Archive for September, 2006

Ashamed.

Wednesday, September 27th, 2006

I am ashamed of myself. I complained about reading the articles for the Technology Institute, and then felt awful when Patty read it (especially since she’s on the committee) ) . I love technology, in fact I saturate myself in it. I just feel that library 2.0 could be summed up in a couple of sentences:

  1. Go where your patrons are (the internet)
  2. find ways to make it more useful for them
  3. find ways to make it more interactive
  4. find ways to make it more efficient

This all sounds very nice, however by making our patrons self-sufficient, we are putting ourselves out of jobs

  1. using podcasting to do story times on the internet
  2. making search engines more intuitive and more accessible
  3. digitizing lots of our books
  4. becoming like netflix and sending books to the patrons

By removing ourselves further and further from our patrons, we are giving them the impression that we aren’t necessary anymore. Sure we may still be doing lots of behind the scenes things, but who’ll know that besides us? Also what happens to all those without computers; senior citizens, lower income people…

Do we tell them to use our computers to find the information that they are looking for, rather than letting them know that we are here for them and that we are listening to their concerns. I graduated from library school in 2002. During the time I was there they changed the school to the school of “Informatics”. Most of the classes had to do with technology or the Internet. Not that I disagree with this, however very few classes seemed to deal with the people side of our jobs. We do serve people, you know. Not computers. I got into this field, not only because I love books, but mostly because I love people. I love working with people and finding ways to help them to the best of my ability.

Anywho. I apologize to Patty for complaining. It was very bad of me. Shame shame shame.

Moving AGAIN!

Wednesday, September 27th, 2006

I am an Internet wanderer. Either that or I’m just plain crazy. I am moving my blog, now for the THIRD time.

I was going to post about this about a week ago, but just before I hit the publish button, the site went down. This is very discouraging, since I use a lot of my blogs for work.

Don’t worry though! I’ve already moved a bit here:

https://cathythelibrarian.wordpress.com/

Technology Institute for the library

Wednesday, September 13th, 2006

I am involved in this program through my library system. We have to read this blog, which seems like homework to me. This is profoundly so for me, because

1) one of the top dogs wants to use some of my work blogs for demonstration purposes (or something of that sort), which means I will have to update a lot more regularly than I am finding possible recently, which ALSO means that I might be updating these blogs at home.

2) we have to read articles, which if you had read before still holds true for this. I will end up reading a lot of this at home.

There really is not enough time in the day! I do not know how people are able to keep everything straight. I have so much on my plate now, which is why I was stressing a couple of days ago, and continue to do so now. I know I will get everything done because I ♥love♥ my job, but until then I will be out of my mind. This comes with being alone in what you do and not having anyone you can really delegate jobs to. Poop.

Luckily many of the things that the Institute wants to encourage the libraries to do, we already have implemented in Parma, thanks to me(huzzah!): blogs, flickr, playstation programs, myspace… I was thinking of using Yahoo IM, but our library has it blocked. Of course, one needs time to keep up with all these things, and as a keeper of six? (graphic novels, visiting artists, teens, kids, professional, and this one) blogs, life can get a little out of hand.

Sleep is also very important, so good night!

weightless poem

Wednesday, September 13th, 2006

♥
I am floating
weightless
In my mind
♥
a smile, slight
a smile, tender
a smile, just right
♥
a warm hand
touches my back
taking the pressure away
♥
there is no song and dance
no pretense to perform
only friends, sharing silence
♥

weightless poem

Tuesday, September 12th, 2006

♥
I am floating
weightless
In my mind
♥
a smile, slight
a smile, tender
a smile, just right
♥
a warm hand
touches my back
taking the pressure away
♥
there is no song and dance
no pretense to perform
only friends, sharing silence
♥

I am

Monday, September 11th, 2006

sometimes
I do not know
who I am

I am a child
giggling
and foolish

I am floating
bits and pieces
never whole

I am the wind
rustling leaves
but always invisible

I am frightened
of my mind
how it changes

I am the old woman
muttering incoherently
bent over in pain

I am the clutter
in your mind
muddying and muddling

I am worried
always worried
of being alone

I am a pattern
broken

I am

Sunday, September 10th, 2006

sometimes
I do not know
who I am

I am a child
giggling
and foolish

I am floating
bits and pieces
never whole

I am the wind
rustling leaves
but always invisible

I am frightened
of my mind
how it changes

I am the old woman
muttering incoherently
bent over in pain

I am the clutter
in your mind
muddying and muddling

I am worried
always worried
of being alone

I am a pattern
broken

“Hey There, Hi There, Ho There”

Saturday, September 9th, 2006

The quote is from the Mickey Mouse song, although what it has to do with my post, I do not know.
Anyway, long time no see.

Lots has been going on.

1) School has started. THANK GAWD! I love those teens, but they were so bored, they were driving me mad. Leaving butts all over the library, throwing food and paint at the building, beating each other up. You get the idea. I really try to stand up for them and listen to them, but sometimes its REALLY hard.

2) I went to Webster for a staff exchange day. It was so great! I love that Adrienne (kids librarian) gets to lie on the floor of her office to look at books and prepare for story time. One of my co-workers said I could do that, but I’d get rolled over or stepped on. The library is gi-normous! You need to call people to talk to them, not just holler or twirl your seat around. There are three people at the Reference desk (we don’t even have a reference desk). Everything is bright and clean. Adrienne has her own story time room, and TONS of crafty stuff. She has a dedicated staff just for children’s services, plus there are two (ish) teen librarians. Sigh. It was a lot of fun and interesting.

On the other hand, I REALLY like where I’m working. Everyone is really close, there is no reference desk (which is good because it gives me more ordering/programming time, but bad because I don’t have much reference desk experience), everyone knows eachother. They like me (they really like me).

This does lead me to some other things I’d like to talk about:

3) Sometimes I feel VERY overwhelmed, like I’m definately taking on too much. There is a class for librarians on managing stress. I may try to take that. Maybe they will teach me how to meditate…  Unfortunately, this is completely my fault, because I added all the new programs. The only one that was in place as a yearly continuing program was story time. I sometimes feel that I have too much on my plate and it makes me frazzled. Double unfortunately, I want to make everyone (except myself, it seems) happy. I’m a people pleaser, or try to be. I have a couple big projects that I’m doing now that have a deadline. Plus there are other little projects that I have taken on, never mind ordering books and programming. Especially the story times. I’ve been wanting to explore new ways to do story time. Which leads me to story time.

4) I love story times. I put out surveys to see when people want story times, I advertise within the library and one of my coworkers puts notices in the newspapers. I HEAVE fliers at them. Everyone calls asking about story time. Begging for story time.

Four kids signed up for the 3 – 5 years and four kids for the 1 – 2 years. I asked one woman with small kids and she said “We don’t do story time.” Well fine. Neither do I. Oh, don’t worry, I’ll give it a couple of weeks.

I also did a drop in, evening story time. EVERYONE was begging me! “Why in God’s name, don’t you do an evening drop in story time? We don’t want to sign up. We work, and we want it at night.” So, I do it and how many people show up? ONE. And the only reason she showed up is because one of my co-workers drove her to the library (she was her granddaughter). Sigh.

Finally.

I have been having more dizzy spells again. I keep trying to forget about them, mostly because I’m really scared. Of course that’s probably the last thing I should be doing.

These spells are strange. Someone will say something that’ll get me thinking and suddenly the dizzy spell will come on. I don’t know if its because I shouldn’t be thinking too hard, or what. I get a dry throat flushed in my face and I get sweaty. Plus of course the dizziness. Jeff says I should be keeping track of them… and not like the time I said that I was going to keep track of everything I bought and post it here. Maybe next year. Anyway, I’m going to call my mom and then the doctor next week. Jeff’s orders.

I guess that’s it.

Oh, wait. I want to get a custom made earring known as a twister from Primitive Impressions. I’ve seen them and they look really interesting. However, they need to be custom made because they’ll be going through all the holes in my left ear and the holes in my left ear are a little different from the holes in someone else’s ear. Curious, and interesting. We shall see. Got to talk to the hubby, although I’ve mostly convinced myself. The only thing that’s holding me back is the PSP. I’m going to get one so I can play Loco Roco, show pictures/video and listen to MP3s. Fun!

Now I’m off to Slumberland.

“Hey There, Hi There, Ho There”

Friday, September 8th, 2006

The quote is from the Mickey Mouse song, although what it has to do with my post, I do not know.
Anyway, long time no see.

Lots has been going on.

1) School has started. THANK GAWD! I love those teens, but they were so bored, they were driving me mad. Leaving butts all over the library, throwing food and paint at the building, beating each other up. You get the idea. I really try to stand up for them and listen to them, but sometimes its REALLY hard.

2) I went to Webster for a staff exchange day. It was so great! I love that Adrienne (kids librarian) gets to lie on the floor of her office to look at books and prepare for story time. One of my co-workers said I could do that, but I’d get rolled over or stepped on. The library is gi-normous! You need to call people to talk to them, not just holler or twirl your seat around. There are three people at the Reference desk (we don’t even have a reference desk). Everything is bright and clean. Adrienne has her own story time room, and TONS of crafty stuff. She has a dedicated staff just for children’s services, plus there are two (ish) teen librarians. Sigh. It was a lot of fun and interesting.

On the other hand, I REALLY like where I’m working. Everyone is really close, there is no reference desk (which is good because it gives me more ordering/programming time, but bad because I don’t have much reference desk experience), everyone knows eachother. They like me (they really like me).

This does lead me to some other things I’d like to talk about:

3) Sometimes I feel VERY overwhelmed, like I’m definately taking on too much. There is a class for librarians on managing stress. I may try to take that. Maybe they will teach me how to meditate…  Unfortunately, this is completely my fault, because I added all the new programs. The only one that was in place as a yearly continuing program was story time. I sometimes feel that I have too much on my plate and it makes me frazzled. Double unfortunately, I want to make everyone (except myself, it seems) happy. I’m a people pleaser, or try to be. I have a couple big projects that I’m doing now that have a deadline. Plus there are other little projects that I have taken on, never mind ordering books and programming. Especially the story times. I’ve been wanting to explore new ways to do story time. Which leads me to story time.

4) I love story times. I put out surveys to see when people want story times, I advertise within the library and one of my coworkers puts notices in the newspapers. I HEAVE fliers at them. Everyone calls asking about story time. Begging for story time.

Four kids signed up for the 3 – 5 years and four kids for the 1 – 2 years. I asked one woman with small kids and she said “We don’t do story time.” Well fine. Neither do I. Oh, don’t worry, I’ll give it a couple of weeks.

I also did a drop in, evening story time. EVERYONE was begging me! “Why in God’s name, don’t you do an evening drop in story time? We don’t want to sign up. We work, and we want it at night.” So, I do it and how many people show up? ONE. And the only reason she showed up is because one of my co-workers drove her to the library (she was her granddaughter). Sigh.

Finally.

I have been having more dizzy spells again. I keep trying to forget about them, mostly because I’m really scared. Of course that’s probably the last thing I should be doing.

These spells are strange. Someone will say something that’ll get me thinking and suddenly the dizzy spell will come on. I don’t know if its because I shouldn’t be thinking too hard, or what. I get a dry throat flushed in my face and I get sweaty. Plus of course the dizziness. Jeff says I should be keeping track of them… and not like the time I said that I was going to keep track of everything I bought and post it here. Maybe next year. Anyway, I’m going to call my mom and then the doctor next week. Jeff’s orders.

I guess that’s it.

Oh, wait. I want to get a custom made earring known as a twister from Primitive Impressions. I’ve seen them and they look really interesting. However, they need to be custom made because they’ll be going through all the holes in my left ear and the holes in my left ear are a little different from the holes in someone else’s ear. Curious, and interesting. We shall see. Got to talk to the hubby, although I’ve mostly convinced myself. The only thing that’s holding me back is the PSP. I’m going to get one so I can play Loco Roco, show pictures/video and listen to MP3s. Fun!

Now I’m off to Slumberland.

I like crayons.

Thursday, September 7th, 2006

I like crayons. I like them a lot. However, not all crayons are created equal. I do not mean to be a crayon snob or anything, but Crayola has, hands down, the best crayons. Their consistancy, their smell, the vibrancy of their colors. Although I must say I like these crayons as well however I am offended at how these people use crayons (not in a dirty way)… and on a serious note, I probably would like these Staedtler crayons as well, because I know they make really good erasers, so why wouldn’t they make good crayons?

BTW, about 30 minutes has passed by because I got trapped in the world of Flickr. You are evil! Evil I say!