of his pants half-way down his thighs. I don't mean to rag on this guy, but I can't understand why he felt put off by the employer!!!
Downright Disgusted,
The Fun Crafter
Computer or No Computer... THAT is the question.
So this is what happened to me yesterday...
Woman comes in ten minutes before opening, I'm the only one there, trying to finish a grant before anyone comes in. It looked like it wasn't going to happen...
Anyhoo, she says, "My what a beautiful library!"
"Thanks."
"I would like to use one of your computers today, but I just moved here and need a library card."
So I proceed to hand her our sign up sheet and ask for her drivers license and she does into a shipl about how someone broke into her car and stole her wallet. (Uh, I hope her identity doesn't get stolen.) Anyway, I provide her with a new card and check out a computer to her, hand her the tab and tell her the computer number.
She looks at me really funny and then says, "I don't want a computer today."
Uh... didn't she just say she wanted to use a computer? Make up your mind please...
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
Woman comes in ten minutes before opening, I'm the only one there, trying to finish a grant before anyone comes in. It looked like it wasn't going to happen...
Anyhoo, she says, "My what a beautiful library!"
"Thanks."
"I would like to use one of your computers today, but I just moved here and need a library card."
So I proceed to hand her our sign up sheet and ask for her drivers license and she does into a shipl about how someone broke into her car and stole her wallet. (Uh, I hope her identity doesn't get stolen.) Anyway, I provide her with a new card and check out a computer to her, hand her the tab and tell her the computer number.
She looks at me really funny and then says, "I don't want a computer today."
Uh... didn't she just say she wanted to use a computer? Make up your mind please...
Sincerely,
Tuesday Is Really Monday
Don't you just love those long weekends off? Well, so do I. I have Mondays off, though, so when I get to work on Tuesday, it takes me most of the morning to convince myself that my week begins today--Tuesday. That being said, there are so many unnecessary things going on for the patrons, as well. For instance, I have to take a lot of them back to Day One: no loud talking, turn off your cell phones and lately "Please go to your assigned computer--not the one which places you next to a friend!" Come on now!!!
Then, in "rolls" this patron (in a wheel chair) who, incidentally used to be my next door neighbor and he's asking for all these different books--like 'how to repair tricycles' even. I'm busy trying to accommodate him when he says "I'm just fooling with you! Don't look at me like that; you make me wish I was able to run again! "
Sincerely,
The Fun Crafter
Then, in "rolls" this patron (in a wheel chair) who, incidentally used to be my next door neighbor and he's asking for all these different books--like 'how to repair tricycles' even. I'm busy trying to accommodate him when he says "I'm just fooling with you! Don't look at me like that; you make me wish I was able to run again! "
Sincerely,
The Fun Crafter
Let the Game's Begin
The summer is one of our most physically demanding months, and why is that you ask? Well let's see if I can put in into one word...
...children...
During our summer months we provide children programs called Summer Reading Programs through different State Library Sites.
So what does this mean for us librarians who already have a busy and/or hectic schedule. It means we have to tank up on at least three cups of coffee, two sodas, two Mountain Dew, and maybe a little Gatorade on the side. I ain't kidding people, having to chase down twenty kids during a program is not easy. For all of you parents out there, you know what I'm talking about, now just imagine more then the national average 2.4 per family.
Parents PLEASE don't leave us alone with your children. (children scare us librarians) Yes we love them for our programs, but having to chase them before they leave the building isn't an easy task when there's just three of us around. So from this point on, parents if you do leave you children alone with us, this is what will most likely be given to them.
1.) Red Bull.
2.) High sugar content candy.
Let's just call it payback for all the librarians who go through harassment from your center-of-the-world child, and may you enjoy the bounce-off-the-wall children we send back to you.
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, *evil grinning* Exhausted Librarian
...children...
During our summer months we provide children programs called Summer Reading Programs through different State Library Sites.
So what does this mean for us librarians who already have a busy and/or hectic schedule. It means we have to tank up on at least three cups of coffee, two sodas, two Mountain Dew, and maybe a little Gatorade on the side. I ain't kidding people, having to chase down twenty kids during a program is not easy. For all of you parents out there, you know what I'm talking about, now just imagine more then the national average 2.4 per family.
Parents PLEASE don't leave us alone with your children. (children scare us librarians) Yes we love them for our programs, but having to chase them before they leave the building isn't an easy task when there's just three of us around. So from this point on, parents if you do leave you children alone with us, this is what will most likely be given to them.
1.) Red Bull.
2.) High sugar content candy.
Let's just call it payback for all the librarians who go through harassment from your center-of-the-world child, and may you enjoy the bounce-off-the-wall children we send back to you.
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, *evil grinning* Exhausted Librarian
Exhaustion
Goodness, it's been crazy around here!!! There are a million things I've been trying to get done all day and yet there isn't enough time. I feel like a parent and the library is my baby right now!!! AAAAAAHHHHH!
For us librarians being able to multitask is very important. (It's probably why there aren't many guys in this field, they can only do one thing at a time *that's scientific fact people!*.) If you can't multitask then you couldn't do this job. At this moment, I'm doing three things:
1. and most obviously writing on this blog.
2. Writing a news article for the local paper. (Yes librarians do that too.)
3. Revising a grant (for the umptenth time!)
oh and my assistant just came in with two more things I need to do...
4. Giving her something to do.
and 5. Helping a college student learn how to use Microsoft WORD.
Oh my dear lord, help me!!!! So if you ever wonder why we are so scatterbrained at times, this is the answer. Well, got to go!!! Thank you, and good night.
Sincerely,
For us librarians being able to multitask is very important. (It's probably why there aren't many guys in this field, they can only do one thing at a time *that's scientific fact people!*.) If you can't multitask then you couldn't do this job. At this moment, I'm doing three things:
1. and most obviously writing on this blog.
2. Writing a news article for the local paper. (Yes librarians do that too.)
3. Revising a grant (for the umptenth time!)
oh and my assistant just came in with two more things I need to do...
4. Giving her something to do.
and 5. Helping a college student learn how to use Microsoft WORD.
Oh my dear lord, help me!!!! So if you ever wonder why we are so scatterbrained at times, this is the answer. Well, got to go!!! Thank you, and good night.
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian.
The Help
Sincerely,
The Stoic Librarian
Happy B'Day To Me
I'm at work, of course. Why take off anyhow when there's not a lot to do during work hours!??? It's just a birthday they say. So here I am. Now, check this out -- my precious granddaughters gave me this pretty green blouse for today's occasion. Bless their little hearts, but it's been a pain all day long. It keeps falling off my shoulders & exposing my under-gear. How embarrassing for me!!! I keep pulling & tucking and pulling & tucking some more. That's how it's been for me all birthday-day long. I gotta go now, pull off my birthday present, get in my birthday suit & go to bed!!!
See ya,
The Fun Crafter
See ya,
The Fun Crafter
Havoc!!!!
What happens when none of your assistants come in on what we consider our Mondays?
Only one word... HAVOC.
If you can imagine being at Wal-Mart with only one cashier, imagine your the cashier. Well, for a librarian that's what it's like when you are alone working at a library. People are streaming in wanting computers, books, reference help, and oh-my-word, complaining about how slow the service is. *screaming*
So what do I do? Well the only thing any sensible person would do... okay maybe not so sensible thing... RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!
If you think a librarians job is easy, try being alone in a library doing everything we have to do for a day. Yeah, I didn't think so. So here I am running around like a chicken with it's head cut off trying to get computers working faster, help patrons, check out books, get on the phone, order books, and well... pretty much doing as much multi-tasking as I possibly can do in the short time I have before I say, 'UNCLE!!!!'
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
Only one word... HAVOC.
If you can imagine being at Wal-Mart with only one cashier, imagine your the cashier. Well, for a librarian that's what it's like when you are alone working at a library. People are streaming in wanting computers, books, reference help, and oh-my-word, complaining about how slow the service is. *screaming*
So what do I do? Well the only thing any sensible person would do... okay maybe not so sensible thing... RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!
If you think a librarians job is easy, try being alone in a library doing everything we have to do for a day. Yeah, I didn't think so. So here I am running around like a chicken with it's head cut off trying to get computers working faster, help patrons, check out books, get on the phone, order books, and well... pretty much doing as much multi-tasking as I possibly can do in the short time I have before I say, 'UNCLE!!!!'
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
Not A Good Day
This has got to be the longest day I've ever had at the library. You'd think after the events of this morning that things were going to be pretty hectic around here. We opened up this morning doing all the usual things to prepare for our day. In comes our first patron with a library card that's as old as he is. While he's getting another one, I'm on the computer putting him in our system when he starts plotting all sorts of doom concerning computers and their worth--like how we are going to regret ever having them introduced into today's society, that they are going to be the world's ruin! " Even the President's going to suffer", he says because these things are going to literally blow up in our faces and "what are we going to do to retrieve all this valuable information?" He says these computers have made people in the world too lax & lazy. "You mark my words, young lady", he says, "it's gonna be a bad time, when all these things blow!" Then, he goes in and starts on my poor boss!!! We kept looking in on her 'cause she looked like she needed to be rescued from this man of doom. Finally, we faked a phone call for her and got rid of him! From then on, this day just reeked -- the BLAHS just took over and never left. Oh, well..............
Sincerely,
The Fun Crafter
Sincerely,
The Fun Crafter
Go Juice
We all need Java and librarians are no different. Though we do sit quite a bit, the truth of the matter is only 50% of our job is sitting. The other half we are running around, doing things that you can only mysteriously imagine. (Though you don't see this while staring at our public computer screens *drooling I might add*.)
So when the half way marker comes for our eight to ten hour days, we are starting to feel our power cells draining. And there is only one way to recharge. That's right! The only legal drug (stimulus) in our great world, COFFEEE!!!!
Like all librarians we do have to have our healthy dose of (one to six) cups of coffee to make it through the rest of the day so that we can deal with the... *clearing throat* patrons and naggers, and complainers, and stinkers, and children running around screaming their lungs out.
So if you ever come into the library and the librarians is a little talkative *or twitchy* there are two reasons:
1. Overload on caffine.
Or...
2. Nervous breakdown because of _______________ (Just pick a topic.)
So have faith in the ever wonderful *heavenly spot light* COFFEE!!! *heavens choirs singing.*, and the librarians that consume without thought. ^_^
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, (not-so) Exhausted Librarian
So when the half way marker comes for our eight to ten hour days, we are starting to feel our power cells draining. And there is only one way to recharge. That's right! The only legal drug (stimulus) in our great world, COFFEEE!!!!
Like all librarians we do have to have our healthy dose of (one to six) cups of coffee to make it through the rest of the day so that we can deal with the... *clearing throat* patrons and naggers, and complainers, and stinkers, and children running around screaming their lungs out.
So if you ever come into the library and the librarians is a little talkative *or twitchy* there are two reasons:
1. Overload on caffine.
Or...
2. Nervous breakdown because of _______________ (Just pick a topic.)
So have faith in the ever wonderful *heavenly spot light* COFFEE!!! *heavens choirs singing.*, and the librarians that consume without thought. ^_^
Sincerely,
The Best Coffee Ever
There's one huge perk to working here. My boss makes the best coffee ever!!! Before I came to work here coffee was for the morning only but now my face lites up when she offers to make coffee in the afternoon. There's just one big problem I have to stop at one cup or I can forget sleep in the upcoming night and boy is it hard to stop. Now if only I could get her to make my coffee at home I would have it made. Sometimes you just don't know what the perks of a job may be till you start.
Sincerely,
The Stoic Librarian
Sincerely,
The Stoic Librarian
This library has something offensive to everyone. If you are not offended by something we have, please complain. -- Dorothy Broderick, Contemporary American Writer.
So why the title. I guess because we've been having a problem with people talking about a lot of our Young Adult books, especially our Gossip Girl series, and our Urban series. So what is the problem, again just like my 'Guardian' Post before, censorship is just as prevalent today as it was some ninety years ago.
Don't believe me, then check THIS out.
That's not all, and I can't tell you enough, how if you want your kids, NOT TO READ IT, then check it out yourself first. If you don't like it return it to the library. We are more then willing to take it off your hands, we deal with more Human Rights movements then you can imagine to provide that some of the best and greatest writers are kept on your shelves.
Have you ever read Fahrenheit 451? Well, it might be high time you did. It gives you an idea of what society would be like without controversial books. (Like the Bible people!)
Even John F. Kennedy was quoted saying, "Let there be controversial books, and controversial authors."
Famous people know the meaning of censoring books:
Librarians are very special people. They are the caregivers of the world of the mind, the nurturers of dreams and the defenders of truth. Perhaps no other profession is so marked by the singular generosity of its practitioners." -- Denver Post editorial, March 25, 2000
Librarians are at the heart of opposition to foolish, dangerous, misguided attempts at censoring human expression in our free country. I thank God for their efforts."
-- Author Clyde Edgerton
So now that my rant is almost over, remember next time you come in and say a book shouldn't be on the shelf because of it's content, expect a fight
Sincerely,
(Battle Ready) Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
Don't believe me, then check THIS out.
That's not all, and I can't tell you enough, how if you want your kids, NOT TO READ IT, then check it out yourself first. If you don't like it return it to the library. We are more then willing to take it off your hands, we deal with more Human Rights movements then you can imagine to provide that some of the best and greatest writers are kept on your shelves.
Even John F. Kennedy was quoted saying, "Let there be controversial books, and controversial authors."
Famous people know the meaning of censoring books:
Librarians are very special people. They are the caregivers of the world of the mind, the nurturers of dreams and the defenders of truth. Perhaps no other profession is so marked by the singular generosity of its practitioners." -- Denver Post editorial, March 25, 2000
Librarians are at the heart of opposition to foolish, dangerous, misguided attempts at censoring human expression in our free country. I thank God for their efforts."
-- Author Clyde Edgerton
So now that my rant is almost over, remember next time you come in and say a book shouldn't be on the shelf because of it's content, expect a fight
Sincerely,
(Battle Ready) Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
Computers VS Librarians
Okay I'm sick and tired of slow computers. Did you know that the U.S. ranked third in internet speed! UGH!!!! I can't stand it when I'm at the front desk, trying to check out a book or computer to a patron and they are just STARING at me. (Don't they know it's rude to stare.)
Or they will huff and ask why it's taking so long. All I can do is say, "It ain't my fault, this computer is slow."
Then they ask, "Can't you make it go any faster?"
Uh hello, I've been trying for the past three minutes you've been standing up here. Is there any way I could take a shot gun to it... I don't think it would work, but boy would it make me feel better.(Please let the techie come back to me soon!!!)
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
Or they will huff and ask why it's taking so long. All I can do is say, "It ain't my fault, this computer is slow."
Then they ask, "Can't you make it go any faster?"
Uh hello, I've been trying for the past three minutes you've been standing up here. Is there any way I could take a shot gun to it... I don't think it would work, but boy would it make me feel better.(Please let the techie come back to me soon!!!)
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
We Are the Guardians
Interesting title I know, but lately I've been going through this stage of thinking about all the good things a library is there for. For those of you out there that think a library is the heart of the community, then I congratulate you. There are a lot of things people don't know about libraries that I think should be shared,even about us librarians ourselves. (However we might look, be it granny style, or hip hotties.)
So why the title 'We Are the Guardians', because we truly are guardians. Not even three hundred years ago people burned books and called anyone that tried to learn to read the tongue of any book, including the Bible were burned at the stake as heretics. It took brave people to provide even the basic knowledge to the masses. The only ones to safely preserve material from Kings were monks, and monasteries.
Only a hundred and thirty years ago, in 1880, it wasn't even thought of to have a library in small towns. If it hadn't been for Melvil Dewie, and his simple idea of getting knowledge out to small communities and not just to the rich did it come possible for everyday people to learn to read.
Not even a hundred years ago, in 1933, Hitler campaigned to have all the books in Germany burned. Some 100,000 books were destroyed in one evening in Opernplatz where 40,000 people came to support it. Some of the oldest manuscripts found in human history burned that day, because people believed it wrong for 'Un-German' books to reside in the halls of their libraries. Not just that but even the librarians that tried to protect those books and many other pieces of literature were killed or imprisoned. All because of censorship or ruler-ship.
So the next time you walk into a library, look at the librarian a little different. When you are simply walking through the stacks (as we call them), looking for that one book that has stuck in your mind for some time, remember why we are here. We are the guardians of knowledge, insuring the simplistic censorship of books doesn't become the norm, and that those books aren't lost to the up-and-coming generations.
We are the Guardians, and we intend to protect knowledge... that is our pledge when we sit down to that desk in the morning ready to serve to you that knowledge.
(So maybe give us a salute or something, we kind of deserve it when you think about it.)
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
So why the title 'We Are the Guardians', because we truly are guardians. Not even three hundred years ago people burned books and called anyone that tried to learn to read the tongue of any book, including the Bible were burned at the stake as heretics. It took brave people to provide even the basic knowledge to the masses. The only ones to safely preserve material from Kings were monks, and monasteries.
Only a hundred and thirty years ago, in 1880, it wasn't even thought of to have a library in small towns. If it hadn't been for Melvil Dewie, and his simple idea of getting knowledge out to small communities and not just to the rich did it come possible for everyday people to learn to read.
Not even a hundred years ago, in 1933, Hitler campaigned to have all the books in Germany burned. Some 100,000 books were destroyed in one evening in Opernplatz where 40,000 people came to support it. Some of the oldest manuscripts found in human history burned that day, because people believed it wrong for 'Un-German' books to reside in the halls of their libraries. Not just that but even the librarians that tried to protect those books and many other pieces of literature were killed or imprisoned. All because of censorship or ruler-ship.
So the next time you walk into a library, look at the librarian a little different. When you are simply walking through the stacks (as we call them), looking for that one book that has stuck in your mind for some time, remember why we are here. We are the guardians of knowledge, insuring the simplistic censorship of books doesn't become the norm, and that those books aren't lost to the up-and-coming generations.
We are the Guardians, and we intend to protect knowledge... that is our pledge when we sit down to that desk in the morning ready to serve to you that knowledge.
(So maybe give us a salute or something, we kind of deserve it when you think about it.)
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
Aaah Choo, Aaah Choo, Aaah Choo
For a Wednesday morning, the wheels are turning pretty fast already. All the computers are full-- except one. Then he walks in! (I've nicknamed him Aaah Choo) The guy has really bad allergies which is not his fault, I'm sure , but he's sneezing all over the place when he arrives. He's all teary-eyed and full of apologies. You gotta love him 'cause, unlike most young guys his age, he is very polite and courteous. I have to give up the computer to him. The poor guy's trying so hard not to disturb other patrons that he's running to the men's room constantly. You can hear him blowing his foghorn in there. He comes out this one time and catches these girls snickering, but he's not angry. He just smiles and says to them "Thanks, you make me feel so much better!" He went on back to the computer, leaving them looking so small-- Aaah Choo, Aaah Choo, Aaah hoo!!!
Sincerely,
The Fun Crafter
Sincerely,
The Fun Crafter
Anti-typical
Nowadays libraries have become quite a social hub, and today is a day to talk about that. Unlike ranting all the time, I thought it would be pretty cool if I gave you real life data on the libraries today. It isn't unusual to have people asking if we have Wi-Fi (which we do, but can't get the stupid password to unlock it.) and other things, like our Summer Reading Program, book clubs, and such.
So here are some interesting sites:
News Article on: Public Librarys
And Library Stats at: ICMA
So with that in mind, remember libraries aren't the anti-typical quite place they once were, (though we do like some silence now and again) it is a community based on the people that come. So visit your local library, be a part of something that could end up being pretty neat.
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
So here are some interesting sites:
News Article on: Public Librarys
And Library Stats at: ICMA
So with that in mind, remember libraries aren't the anti-typical quite place they once were, (though we do like some silence now and again) it is a community based on the people that come. So visit your local library, be a part of something that could end up being pretty neat.
Sincerely,
The Egg Wolfing, Exhausted Librarian
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